Grand Theft Auto is a notoriously violent and controversial video game. Writes Bill Marsh at the New York Times:
Game players inhabit a gangster who is equipped to dispatch scores of rival criminals and others, including police officers and innocent bystanders, on the rough streets of Liberty City, the bullet-riddled stand-in for New York… The latest… allows players to hire prostitutes and then run them over or shoot them right after they’ve performed their work…
Here is a visual that compares the spectacular success of Grand Theft Auto (measured by units sold and profits) with the most successful music and movies:
Comments 4
acolyte — May 27, 2008
Just goes to show how poorly movies and music are faring in today's market when a video game is out grossing them. The industry needs to step up!
RhinecatCowboy — December 19, 2008
Gwen: You might really like GTA IV. The story, which does not require you to kill any prostitutes, deals with an Eastern European immigrant who has been 'lured' to America by his cousin. The cousin promises riches and good jobs, but actually only offers Niko work as a mobster's hired muscle.
It's actually one of the only games that I've seen that portrays Eastern Europeans in a fair, likeable way (rather than just as faceless goons or Russian soldiers) or has any positive things to say about immigrants.
It can also be a jumping-off point for a lot of discussions on crime and society: What situations can inspire crimes? Why would millions of mostly law-abiding people enjoy role-playing as a criminal? How is crime portrayed in video games as opposed to news media?
Or, you could discuss public discourse about GTA: Why is all media coverage of this game centered around activities that are possible, but not encouraged or even particularly beneficial to you in-game? Why did Rockstar's "Hot Coffee" scandal cause such a problem for their company, but the existence of much more violent and sexist (or both) games goes basically unnoticed? Why, when the vast majority of video gamers are adults, is it considered a problem to make video games with R-rated content?
Games are a hotbed of social science, actually. I have a degree in psychology and manage a video game store, and never run out of things to think about.
Gwen Sharp, PhD — December 19, 2008
Oh, that's all really interesting! Thanks for the comment. I think Lisa actually wrote this one but just posted it on my computer, so I'll be sure and bring her attention to it as well.
Hugh Myron — May 21, 2012
Grand Theft Auto 4 is about exploring the corruption of the American Dream, not murdering cops. If you disagree, you haven't played the game, or at least you haven't beat it.