Thompson on the road to remove GTA 4 ads from U.S. transit

You don’t really know jack until you know Jack Thompson. Or at least, you’d have no idea why advertisements promoting Rockstar North‘s Grand Theft Auto 4 (Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3) on transit systems could soon be gone if the Florida-based lawyer doesn’t ring a bell. He already managed to clear Miami-Dade transit, and the rest might follow suit. Find details at the full article.

People take Jack Thompson seriously. That’s no overstatement after the Miami-Dade Transit System officials confirmed it took down advertisements of Rockstar North‘s Grand Theft Auto 4 (Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3) in line with the anti-video game violence attorney’s request.

Thompson reportedly sent an e-mail to Miami Mayor Carlos Alvarez, saying:

Grand Theft Auto games have been obsessively played by a number of teens who have then copycatted the outrageous, sociopathic violence in the games and killed innocent people.

The lawyer noted that Grand Theft Auto 4 ads were placed near Miami’s Children’s Hospital and adjacent to a kids’ park, then mentioned Entertainment Software Rating Board’s (ESRB) description of the game easily imply selling it to minors will violate Florida’s law against sexual material harmful to minors.

Soon enough, Miami-Dade transit announced posters have been removed after a review of the relevant approval process and contract. It doesn’t stop there, because Thompson now wants all U.S. transit system to do the same.

Thompson pointed out ESRB’s principles and guidelines regarding responsible advertising, which state Mature-rated games shouldn’t be promoted where teens can see them. However, the ESRB doesn’t believe GTA 4 ads play foul.

Here’s the response from ESRB’s representative:

Considering the overwhelmingly adult demographic profile of mass transit ridersÂ… the placement of GTA 4 ads in these types of outlets would typically not be in violation of [Ad Review Council] guidelines.

Buy: [ GTA IV (PS3) ]
Buy: [ GTA IV (Xbox 360) ]