Nothing brings video game violence into the spotlight faster than a killing. That’s what’s happened in Thailand, where a teenager confessed to killing a taxi driver and said he was trying to recreate a scene from the popular and violent Grand Theft Auto.

Police said the youth, an obsessive player of “Grand Theft Auto,” showed no sign of mental problems during questioning and had confessed to committing the crime because of the game.”He said he wanted to find out if it was as easy in real life to rob a taxi as it was in the game,” chief police investigator Veeravit Pipattanasak told Reuters.

The incident has prompted a video game distributor in Thailand to push for an end to sales of the game while sparking calls for increased regulation of games.

This isn’t the first time this particular game - which recently came out with its fourth installment - has been the subject of scrutiny. And it’s no surprise, really, considering the murder and mayhem encouraged inside the game.

I must confess. This has been one of my favorite games of the past decade. I’m running a little behind, having just finished the third in the series. But there’s just something stress-relieving about roaring down the streets of a virtual San Francisco clone, stealing motorcycles and shooting anyone who gets in my way.

I’ve never, however, had the urge to try the same thing here in real St. Louis. Truth be told, I’m afraid of motorcycles.

I do find the subject fascinating though. Do video games really promote violence or are we capable of separating fantasy from reality? I know there are people who will argue either side of that debate with a lot of passion. But who’s right?