Rockstar decides to play it safe

Instead of clubbing or shooting passers-by to death, gamers will be invited to a nice game of table tennis instead.

No guns, fast cars, crack houses or gangs, just what the anti-violent game lobby ordered.

Obviously it is a logical step: Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto Vice City, Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, Smuggler's Run 1 and 2, Midnight Club 1, 2, and 3, Manhunt, Red Dead Revolver, The Warriors and now, er, Table Tennis.

Is there a mod which you can convert your table tennis bat into a nail gun and shoot your opponent in the eyes? Um no. You can play against fairly attractive computer generated woman if that is what you want.

In the press release, Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games said the goal was to create a game that was addictive.

If it works it will prove that you do not need a game to be violent to be successful, if it fails it justifies the rest of Rockstar's portfolio of carnage.

Table Tennis for the xBox hits the shops in May and will set you back $39.99.

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