| N4G | BADJoystick | GameNews24 | ZTGD | Price Comparison |

220°

Gamestop and GTA IV - The ID Debacle

Loot Ninja writes:

"As if Gamestop doesn't do enough things to look stupid… I was picking up my copy of GTA IV Special Edition this morning for PS3 at my local Gamestop. Another guy was there buying the game off the shelf. Both of us got ID'd to buy the game. I look nowhere near 17, but whatever. The guy next me asks "Are you kidding?" The follow up reply from the old guy behind the counter waiting on me was "We're not taking any chances with this game."

Ok, you might say. As soon as the other guy leaves, a kid walks up to the counter to buy a used copy of Call of Duty 4. The kid was no more than 4 feet tall and couldn't have been older than 13 or 14. Did he get ID'd? Nope. When I asked the guy behind the counter why not, I was told "We're only worried about GTA.""

Read Full Story >>

loot-ninja.com

drunk pandas - contributor
Published: 82 days 1 hour ago | News | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360 | Gaming

Edit Story

Adjust Temperature

Change temp to:

0°

Set to: 40° | 50°

Publishing

Status:		Go
Created:
Published:		Go
Published on FP:		Go
Shows on:	FP SP

HotSpot:

Stats

Views:
Clicks:
Comments:
Temp:	0°
Activity Score:

Save | Email | Info | Report | Add Alt Source

Comment Settings

Showing: 1 - 24 of 24 Comments

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Johnny Cullen - 82 days 1 hour ago

1 -

"As soon as the other guy leaves, a kid walks up to the counter to buy a used copy of Call of Duty 4. The kid was no more than 4 feet tall and couldn’t have been older than 13 or 14. Did he get ID’d? Nope. When I asked the guy behind the counter why not, I was told “We’re only worried about GTA.”"

xD

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

drunk pandas - 82 days 1 hour ago

1.1 -

I love how they blatantly admitted to me that they essentially don't care about the ESRB ratings, unless it's GTA

Agree(1) | Disagree(1) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

streeks1984 - 82 days ago

1.2 -

I wouldnt say all of them are like that, they card me and Im 23...I am I am flattered that they think I still look young but.....NO just give me my dam game.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

barom - 81 days 23 hours ago

1.3 -

I don't think they have a duty to follow the ratings though. I read somewhere that the ESRB ratings are optional and are nothing more than a recommendation.

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

JsonHenry - 81 days 20 hours ago

1.4 -

Lol, I HATE 90% of Gamestop/EB Games employees as well as their policies. I rarely feel like beating on someone that I don't know as much as I do the nerdy power-tripping-geeks that work behind the counter at those stores.

Which is why I buy my stuff now from Wal-Mart or Target from people who have no idea what game I want unless I go up to the case and point it out myself.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

fiercescuba - 82 days 1 hour ago

2 -

No one ever said Gamestop was a MENSA convention. People who work there should wear helmets.

Agree(4) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

JoelR - 82 days 1 hour ago

3 -

/facepalm
M rated is M rated... why the hell... I would report that gamestop to their headquarters.
they really need to enforce the ratings by law like with cigarettes and alcohol.

Agree(2) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

taz8080 - 82 days 1 hour ago

4 -

ESRB Ftw!

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

kydrice - 82 days ago

5 -

That kid that bought CoD4 was a Jack Thompson goon! incoming Jack article!

Agree(4) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Marceles - 82 days ago

6 -

Breaking news: A 13 year old, 4 ft. tall kid wearing Army gear w/ helmet equipped with an AK-47 goes on a rampage killing 8 people...we ask Jack Thompson what would make a kid do such a terrible thing, he replied with 3 letters, "GTA".

Agree(2) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

taz8080 - 82 days ago

6.1 - LOL

yeah has nothing to do with his mental illness or the kilos of drugs found on him at all. but there was a gta flyer in his pocket, all signs show that gta is to blame, definitely.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

Skerj - 82 days ago

7 -

I'm pretty sure COD4 is alright with parental groups since it's military related, they seem to fly under the radar for some ODD ass reason.

