Grand Theft Auto Idaho Falls
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Awhile ago, I challenged anyone to build a Sim-city model of Idaho Falls. Now I challenge someone to build a virtual model of Idaho Falls that can be used in video games, like first-person shooters. Imagine building the virtual model of Idaho Falls, then programming your own video game like Grand Theft Auto where you can drive over people and shoot them. You could program all sorts of fun stuff like shooting tourists at the riverbelt, climbing the temple and picking off people with a sniper scope, bombing our bridges, participating in gang shootouts in the mall, drug deals around Bel Air or a little market north of downtown. You could even build the virtual model out to the foothills and launch RPGs or mortars into Idaho Falls.
Once the virtual Idaho Falls model is completed in a 3D modelling program, I believe you would then use the C programming language to make the actual video game. This means your original 3D model could also be used for other non-violent video games. A game could be programmed that is like a religious quest, with biblical artifacts hidden around Idaho Falls. A game could be made that enabled users to create businesses around Idaho Falls to try out new ideas. An architecture engine could enable users to try demolishing buildings and erecting crazy new buildings (like skyscrapers).
The sky is the limit with a virtual model of Idaho Falls. A group of interested people could likely meet at the library once a month, and when the model is completed they could then solicit programmers to meet and create the games that would be set in the virtual model.
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Comments
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0 
0 This is a really sick idea. A game like this in the wrong hands of a disturbed I.F. child or adult could result in real tragedy. Why can’t we forget about killing and maiming and design a game that involves in being a hero, like fighting fires around I.F, or being an EMT or cop? Or how about a SimCity-like game of just trying to run the town and keep all the I.F. sims happy and the town growing?
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0 0 Well ok, I disagree because I think a lot of the violent media argument ignores parent’s roles in raising their kids with values and ethics, but I can see your point.
The original idea was to first build a virtual reality environment which you can then export into different game settings.
I like your idea, I would love to see a game of IF where one earns hero points by fighting fires or being an EMT or a cop.
The Simcity idea of idaho falls was already made in another article. Someone posted that they were trying to do it, but having difficulties. Haven’t heard from them in awhile, so don’t know their progress.
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0 0 Is this a joke? Is this a serious thread? Video games are too violent as it is….making a mock-up video game of Idaho Falls with violent acts is deplorable. In fact, games like Grand Theft Auto, and other cop killer games should not be able to be purchased by kids under 18! These games are influencing kids the wrong way….the argument…where were the parents misses the point: These games shouldn’t be tolerated by society in the first place…they are dumb…they dumb down the population and hold too much sway over kids. We need to make it tougher for these items to be sold in our community.
So, Joe, how would you feel if we made a game with your house as the target area….and maybe we even made you the bad guy, good guy, or just some shmoe that got caught in the cross fire? Wouldn’t be too fun now would it? What makes it acceptable on a grander scale? I say nothing…shelve the idea and go back to the drawing board with an idea that does not promote violent acts.
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0 0 Like I said in comment 1, one of my high school students made a replica of our school, and used it as an arena for Counterstrike, another first-person shooter game. There was not one peep from anyone about impropriety.
The studies I’ve heard and the smart people I listen to all suggest that normal-minded kids are not affected by violent video games. Mentally unstable kids ARE PROBABLY affected by violent video games, but anything could affect those kids (violent movies, violent literature, cutting heads of animals, etc.)
I would not care if someone programmed me as the bad guy shot up in a video game. I would play it myself. It would be fun, it’s a game.
I agree the games should not be sold to kids under 18, and parents should monitor their kids’ game consumption if they provide it to them.
But let’s not be afraid of a silly game.
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0 0 Shooting tourist is your idea of fun? There are two guys down in Poky who might want to get together for a night of fun with you, Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik. They got a real kick out of stabbing a friend to death sounds like your kind of guys. I agree that parents have a lot of responsibility to not let their kids play these games. I also belive that this in no way releases the twisted individuals who produce such games from their responsibilities to society.
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0 0 Shooting people in FPS games is fun. That’s why they are so popular. Have you ever played one?
Do not accuse me of promoting actual murder as fun.
There is a difference.
Mentally stable people, the majority of us, can tell the difference.
The mentally unstable minority can be set off by anything, and often are set off by things besides violent video games.
