Fans line up for controversial ‘Grand Theft Auto’
April 29th, 2008 by KimHalf an hour since “Grand Theft Auto IV” went on sale at midnight, and you can bet hundreds of gamers and fans across the state are already playing the much-anticipated video game that has drawn criticism for its violent nature and criminal subject matter.
I caught a friend on the phone just minutes after he walked out of GameStop in Kailua clutching the $60 game in his hands. He arrived at about 11:30 p.m. and was 40th in line. By the time the clock struck midnight, there was a queue of about 70 on the sidewalk — “a weird mix of people,” about half of them high school students with some college and military types thrown into the mix. The crowd, he said, was about 90 percent male.
Why the big buzz over a video game?
“Never before have people had such enthusiasm for a video game,” he said. “(It’s) a revolutionary medium … an open world where you can go anywhere and do anything.”
“What was the general mood in line?” I asked.
He replied: “Dork.”
Then he apologized, and said he had to go. I probably won’t hear from him for at least a month.
The fourth installment of the popular video game, which again sees a hero-type character rising through the ranks of the criminal underworld, is one of the most anticipated and controversial entertainment releases this year.
A New York Times review called the game “a violent, intelligent, profane, endearing, obnoxious, sly, richly textured and thoroughly compelling work of cultural satire disguised as fun.” Players are cast as a former soldier/human trafficker from Eastern Europe who takes on assignments from the mob to save a relative in “Liberty City,” which according to reviewers is a spot-on take on New York City.
Previous versions of “Grand Theft Auto” feature various kinds of role-playing, driving, racing, shooting at cops and even a sex minigame that was cut from the game. As “Niko” in GTA-IV, players can go on dates, buy clothing and weapons, fly helicopters, take out drug dealers and cops, and — of course as the title suggests — steal cars.
Parents and even police have criticized the game for its violent nature, sexual themes and partial nudity, and its emphasis on committing crimes to get ahead. But, if anything, the controversy has only added to the hype: The game’s first-week sales forecast is expected to be upwards of $360 million, surpassing the $300 million by Microsoft Corp.’s “Halo 3″ in September, according to Bloomberg.
Ladies, the next few weeks (or months) might be a good time to schedule that girls’ night out…
photo: AP, via www.CNN.com
Tags: entertainment, video games
April 29th, 2008 at 4:36 am
Despite what the critics say, Rockstar (the developer) pays great attention to the GTA franchise and always delivers an entertaining, challenging game.
I haven’t played one since GTA2 many years ago, but I’m actually interested in picking this up for my PS3. But its mostly because there isn’t any other game with equal playing value right now….
April 29th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Hmmmm….I don’t agree with the abundance of violence and sex that permeates our beedeo games targeting youth, but at the same time it’s no worse than what is on cable TV, or even Grey’s Anatomy.
Instead, they should come up with a driving game where you try to avoid police while driving with a broken foot and oneold contact lens in. Doh!
April 29th, 2008 at 8:17 am
w00t!!
Everybody has been waiting for this next installment in the series. There was a 6 month delay on it’s release so I think that’s why the anticipation is greater.
I’ve played GTA II, GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas. GTA popularized the free roaming aspect in video games. Very versatile and not linear. You never get bored. There’s just so many things to do….and best of all, whenever you want.
I guess I’ll be out of commission for awhile too.
@ eMH
Just get it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. But that’s a big jump from GTA II to GTA IV.
April 29th, 2008 at 8:42 am
My coworker waited in line at midnight to get it. His line was “oh boy, I can’t wait to beat people up for helicopters!”
“I don’t really endorse the beating up off hookers though…”
April 29th, 2008 at 8:43 am
i remember watching some friends of mine play GTA II and was amazed at hearing the hookers proposition the player!! lol!! it’s not exactly kid friendly, but i totally understand the hype surrounded by video games. if you got the disposable income for these fancy systems and games than by all means. my poor hubby only has an xbox while nearly all his brothers and our other friends have xbox360 and play station. but on the flip side my husband would rather get out and physcially play basketball at least his whole body is working out and not just his thumbs…what i’m excited to try out is the new mario kart on wii!! see now wii is intense…something i can get into! lol!!
April 29th, 2008 at 9:22 am
The GTA games have create a new genre of play that created a new outlet for regular people to be as bad as they want to be without compromising their real life . It’s just a cool interactive world that one can get lost in. Add to that all the additional bonus features like hiring a hooker and killing a cop or too fulfills most boys fantasies of being an outlaw.
