New South Wails: New York Police Union wants video game pulled

October 15, 2008

I noticed this game for sale at my local shopping centre.

New York's powerful police unions say that a violent new video game called "Saints Row 2" is an abomination. In the game, the player controls a gang member who can steal, do drugs and kill as many characters as possible, including police officers.

Union officials say the game dehumanizes police officers, trivializes violence and sets a terrible example for young people. The game's maker says it's meant for people 17 years and older.

But how will I satisfy my inner need to kill some police? This is a violation of my human rights. I'm calling a civil rights lawyer.

A blood-soaked new video game boasts enough violence, guns and gratuitous sex to make Grand Theft Auto seem as tame as Pac-Man - and it has cops hopping mad.

The over-the-top Saints Row 2 encourages players to butcher cops with chain saws, smoke drugs, annihilate rival gangsters and run prostitution rings.

"There [is] quite possibly no other game that can come close to the sheer number of explosions, bullets, murder and vulgarity on tap here," the gaming Web site WorthPlaying.com proclaimed in a mostly glowing review.

Many in law enforcement and politics don't find any of it remotely entertaining.

"These horrible and violent video games desensitize young people to violence while encouraging depravity, immorality while glorifying criminal behavior," said NYPD union boss Patrick Lynch.