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0 0 I was not accusing you Joe I was talking to the guy who came up with this idea sorry for the mix up. I play a lot of FPS shooter games. I admit there is nothing funner than sniping your friend in HALO when he has no idea where you are hiding. I however think this is different then running over tourist and sniping innocent people I personally don’t like those games. They are just a little to creepy for me.
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0 0 Sorry for my mistake, I was defending the idea and thought your comment was directed to me.
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0 0 Joe,
I think if you were in a profession that deals with the the problems society churns out you might have a different view. You call it just a silly game…and we shouldn’t be afraid of it. Well, I see how impressionable young people and even adults have become in the time of slick advertising and graphics.
If you were a police officer or general authority figure and there was a song, a movie, or a game bent on killing you….shooting up police, other citizens, teachers, etc…you might see these games for what they really are…a dangerous escape into mindless violence, gratuitous violence at that.
I have no idea what studies you have cited above…nor do I know what ’smart people’ you have talked to but people on the front lines dealing with the unparented rabble don’t feel this way. In fact, we feel cheapened by games like Grand Theft Auto and 25 to Life because they paint a glamourous picture to youngsters about gang life, drugs, women, guns, and ultimately death. This is not what we want or need to be promoting to our kids…it’s more than just a silly game that is fun…unfortunately, it has meaning and defines life for one too many kids stable or not and sends them down the wrong path.
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0 0 Nope, I think these are just games. Normal people can play them without ill effect.
I was a teacher at the school depicted in the FPS game. Nobody thought it was ill advised. Nobody.
I see these games being blamed when you can always point to a more significant effect on sickos: abuse, molestation, bullying, school clique culture, witnessing violence firsthand in their homes, etc.
Can you see that blaming video games for causing bad behavior is in the same historical vein as blaming heavy metal, rock ‘n roll, and even jazz for society’s problems?
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0 0 Nah. I can’t see that. Anymore than you can see that games like many other features of our lifes define our interests, our prejudices, hate, love, etc… Even if we are level headed…we are influenced. After a murder or horrific event the media interviews the neighbor about the wingnut that just went off the deep end. The neighbor says, “But he seemed like such a good guy”…think about it…where and how do ‘normal’ people get influenced….it happends over time…and by exposure to games, books, and other materials that are pedaled by creeps to make a buck.
Gaming is huge for kids….too many kids spend too much time in front of a TV screen. Gaming is merely one piece of the puzzle–but it is the topic at hand here right now.
Nobody confronts anything anymore due to political correctness and not wanting to offend anybody. It is time that we started offending people and making them think about and acknowledge how their sick contributions impact society. If you make a game that depicts killing people, sexually assaulting people, stealing, etc…then I for one am going to stand up and say this is baloney. The creators of this trash laugh all the way to the bank. However, I am not going to make it an easy stroll for them to do so.
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0 0 I think that shootem up games are fun too. I am with joe on this one. I let all my kids play them together we have like 8 computers and we sit down as a family and shoot each other in battle field vietnam and land of the dead so I dont care what anyone thinks we all get to have fun and vent our angers on the simulation of graphic violence my kids love it. My 6 year old is getting real good at sniping his dad off lol
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0 0 Mike is 100% right in the above posts. This stuff is too far out, and even though you others think it doesn’t hurt anything, the subtle message underneath it all is that it’s ok to do these things. It is NOT ok to practice this stuff because I believe that small pieces of the virtual world carry over into ones conscious life. Especially for young impressionable kids. I believe it waters down their sense of the finality of death, and the consequences of killing someone.
But it is also the responsibility of the parents to instill higher values in their children. Sometimes I seriously have to question the kind of values the parents have when I see what their kids are doing. Just last week I attended a square dance recital at my fifth graders school. As I was leaving I noticed a young man, about the same age as my kid. He was wearing a black sweatshirt that proclaimed in large white letters, “I’ll stop stabbing you as soon as you stop screaming”. How appropriate do think this is for a grade schooler to wear to school? I’m not too sure I want my daughter going to school with kids like that. Especially in light of recent events locally and nationally. In my opinion his parents need to be reprimanded for letting him wear something like that. Our society as a whole has become too callous. Everyone out there raising kids today should take a deep breath and do some real soul-searching about what their kids are really absorbing with respect to how they deal with each other & society in general.
