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The Omniscient
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Jun 4, 2005, 4:00 AM
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Japanese State Bans Grand Theft Auto
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A state in Japan has decided to ban a U.S. video game from being sold or rented to minors, after officials deemed it harmful and capable of inciting violence.
"Grand Theft Auto III," produced by U.S.-based Rockstar Games Inc., was introduced in Japan in September 2003 and has sold about 350,000 copies. It depicts random killing sprees in public places, cars being blown up and other acts of violence that officials fear teens might try to mimic, said Takahito Hayashi, a child welfare official.
The game will receive a "harmful" product label in Kanagawa prefecture, or state, where retailers will be barred from selling or renting the game to anyone under age 18. The game also will have to be displayed separately from other titles, he said
While other products have faced similar restrictions due to explicit
sexual content, it is the first time Japan has placed such measures on
game software because of violence, Hayashi said.
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