Gaming Blog Network

Now that Grand Theft Auto 4 has launched, game reviewers and eager consumers alike are eager to see if the game has lived up to their expectations.

So far, their response has been positive, review scores for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions of the game have been stellar, while individuals in the gaming community have anticipated this game with bated breath, even attending various launch events at midnight to get their hands on the game.

This unabashed praise granted by reviewers and critics was effectively balanced by those who took a more critical look at the role the franchise plays in modern society.

An article in the Chicago Sun-Times compliments Rockstar Games on pushing the envelope yet again while commenting on the game’s ability to exploit immigration issues. I thought that this was a clever piece, as it effectively describes the predicament faced by the game’s protagonist Niko Bellic: trying to fit into a world which may not always be hospitable to him, which is a familiar feeling to many immigrants when they first arrive in America. His situation is highlighted in the game’s initial trailer below:

Another article published by my Medill peers also analyzed the role that this game has in our society, questioning gamers in order to figure out if the game deserves its ‘violence’ distinction.

CBS also did an analysis of the role of GTA 4 in society, and even mentioned the fact that games are catching up to movies as a viable entertainment medium; the video is displayed below:

Both of these articles did a good job in analyzing the effects that this game’s launch have on overall society. They are both well done and organized.

These analyses were followed by the expected group of detractors, chief among them Jack Thompson, who I have mentioned frequently in my posts. While his comments, which can be read in this article, are nothing new, they are particularly concerning as they cite a video posted by IGN.com.

The article explains the negative implications of the below video quite well, I am just surprised that IGN of all people would provide Thompson, as well as other anti-game critics, with ammunition to attack the gaming industry.