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0 0 I agree those rude t-shirts should be banned from schools. They are ridiculous.
I still think that most people can tell the difference between reality and virtual reality. I think many teens can also, but again it should be monitored by parents.
I think if there’s a market for this type of game for adults, then so be it. I do see the argument against video games as a continuation of the blame-game that started with spoken words, then art, then rock ‘n roll.
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0 0 So, anybody that wants to do something about this can boycott stores that sell the over the top games that glorify violence and death…games like Columbine Massacre, Bully, 25 to Life, and Grand Theft Auto are but a few examples of the garbage out there. If you don’t let your kids have it then find them an acceptable alternative that won’t put them in the high risk category…and know who they hang with and what games they are playing at other people’s homes. This way parents can work together to put a stop to the profit margin here and encourage gaming that is not harmful to the mores of our society.
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0 0 Has prohibition ever worked?
Are you going to boycott Amazon.com? How often do boycotts ever work, especially when they are rooted in censorship?
I suppose this issue is another that boils down to personal and parental responsibilities versus relying on the government to protect us.
In this instance, I am in favor of personal and parental responsibilities.
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0 0 Well, there you go Joe. We finally agree on something. I do find it interesting that you seem to feel that prohibitions never work. Can I come sell drugs at your house then (since prohibitions never work)? I want a nice lawn chair and some lemonade to drink while I wait for customers to show up!
Using the power of government to prohibit things that public policy makers have determined are not acceptable goes on everyday. It is never infallible…just like asking parents to police their kids. We have to work on incentives both positive and negative to stop destructive games and behaviors going on in our communities. I think it is wrong to lump prohibitions into one camp’s responsibilities. It has to be done in a constitutional way (to avoid censureship)…but government can act in positive ways such as providing subsidies to industries that agree to not develop or publish trash. This can act as a counterweight to peddlers of destruction while avoiding the dreaded ‘censorship’ label. It’s about getting creative and harnessing the power of government to promote rather than prevent.
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0 0 Give me a break Mike! There is nothing wrong with these games and they should in no way be censored by our government! These games were made for ADULTS! The game makers already have a rating system in place and its up to the PARENTS to monitor their kids tv, video game and internet usage. Just because too many parent’s are incapable of doing that isn’t my fault.
You want to make everybody pay for all the idiots that reproduce and have no clue how to raise their children. Censorship is not the answer!
If you don’t want to play the game then that’s fine, but don’t try to take it away from other people just because it offends YOU. And as long as you have that choice and you keep it from your own children, there shouldn’t be a problem here! It’s just like going to the movies. If you’re not into violent rated R movies what do you do? You just don’t go right?
Really….it’s pretty much common sense isn’t it?
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0 0 Thanks for the offer, but no I do not like to see drug dealers in my neighborhood. If we did not have prohibition against drugs, they would be sold under corporate labels in Wal-Marts and there would not be dangerous drug dealers in our neighborhoods.
Hey then we could also take the money we spend on drug-related prison sentences and put it into actual treatment options.
Using the taxes from selling drugs legally would probably be enough to pay for treatment needs, and we could just pocket the savings from not imprisoning drug offenders!
To tie back to the subject of violent video games, if anyone tries to ban or limit video game violence, you do realize anyone can program their own games and release them for free on the web, or that our laws could not apply to video game development companies worldwide?
A ban is censorship is prohibition is totally ineffective.
How instead can we focus energies on helping those few mentally unstable people who are affected by violent video games, violent television and movies, violent literature, and violent homes? I think we will see more results from pursuing this avenue.
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0 0 This doesn’t even include the fact that whenever a ban is proposed on ‘offensive material,’ doesn’t the proposed ban increase the publicity of said product to the point where it actually increases the sales of the product?
For example, I hadn’t even heard of 2LiveCrew until they were splashed all over the news because people in some towns wanted to ban them. The same is true of Grand Theft Auto. I hadn’t heard about it until the news sensationalized the game by deploring the huge amount of violence in the game…
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0 0 I fully support parental warnings on video games but I oppose censorship of them. Its not my fault that some parents are too lazy to educate themselves. Any parent that is shocked to find out that the Grand Theft Auto they bought their ten year old has adult content is a very bad parent. Its their job as a parent to learn about the content, simple to do if you spend two minutes reading reviews on the net. Its not the governments job to be a nanny for these poor parents.
