Every day, thousands of Americans steal cars, shoot police officers and murder dozens of pedestrians with semi-automatic rifles – all from the comfort of their homes.

Comfortable home carnage has been made possible through the recent release of “Grand Theft Auto 3” on Playstation 2.

The name alone suggests criminal activity, and only adds to the growing controversy surrounding the game.

The player fills the shoes of an unnamed convict who escapes custody when the transport van is incapacitated by some local criminals. Once free, the player can do whatever he pleases. In between working side jobs for the mafia and yakuza, the player can buy a small arsenal of guns, steal dozens of sports cars, shoot police, bomb buildings, street race, mug pedestrians, take a peaceful ride on the subway and even spend some dirty money on ladies of the night.

The previous “GTA” games, while popular in their own right, remained relatively underground games. While the previous games featured the same morally corrupt situations, the lacking game play and lackluster graphics kept them out of the mainstream spotlight.

The prominent question deals with why a game that emulates illegal activity has become popular enough for a third installment.

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the game is the ability to kill dozens of police officers and escape without a scratch.

The rebel image always has carried the anti-law image along with it, and the game capitalizes by allowing the player to be an outlaw without any of the legal ramifications.

“It’s like, you get pulled over by a cop for going like five over and you want some revenge,” freshman business major Josh Romas said. “So instead of going out and getting a felony, you go play the game.”

The game is a way of releasing aggression without hurting anyone or causing damage to property for some. “GTA 3” can be cathartic for angry teens, allowing them to work out frustration in a controlled environment.

“It’s like cheap therapy,” Romas said.

Parents argue that the realistic violence and criminal activity presented in the game teach children to imitate what they see. These arguments brought about the Entertainment Software Rating Board, commonly known as ESRB, which rates games so that consumers will know what they’re buying.

The ESRB uses the following ratings for games: “EC” is a game that is acceptable for everyone, but primarily aimed at small children; “E” is safe for everyone to play; “K-A” is for everyone except small children; “T” is for the 13-and-older demographic and “M” is for mature gamers, who are defined as 17 and older.

“GTA 3” bears an “M” rating for blood, strong language and violence, giving parents a clear indication that is is not for small children.

The average age of video game enthusiasts has risen to an average of 22 years old, which explains why games often are geared toward the mature player.

Another vital reason for the game’s success is the gameplay. It can be difficult to ignore the blood and violence, but behind it all lies responsive control, several non-lethal situations and an intriguing storyline.

“The game is just fun. The blood and guns helps, but it would still be good without it,” senior biology major Jordan Mettis said.