April 29th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I saw the preview of this game on G4TV’s video game show X Play the other night. Man. Too real. And this coming from a guy who saw the last Rambo movie three times in the same week. With GTA IV, you can apparently run over somebody and keep running them over and if I saw correctly, the limbs will twist and flatten as would . . . probably happen in real life. You can shoot people point blank range ending up with an effect that pretty much leaves nothing to the imagination (well, I got to admit there’d probably be more blookd if that ever happened. Heh, not that I’d know).
There was once scene played, though, where the bad guy (that’s YOU, the player of the game), after having wrecked havoc — run over people, hit into other cars — gets surrounded by the cops and they unload on him. So, it’s not all one-sided . . . seemingly.
All this from a video game. Oh, well, it used to be books that the pundits were afraid of a long time ago.
April 29th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Maybe I would get this if it still had (or more of) the mini sex game. That is what the video game industry needs is more loving and less shoving. Forget the violence and let’s busy with the ladies. I just got Dead or Alive 2 and while the barely there bikinis are nice and I still have yet to experience the pole dance part, I find that there is just not enough intercourse (or complete lack thereof) to be interesting enough to fulfill my extremely overactive libido. How about a fully interactive XXX porn video game. Now that sounds like fun. WoooooooHooooooooooooo!!!!
April 29th, 2008 at 11:35 am
yup….like CG says.
You pay the consequences for doing wrong.
You just can’t go on a killing spree and expect to get away with it. The more havoc you create, the more of a wanted man you become.
First it’s the police, then the SWAT, then the military. They dispatch armored vehicles, helicopters, jets, etc. and come at you with guns blazing. It’s hard to evade the law for too long. So you better think twice about “whacking” that idiot fast food cashier.
hmmm…..I may need to get a life.
April 29th, 2008 at 11:52 am
“Then he apologized, and said he had to go. I probably won’t hear from him for at least a month.” — classic
April 29th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
here we go again. the “mtv generation,” “life-imitates-art-imitates-life,” whatever you like call it, it’s doodoo. as a teacher, I see it just dumbing down this generation that grows up on a computer and has no social skills, no touch with reality, and no values. why? because it’s a cheap and easy baby-sitter for parents who are too tired and too over-worked to spend some quality time with their children. i bet a lot of parents don’t even know what half the stuff on these vid games is all about to begin with. as for adults buying this stuff, get a life. get off your okoles and go do something. meet people. interact. have fun. we’re in hawaii. sun, surf, and whatever you like do!
April 29th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
While I don’t wholeheartedly disagree with “just an opinion,” I do find it a bit much to say that this game acts as a cheap and easy babysitter. There have been two decades of other hit video games that people have been saying the same about. But dedicated parents who take the time to nurture their children (which, by the way, this game isn’t targeted towards) and do monitor what their kids play, even at a minimal level, should have no video-game related problems with their kids. It’s up to each family to decide how to raise their children, and that responsibility rests with each parent, not the video-game store down the street, or society in general.
And as for adults buying this game, I think you assume too much as well. You can’t assume each adult who buys this game has no life, no responsibilities, and most importantly no ability to turn the game off when the time comes. That’s just a common stereotype.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
he doesn’t like watching you shop anymore than you like watching him game.
April 30th, 2008 at 8:38 am
jimmyc,
obviously i was making generalizations and stretching a bit to make my point. it wasn’t a blanket statement for all parents and all adults. nevertheless, i’m on the front line as a middle school teacher in a public school here and i see the effects these games have on our youth and the use of computers in general. there’s a tradeoff of having young kids with competent computer skills at a young age and their social development. it’s real. no, not every kid that jumps on a computer because many do balance the time between computing and getting outside and interacting with others their age, like through sports and other activities. but, as a phenomena, this does concern the education field.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Jash:
Ooh. Stereotype much?
April 30th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I’m picking mines up tonight. No time to play until this weekend, though…
April 30th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Kim:
Ladies, the next few weeks (or months) might be a good time to schedule that girls’ night out…
right back atcha ;P
April 30th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Touche.
Can’t speak for all women, but I try my best to not torture my guy friends by taking them shopping.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:59 am
I’m a guy, and I go shopping with my girl all the time… It’s not that bad, plus, it makes her happy, which will make my time with GTA 4 even better! hehe
I asked her to hang-out and play GTA with me this weekend, but she doesnt like watching me run people over…
hehe
August 17th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Actual topic. Writing is worthy of attention.