Also, my occupation is one of the ones killed frequently in the GTA games. I enjoy killing my video game brethren and don’t worry a bit about it.
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0 0 Part of the parental responsibility problem is many parents may not know what is in the game, but then when they see it they fail to take action.
A smart tech guy I listen to, Leo Laporte, described how he bought GTA for his 11-year old son, and admitted he failed to really look at the game. When his son later showed him in the game how to kick heads down the street like soccer balls, he took the game away.
I have a buddy that bought GTA for his nephew, but when he saw the content a few days later, yanked it back.
It can be hard to pull the reins in at that point because you’ve already plunked $60 down for it and you know there are no refunds, and because you’ll be Mr. Unpopular for doing it.
I wonder how many parents shrug in defeat and let their kids have the game, even as they wish they had not bought it?
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0 0 Post 19: To JimmyJam. Thanks for the comments. You know, it would be nice to just keep my kids in check and leave it at that. Unfortunately, my kids goto school with other kids whose parents who are either out to lunch, don’t care, or like Pociguy and others like Joe pointed out in Post 23 that just shrug their shoulders and let the kids play this garbage so they can be popular with junior. These kids can be a threat to my kids…your kids and others. It is naive to suggest that we just stand by shelter our own kids and look the other way to other practices going on in the community. For example, if we are aware of child abuse (physical, sexual, etc..) we are obliged to do something about it by affirmatively reporting it to law enforcement or Health & Welfare.
I don’t like Hillary Clinton but one thing she said struck me that it takes a village to raise a child. I would prefer that more of us ‘villagers’ stood up to these game makers, the parents that let their kids play these violent games, and handle matters as a community so that we don’t give Big Brother a reason (or Tipper Gore for that matter)to involve themselves. Hey, RoninRich, that was an awesome point about 2LiveCrew…their album was going no where until Broward County tried to censor them….While I am sensitive to this point, if we remain silent and do nothing we are sanctioning these activities to the detriment of all our kids. Instead of burying our head in the sand or using the code word censorship (which is only illegal if the government does it) why not be more involved in stopping this problem. Perhaps a petition to the game store in the mall would be a good way to start. I know people can buy on the web…yes, I buy on the web too….but we gotta start somewhere!
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0 0 The Church of England is upset a violent Sony Playstation 3 video game features a virtual Manchester Cathedral. “Resistance: Fall of Man” apparently depicts a shootout inside the virtual cathedral version.
The Church has demanded Sony apologize and pull the game from markets, and indicates they may sue if Sony does not comply.
I don’t think the church has legal grounds to do anything. If they can stop a virtual recreation of the building, then they could next stop unflattering portraits or pictures of the building. It’s a slippery slope, and there’s no precedence for banning virtualizations.
I bring this example up because of the previous discussions regarding the appropriateness of mimicking real places in violent video games.
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0 0 I think since the virtual recreation is being used for comercial gain they probably do have legal grounds.
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0 0 By that logic, painters could not sell paintings including buildings, and photographers could not sell photographs including buildings.
I disagree.
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0 0 It may seem silly but buildings and architecture are governed by copyright laws. I am not a lawyer and don’t know the specifics. There are times when it is allowed and others when its not, such as for some commercial purposes. Like I said I don’t really understand it when it is or isn’t allowed and what commercial activities are and aren’t allowed but I don’t think the average person has to worry about taking a picture while on vacation or for a web site, etc. Just from some quick google research it appears that models of buildings or architecture do fall under copyright laws though and a virtual model may be in this category. Of course it may be different in England.
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0 0 I found a discussion of the topic here http://www.openphotographyforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-429.html
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0 0 Quoted from that discussion page: “US copyright law [at 17 U.S.C. 120 (a)] specifically provides that “The copyright in an architectural work that has been constructed does not include the right to prevent the making, distributing, or public display of pictures, paintings, photographs, or other pictorial representations of the work, if the building in which the work is embodied is located in or ordinarily visible from a public place.”
One catch I see in this is regarding the inside of the church, which is not viewable from the outside public area. If the virtual inside is substantially similar to the real interior, I think they would have a problem. If it differs substantially from the real inside, I think they have no grounds.
