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Sim Sin City - Thoughts On Grand Theft Auto

Posted by simoniker on from the we'll-be-sinning-when-we're-winning dept.

Torill writes "Gonzalo Frasca has some thoughts on Grand Theft Auto in the new issue of Game Studies. He particularly notes: 'When designers create a simulation that encourages experimentation, they are taking a huge authorial risk: trusting their players'. He also weighs in on the controversy over GTA's content, arguing, devil's advocate style, that the Bible, Mein Kampf and Das Kapital have caused millions of deaths, while it is still hard to prove that computer games really have caused deaths at all: 'Do the math. There is actually proof that books are extremely dangerous. They should be considered weapons of mass destruction. If you are really concerned about media effects, forget videogames: you should start burning libraries right now'." Coincidentally, the name of the article ties in with the alleged name of the GTA sequel, again claimed to be 'Grand Theft Auto IV: Sin City', even after (coincidental?) April Fool's jokes and other confusion.

3 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Shouldn't that be GTA V? by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 3, Informative
    Rockstar has already said that GTA: VC is not GTA IV and that is was rather more of an expansion/map pack than a full fledged sequel, of course they charged full price for it.

    So the next GTA will be 4.

    --
    I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
  2. Ummmm..... by Chmcginn · · Score: 3, Informative
    Well, apparently my sarcasm was just lost... sorry. To restate...

    I also can't see how a state run mental institution would cost much more than a state run prison*. Surely diagnosis, cure, and rehabilitation makes more sense than inprisonment after a terrible crime has been committed.

    Well, it actually is a lot more expensive, mostly due to staff issues - the number of guards, orderlies, and doctor per patient is higher (and the pay per capita greater) than the number of CO's. But it's not better... Because it's expensive, and people don't want to pay for it (or politicians convince people they don't want to pay for it), the marginal patients get let out, where they end up causing trouble one way or another...

    And, well, I think it's kind of obvious that somebody who's seriously lost their mind, and has access to weapons, will figure out something they can do however you look at it. (Although a movie/book/whatever may end up giving them ideas of more creative ways to do evil...)

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    Have you been touched by his noodly appendage?
  3. Re:Wrong! It is the original Grand Theft Auto. by KozmoStevnNaut · · Score: 4, Informative

    Exactly.

    The first GTA had Liberty City (New York), San Andreas (Los Angeles) and Vice City (Miami).

    GTA: London was of course set in London.

    GTA2 had three areas of one city. Downtown, Residential and Industrial.

    Since GTA3 was situated in Liberty City and GTA: Vice City was situated in Vice City (duh!), the next GTA is most likely going to be situated in San Andreas, possibly in a 70ies setting.

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    Eat the rich.