Grand Theft Auto IV is out today. I haven't gotten it yet, but I've owned and played them all and I'll have this one too. (soon I hope).

I'm a 36 year old male. I'm married. I have two kids; an 8 year old girl and an 11 year old boy. I play video games. I have for many many years.  When it comes to gaming systems I've owned most of them over the past 20+ years. I currently have 5 video game systems in my house. My whole family plays games.

Grand Theft Auto is always talked about as a violent video game. Period. Violent? Yes. Is that it? No. The game is simply you dropped into a living, breathing city. Sunrise/Sunsets. Traffic. People walking in the streets. Businesses. Good guys/Bad guys. Fire departments. Bars. Friends/Enemies. Cars/trucks/motorcycles. Good honest jobs/dishonest jobs.

Video games are fantasy. That's their purpose. Video games let you drive cars you probably won't even see in your lifetime. They let you fly an F16 fighter jet. They let you fight a battle in WW2. They let you play lead guitar in a rock band. They let you play a thug and bad guy in a living breathing city, like in Grand Theft Auto.

Let's imagine a video game that let's you wake up at 5am. Head to the shower and eat some breakfast. Get stuck in traffic on the way to work. Spend eight hours at your desk. Get stuck in traffic on the way home. Decide what to make for supper and then get to bed and do it again the next morning. Now imagine that game collecting dust on the store shelf. I'm already doing that in real life, why would I do that in a game?

There are no consequences in a fantasy world. Think about not having to sleep? Hang out in the 'bad part of town' at night and see what's up? Haven't you ever wanted to just plow through traffic? Wouldn't it be great to crash into that guy that cut you off in traffic? Do it. Then take his car and leave him on the side of the road. That's the fantasy world of Grand Theft Auto. Do this, and more. Be a cop. Be a firefighter. Steal a car. Pick up a hooker. Do work for the mob. Do 'bad guy stuff'. Take an honest job. Totally your choice. Fantasy. Things you can't (or shouldn't) do in real life.

Can you take it further? Sure. There are guns. You can shoot people. You can hit people with your car. You can steal things. Darn near anything you can think of; but there is police. If you do something wrong the police will come. Do you have to give up? No, but you can if you want. In this fantasy world, wouldn't it be more fun to run? If you start a fire, wait and the fire department will show up. What would happen if you then took the fire truck? I don't know. Do it. Fantasy.

I think that's what makes this game different. There are other more violent games out there. But this one is a free choice to be violent or not, or a little, or a lot. The 'fantasy free will' is what sets Grand Theft Auto apart from other games.

This is a game for adults. End of story. It has a 'M' rating. That means no one under 18 should play this game. I can't stress this enough: it's an adult fantasy game. There is a story, too. You play as a guy new in the US and he works his way up to power by doing bad guy things. Think mob-like stuff.

Are there are more adult video games then ever before? Yes. Why? 'Cause of me. I've been playing games since the 80's. I've grown up. The game makers have grown up. We're adults now....and besides, I have the money.

I'll be picking up the new Grand Theft Auto soon. Will my kids play it? NO. Will my kids watch me play it? NO.

Are you thinking about buying it? Being pressured to buy it? Do some research. Buy a video game magazine. Learn about the game. Hit the internet. Rent it and try it yourself.

I hope this helps shed light on Grand Theft Auto. The 'media' only gives you the violent part of the story, it's an important part, but there's more to it....

NYKWIK