November 24, 2005 @ 1:00 am

50 Cent Defends Violent Video Games

by: Lynne d. Johnson

It's been a busy time for 50 Cent — with the release of his memoir, From Pieces to Weight : Once Upon a Time in Southside Queens; Get Rich Or Die Tryin', a movie loosely based on his life; and the launch of a street fiction publishing venture with MTV/Pocket Books, G-Unit Books — it appears he'll leave no stone unturned. Now he's released a violent video game, Bulletproof, where the rapper traverses through New York's underworld amidst armed guards and gun blazes. The game has an M rating from the ESRB, which means it may contain "Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs." The rating generally means that the game isn't suitable for anyone under age 17. left "Just because it is rated mature doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it for your kids," 50 told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday. "Play the game and explain to them what they are playing." It's clear that he's not worried about his nine-year-old son playing violent video games. "The person that's influenced by a video game can be influenced by anything," he said. "I think everyone knows that a game is a game. There's the part where you actually press start on the controller — after that you are playing a game. If we have to take away video games, then we have to think about other things. And then we have no entertainment because we might influence somebody who's crazy." But it's just that sort of attitude toward violence, depicted in 50's book, his movie, and his video game that may block him from playing shows in seven cities in Canada next month. Toronto MP Dan McTeague seeks to have 50 Cent barred from entering Canada to perform a series of concerts in December. "I think it's time we send a message of our own to those who glorify violence that their gratuitous violence and movies are not welcome in our country," wrote McTeague in a letter to Immigration Minister Joe Volpe. "We need to do a better job at protecting Canadians from people who's message runs counter to all of our efforts of trying to curb gun violence." Read more Vibe.com news headlines

Article tags: 50 Cent, Video Game, Bulletproof