Agree(4) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

taz8080 - 82 days ago

7.1 - Agreed

I dont understand why the war games get no issues, COD4, MOH, etc. Those get sold with no issues, GTA and Mass Effect get screwed.

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

BiggDaddy311 - 82 days ago

7.2 - Agreed

they should enforce for all M games. GTA4 is really a game that needs to be enforced. I don't mind playing COD4 and hearing those few pubessant voices through my headset but if I hear the same thing on GTA4 I may just be livid.

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

NIN64 - 82 days ago

8 -

I think ESRB is optional in some places. Not mandated by law like the MPAA ratings.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

bpmurr - 82 days ago

9 -

I got ID'd at Best Buy today buying GTA 4. I'll be turning 29 next month. They all doing it there to all customers, even seniors. lol

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

KingME - 81 days 23 hours ago

9.1 - different strokes for different folks

I watched a lady come in Fred Meyers and buy her 15 year old son a copy of GTA after he was refused initially by the clerk. She was pissed that she had to get out of the car to come in the story to get this game. She raised all kinds of hell. The clerk just smiled, shook his head and said, "that will be 59.99 maam."

But, it just shows some parents don't really give a damn. Just give my kid what he wants.

Agree(2) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

cheetorb - 81 days 23 hours ago

10 - Our foundation as a country is WAR

Military is our largest resource. It is our largest institution. Our major export is weapons. The government loves military games because it encodes their justifications of war to the masses. Of course your not going to see controversy over these games, this is what our country does!

You think this war is about 9/11? This is about oil, imperialism, and control.

Wake up or better yet, go enlist, your all expendable anyway.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

BranWheatKillah - 81 days 22 hours ago

11 -

Yah, sorry, not buying it. Gamestop requires everyone under 30 to be carded on every "M" rated title, not just titles like Grand Theft Auto. An employee's job and sometimes even the store manager's are at stake in a situation like this. A single offense and you are fired. Every Gamestop in the US has this exact same policy.

So, either this guy found one of the worst and stupidest employees currently at Gamestop that deserves to be canned, or the writer is lying out of his ass. Based on the quality of writing, I'm betting on the latter.

Agree(0) | Disagree(2) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

drunk pandas - 81 days 22 hours ago

11.1 -

Whether they require it or not, this is the first time I've ever been carded, including the Halo 3 midnight launch. Didn't see a single person get carded there

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

millerlite - 81 days 22 hours ago

12 - Not at my Gamestop

I saw a couple of young kids buying GTA IV last night at midnight. On a school night. One of the kids was with his mom. She should be arrested.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

clearelite - 81 days 20 hours ago

13 - millerlite

You must be joking. Parents can try to hide "objectionable" material from their kids all they want. The kids will become rebellious and find a way to play the game regardless. Just like they do with porn and movies. If this mother didn't help her kids get the game they would just play it at a friends house, or by any means necessary.
-Also, lets not forget that some 15 year olds are more mature than some 40 year olds.
-I like what the guy from R* said about people that start fits in the media about GAMES. He said that they are just like the people that said the way Elvis danced was evil back in the 50's.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

blackparade man - 81 days 18 hours ago

14 -

lol such a laugh =)

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Shut this user up

Let user speak

himdeel - 81 days 1 hour ago

15 - Two words...

..."It's retail."

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Showing: 1 - 24 of 24 Comments

Add Comment (Gamer Zone)

Gamer Zone Posting Guidelines
The Gamer Zone is for members who want a more friendly and civilized discussion. This section is heavily moderated by the N4G staff, so leave your fanboyism at the door please. Members who are unable to behave in a mature and respectful manner will be temporarily or permanently restricted from posting in the Gamer Zone. Using words such as Xbots and Sony droids, or other words from the console war vocabulary, is strictly prohibited in this Zone.
Read More...

You must log in to post comments.

Username:

Password:

Remember