Schumer: New "Cop-Killer" Video Game Is All Time Low; Urges New York Retailers, Distributers Not To Stock, Sell In Stores

SCHUMER: NEW "COP-KILLER" VIDEO GAME IS ALL TIME LOW; URGES NEW YORK RETAILERS, DISTRIBUTERS NOT TO STOCK, SELL IN STORES

Senator Displays Gruesome Graphics from Game, "25 to Life," Where Players to Shoot Police, Use Civilians as Human Shields

Senator Calls on Sony, the Maker of PlayStation and Microsoft the Maker of XBOX to End Game Licensing Agreements with Game Manufacturer

Schumer Stands with Richmond County District Attorney Daniel Donovan, and Rose Nemorin, Widow of Detective James Nemorin, Who Was Killed in the Line of Duty in 2003.

As New York Police risk their lives everyday protecting the city's residents, today, U.S, Senator Charles E. Schumer revealed a not-yet-released video game that will allow players to shoot police, use civilians as human shields and customize characters in gang colors. Schumer today called on New York retailers and distributors not to stock the game or sell it. The Senator also called on Microsoft (the manufacturer of XBOX) and Sony (the manufacturer of PlayStation) to terminate their licensing agreements with Eidos, the maker of the new video game.

"Little Johnny should be learning how to read, not how to kill cops," Schumer said. "The bottom line is that games that are aimed and marketed at kids shouldn't desensitize them to death and destruction."

In a string of violent video games that many have claimed lower the common denominator of decency, such as Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt, the upcoming 25 To Life has violent and gruesome graphics that make it one of the worst. The game is set in a grit-caked inner city neighborhood and sets gang members against police and sends them on a mission to fight their way through the streets, killing whatever gets in the way. In choosing a character the player has a variety of customization options including choosing weapons and picking gang colors.

The video game goes out of its way to glorify a life of crime, portraying its lead character, Andre "Freeze" Francis, as a "good-hearted drug dealer" who reverts to a world of violence when his friend double crosses him. Not only is "Freeze" depicted as a hero, as he attempts to save his son from a similar fate by razing his hometown with one of the forty weapons (guns, bats, etc) available to him. The justice system is portrayed as a game to be played.

Perhaps most egregiously, the police are both vilified and brutalized. Gang members are in constant gun fights with police, and the game includes detailed illustrations of gun shot wounds, blood and flying bullets.

This glorification of crime and cop killing is worse yet when it is clearly packaged to attract a younger demographic with artists such as DMX, Tupac, and Xzibit featured on the soundtrack, and an interactive website available to anyone willing to claim they are over the age of seventeen. The website can be found at www.25tolife.com

To combat this menace, today U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on New York retailers and distributors to opt out of stocking and selling the game once it is released. Schumer also called on Sony and Microsoft to terminate their licensing agreements with Eidos, the manufacturer of "25 to Life."

"There is nowhere that the value of the police force is felt more strongly than here in New York, and to sell a video game that denigrates their value is simply unacceptable," Schumer said. "You certainly don't need a degree in criminal justice to understand that when you make sport of behavior that is dangerous and destructive you reinforce it. The last thing we need here in New York is to reinforce a destructive culture of violence and disrespect for the law."

"This is not a game to the men and women in our police services, but is a dangerous reality to those who put their lives on the line each day combating gang members and the guns and drugs that they peddle. As long as there is a profit to be made, these games will continue to be targeted to our communities. I am calling upon manufacturers and retailers to show some sensitivity to those who have fallen in the line of duty and stop producing and selling these obscene games," said Richmond County District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr.

Video game sales reached $10 billion in 2004, and unit sales were up by 4% from the previous year. Of the top 10 selling video game titles for 2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, a game featuring gun violence, vehicular homicide, and flagrant sexual behavior, was the best seller.

Senator Schumer stood with Richmond County District Attorney Daniel Donovan; Rose Nemorin, widow of Detective James Nemorin who was shot and killed while on duty in 2003; Patrick Lynch, President of the Patrolman's Benevolent Association and Michael Palladino, President of the Detective's Endowment Association.

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2005/PR41733.25tolife.061905.html