Controversy surrounding a new video game

A new video game is prompting concerns among law enforcement agencies. It's called "25 to Life" and features many ways to kill police officers. One US senator says it makes all other shoot-em-up

Monday, March 6th 2006, 10:56 am

By: News On 6

A new video game is prompting concerns among law enforcement agencies. It's called "25 to Life" and features many ways to kill police officers. One US senator says it makes all other shoot-em-up games, look like Romper Room. Many organizations are asking for a boycott of the game's maker and the stores that sell it.

As News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright explains, local police unions are outraged.

"25 to Life" pits gang members against police officers and is not about mercy. There are dozens of weapons to choose one and the more you kill, the further you advance. One lawmaker says children should be learning to read and do math, not kill cops.

Police say they face enough real-life dangers without something like this adding to the threat. Tulsa FOP president Cpl. Darin Filak: "As you know, we do have a very dangerous job and anything that glamourizes the attacks of police officers or hurting of officers, obviously is uncalled for and we'd like to see the video recalled."

The game makers argue this video isn't make for children with its mature rating.Plus, they say they make what people want. Certainly, shoot-em-up videogames make up a huge part of the industry's $10-billion in annual sales.

Many people worry that the games keep getting more violent because there's pressure to constantly make them more realistic. "25 to Life" encourages criminals to use human shields when shooting at police.

The instruction manual for the videogame even has a weapons section. Under 9mm handgun, it says criminals love it and police hate it. Then it runs through shotguns, assault rifles, bombs, grenades and says if you run out of bullets, you can still crack heads with things like baseball bats and tire irons.

Some groups want citizens to boycott the stores that sell the games. Others have online petitions to put pressure on the game's maker. Mostly, they want parents to be educated about what types of games their children might be playing.

The Coweta Police Officers Association first told the News on 6 about the game, they are very concerned about it, as are a number of other law enforcement groups I talked to. If people want to sign a petition, they can go to www.nleomf.com.

The News on 6 did find stores in the Tulsa area selling and renting the videogame, although Best Buy told us it has pulled it from store shelves and online.

http://www.nleomf.com/25tolife/