Too much sex and violence or just oversensitive critics?

The long-awaited and much-anticipated “Grand Theft Auto IV” comes out this week and already the battle lines are drawn.

Opponents say the game is promoting a negative systemic change in society’s views on violence and sex.

Proponents argue that the game is no more glorifying violence or sex than the movie or television industries.

For years, attorney Jack Thompson has been vocal criticizing the game, saying that the GTA series has made violence attractive to kids when played obsessively. Thompson was a part of a few lawsuits against the game makers to hold them accountable on the behalf of the families of several murder victims.

But is it the game’s fault for these real-life violent acts?

On the front of every copy, there’s an “M” for mature rating clearly listed on the corner, which means that the game is not intended for anyone less than the age of 17.

Most places, including the toy store I worked at during college, require employees to make sure the person purchasing the game is of age. Heck, I even made sure that the parents knew what the game was about before they bought it — probably to the dismay of their 11- and 12-year-old kids.

The biggest argument is that movies and TV showcase the same levels of sex and violence — “South Park,” for example, regularly features a healthy dose of blood, guts and fecal matter. The only difference is that the user is in control of the character’s actions.

While I do agree that the GTA series isn’t something that younger children should be playing, it’s the responsibility of the parents to keep their kids away from these games. The rating system is there for a reason.