NEW YORK – The latest version of the popular, murder-your-way-to-victory video game "Grand Theft Auto" unleashes its violence in a city with an uncanny resemblance to New York — and city officials are upset.
"The mayor does not support any video game where you earn points for injuring or killing police officers," said Jason Post, a spokesman for Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
In previous versions of the game, players killed both police officers and prostitutes, and sold pornography to children.
Trailers of the latest game, released Thurday on the Internet, show the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and Coney Island's Cyclone, while a voice is heard saying: "Life is complicated. I killed people, smuggled people, sold people. Perhaps here, things will be different."
Political leaders say New York and Grand Theft Auto IV have little in common beyond visuals.
New York is the nation's safest big city, according to crime statistics that show a 58 percent drop in auto thefts since Bloomberg took office in 2002. The city's murder rate is down by 28 so far this year, compared to last year.
"It's despicable to glamorize violence in games like these, regardless of how far-fetched the setting may be," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told reporters Friday.
The game will hit stores in October.
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