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0 0 One logic that keeps buzzing in the back of my mind regarding this is hearing about some pedophiles using virtual children models in pornographic movies/pictures.
I believe banning the pornographic exploitation of such virtual children has been overturned in our courts, though it’s still being debated.
I just hate to see buildings have more virtual rights than children.
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0 0 Thats what I thought too about the public space issue after reading over the discussion.
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0 0 I hadn’t heard about the virtual child thing. That is very disturbing.
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0 0 Exactly how does one determine if someone is “mentally stable” enough to play these video games? will they be taking a test before being able to purchase and play these games?? Is the risk of human life worth the fun one has playing these games?? i surely hope not!
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0 0 I read a very heartwarming story of how one guy bonded deeply with his father, and the vehicle was a first person shooter video game.
Titled: “How killing people with my Dad improved our relationship”
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1443/how_killing_people_with_my_dad_.php
It’s an amazing story that you would not expect, but which makes perfect sense.
Perhaps this is a method that more parents can connect with their kids in our modern times?
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0 0 When I first saw the title, I thought this was about the spate of auto thefts that really happened here recently…
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0 0 anyone know the story on those auto thefts? someone said they werre torched and dumped in a canal?
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0 0 They arrested a 17 y/o punk for the theft of that red Audi. The punk has also confessed to a number of other auto thefts the police have been investigating lately. Looks like they’ve nabbed their bandit! Way to go IFPD!
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0 0 what car lot or business wer the cars stolen from?
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0 0 Speaking of auto’s….did you see this one? http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=6675011
This girl wrecked her car because she was trying to type out a text message and drive at the same time! Unbelievable! It’s bad enough we’ve got all these drivers around town on their cell phones not paying attention, now we have to watch out for people sending txt messages while they drive as well. Yikes!
I admit I have to use the phone for business while driving at times, but its a lot safer with a bluetooth stuck in your ear, than trying to drive with one hand and the other holding the phone to your ear. For 40-50 bucks, the safety aspect is really worth the cost! I bought one for each of my family members for Christmas and B-day gifts.
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0 0 A friend told me that the a new study is out that equates using the phone while driving with driving while impaired due to alcohol. Has anyone heard of this study? Should there we a law that would allow police to charge someone with inattentive driving if caught driving while using a cell?
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0 0 Yeah Mike, I’ve heard of that study. And it’s already a law in a number of cities across the country. It’s only a matter of time before it hits the books here. I guess we’ll need another 100 or so cell phone related accidents for them to actually do anything about it.
Like Jimmy above, I too use a bluetooth when I drive. It’s much more safe and youre able to keep both hands on the wheel. I would highly suggest it to anyone with a cell phone.
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0 0 if someone calls me and i find out in the call theyre driving an talkng on theyre cell i tellem to cb when theyre safe and i hang up
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0 0 FWIW, the research out there has found NO difference b/w hands-free and hands-on phones. To think that you’re “safer” using bluetooth is an illusion, and reflective of an ignorance of the actual research article(s).
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0 0 you’re certainly entitled to your “opinion”.
But to think that not having both hands on the wheel isn’t safer as oppossed to one hand on the wheel and one hand on a phone, well that’s just ignorance there. But that’s just MY opinion.
FWIW!
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0 0 Hey Anonymous in Post 44…do you have a link to that article or know what to type in to find it on the web. I have heard that before that there isn’t much difference. I am not quite sure how they calculate such a thing and I would like to find out more.
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0 0 Thats the thing with the anonymizer…they/he/she never provides links, quotes, or other pertinent information like that.
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0 0 Do some digging…might train you for future efforts at researching something properly before commenting on same…
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0 0 see what I mean!
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0 0 You ain’t kiddin on that one…what a call you made. Game, title, match!
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Has anyone thought of building an Idaho Falls environment for first person shooter games like Counterstrike? When I taught computers in public school, one of my students created a game environment that mimicked his high school building. Yes it was well after Columbine and no, nobody got upset because the kid was very level-headed (I think he went to MIT after graduating).
Perhaps the entire town would be too big for a FPS environment? Sub areas that might work could be the Grand Teton Mall, Wal-Mart, downtown area, or the greenbelt area?