Does Haze promote drug abuse?

Rune Ripper | May 26, 2008 | Blog | Playstation 3

Haze on the PS3 was expected to be a big hit, however, due to it's 15 rating many parents chose not to buy it for their children due to the main characters taking ability improving drugs.

Perhaps parents are jumping the gun with this, and taking it a bit too far. It's only a game, Grand Theft Auto IV has guns, prostitutes and many other illegal activities yet parents still buy it for their children, but as soon as drugs are involved in a game, it's a no-go.

Many thought that Haze on the Sony PS3 was going to be the one great games that could help increase PlayStation 3 sales, however in the first weeks sales it looked as though Haze fell at the first hurdle, as both critics and gamers slammed it. Free Radical were taking a big gamble with this first person shooter game, Haze had a 15 rating, so it was still down to a few parents to purchase the game for their children, and many parents did not like the idea of the main characters taking drugs to improve their abilities. How can you teach your children right from wrong when it comes to taking performance enhancing drugs, when someone like Free Radical and Sony show it to be cool in a game.

News Story attached to:

Haze [PS3, XBOX360, PC]

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Comments

1 thumbs!
Gothic Girl | May 26, 2008

quote
Grand Theft Auto IV has guns, prostitutes and many other illegal activities yet parents still buy it for their children, but as soon as drugs are involved in a game, it's a no-go.
eh?? There's a hell of alot more controversy surrounding the themes in GTA IV than there is surrounding Haze. I don't think parents would be keen on allowing their childres to buy either.
1 thumbs!
Rune Ripper | May 26, 2008

That was the point I was trying to emphasize.
1 thumbs!
Donnelly | May 26, 2008

From what I've heard about Haze, it sounds like giving it to your son or daughter could constitute child abuse.
- -1 thumbs!
  Final Blade | May 26, 2008
  
  _{Yea right, I would think GTA 4 would be far far worse
  Its just idiotic parents not buying a game that isn't even on par to drugs use to another, yet they buy the more controversial one. Yeah that makes plenty of sense.}
0 thumbs!
tallteen86 | May 26, 2008

Meh, the game also shows (I think) the dangers of taking drugs. How you don't see things the way they should be seen, and that it numbs your compassion, or some such.
0 thumbs!
SvR2008 | May 26, 2008

I don't think its a big deal. My parents wouldn't care at all.
0 thumbs!
Ameer | May 26, 2008

I think Haze's suckiness has something to do with it.
- 1 thumbs!
  Zero and X | May 26, 2008
  
  I cant help but feel bad that Haze is getting bashed like this. This game was the work of a group of people who didnt try to make a Halo killer or anything and never claimed it was going to, yet it got hyped, and it was cut at the knees when it was forced to stand up.
  - 0 thumbs!
    Donnelly | May 28, 2008
    
    Just because they "didnt try to make a Halo killer" doesn't mean they didn't make a bad game either.
    
    Good games are good regardless of they hype. Just like bad games are bad regardless of the hype.
0 thumbs!
Distortion | May 27, 2008

It's not like drug use is a new thing in games anyway. Why is HAze in particular such a big deal?
0 thumbs!
Shane | May 28, 2008

It's also not like he's sitting at home shooting up on a couch. He's part of an industry that uses a 'stimulant', which, to all intents and purposes, is still a drug. It's just cleverly disguised for the theme of the game.

But promoting drug abuse is taking it a bit far.