So it basically means if you were born under the sun today you'll know about Grand Theft Auto 5.
So I, as a game enthusiast, pop-culture fan, and lover of most things involving stylistic violence/satiric humor, was looking forward to it.
This article is not about the game play exactly, although I may touch upon it. This is about what buying this game says about us as a society, and is it necessarily a bad thing?
For the past few weeks I've played through the game without any aid as to how to play the game. No help on any missions just using my instincts and trial and error. I'm not anywhere near as big of a gamer as I was in high school or my first few years in college.
As you immerse yourself into the game you begin as Franklin. Any doubt that this game is aimed at Mature audiences is put to rest within the first 5 minutes of the game. If a kid at the age of 10 or 12 got the game, there is probably a problem with parenting. It opens up with 'Fucks' and 'Niggas' being spewed out of a couple of black gangsters, followed by all sorts of profanity, guns and bloodshed. It seems everything is put on the table upfront.
It screams, "This is made for people who understand R rated movies" and things of that nature, which is all fiction and not BASED on reality. Yes it's comparable to a reality and it's not as exaggerated, but it is clearly NOT reality. If you don't think a kid can make this distinction, it's probably in the parent/guardian's best interest to not let their kid get directly exposed to the game.
Now comes the fun.
As you're delivered your basic tutorial of how the game works you become exposed to gun play aspect of the game: attempting to take cover, return fire, and essentially kick ass during a firefight. It gives you tips as to your special abilities, such as a slow-motion mode, and a mode in which you have limited nigh invulnerability.
The firefight is fun, and you get a discernible kick from the whole beginning scenes as the game shows off pretty real looking environments, most of which can be impacted by things that you do.
Eventually, you're given control of your characters to do in the city whatever you like. Creatively dividing your figurative sandbox into sections where you can do particular side games. If you want to go to the racing ride, go here. If you want to go get new clothes go here; get a new, car do this.
At all times you feel as though you're in control of what's going on, yet your character is defined by the game, and not you.
You are a criminal.
No matter how much you try in this game, no matter who you are in real life, however good natured and honest you might be. In this reality, you are a criminal. And it's up to you how you act.
You will have unlimited lives and penalties for breaking the law are more time consumption than anything else, as money is not necessarily needed to procure most of your guns and ammunition. When performing the games main storyline and objectives, you have unlimited attempts at the mission, and once completed, can be attempted again.
With this in mind, the game sort of encourages you to be bad. Why not? That's kinda what the game is about.
However, after advancing through the game, it's interesting to note that the game regularly makes fun of the person playing it. Playing up stereotypes of American video game players being privileged, self indulgent narcissists who are interested in being cool and hanging out with celebrities. In fact Grand Theft Auto's writers cut so deep that at one point I actually felt bad myself that I was playing a game and not trying to better myself in some kind of 'real' way.
The game touches on many real world issues, such as the legalization of marijuana, power of government agencies and government contracts, to the importance of friendship and feelings of betrayal. Yet all the while the player is acutely aware that this world is such an exaggeration of reality that it never feels preachy. Rather, it seems to be one fun joke that you're in on.
Killing random strangers doesn't make you feel good, but it doesn't make you feel bad either. It's typically done out of boredom or to get a little extra cash. The fact that law enforcement can be difficult to shake after 3 or 4 stars on your 'wanted' level actually keeps must of your criminal activity in check.
I think the obsession with Grand Theft Auto is not a new one. I believe most people have a fantasy to become a criminal. This is probably proven out through movies and television mostly. We love series and movies such as 'Breaking Bad' and 'Goodfellas' but those stories and characters are made by others. In this game, YOU get to decide the fate of your criminal.
This is what I believe the real appeal of the game is. That you play the guy that gets away with the crime. You get to maneuver around a fictional Los Angeles, driving anything you can get your hands on, and decide how bad you want to be. I would be interested in knowing the data collected by Rockstar as to just what the average number for murders within the game is. My own guess is that it would be relatively low considering the ease and lack of consequences. Most of my time is spent highjacking cars and just driving around looking for new things to do. I play the in-game stock market with insider trading tips received from doing a driving mission.
In the end, Grand Theft Auto V will rightly be placed as a landmark achievement as the most immersive entertainment product of its generation. A game that takes advantage with society's obsession with criminals and delivers a game that embraces that dark side in such a satirical way that it becomes harmless.
