Kotaku
The Guardian's GamesBlog points out that that a recent story in The Times about a fatal car crash with tangential connection to Gran Turismo included a completely inaccurate "fact" box on other "killer games."
The box lists Manhunt, Carmageddon and Canis Canem Edit . Gameblogs Keith Stuart explains why none should be listed:
The connection between Manhunt and the murder of Stefan Pakeerah has been widely discredited and officially denied by police investigating the case.The tormenting of the homeless man in Canis Canem Edit, an accusation first put forward by The National Youth Council of Ireland, has been discredited. As this article points out the player befriends the homeless character and learns combat moves from him. Also, it's possible to earn a bonus item by giving money to the homeless.
True, Carmageddon was originally refused a certification, but publisher SCi made a successful appeal to the Video Appeals Committee under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Stuart mentions that he was reluctant to take issue with a fact box because the main story does a fine job of pointing to the dangers of having distractions in a vehicle. I think he's well within his right and frankly in some way it is his duty to point out just how sloppy and misleading that fact box was.
Times reports on Gran Turismo crash - names other 'killer games' [Guardian Unlimited]
