I'm going to start off by asking the mods NOT to move this thread to Games, as this thread won't get much attention there, and I'm not really asking people to discuss the game or its mechanics as much as I am its cultural impact.

For those of you who are clueless about this game, here is the trailer depicting the three protagonists:


Grand Theft Auto is a series developed by Rockstar North, and published by Rockstar Games. Its latest iteration, Grand Theft Auto V, introduces three protagonists in the city of Los Santos, a satirical Los Angeles. The game had roughly a 280 million dollar budget, and cleared a billion dollars in sales within the first three days of release. That's record-breaking across all mediums, not just games.

I've been playing the game since release, and while the game has garnered almost universal praise, there are those that see the game as misogynist, racist, or awful for a wide multitude of reasons.

As an aspiring game developer, keeping up with new releases is almost a must for me, and I have little perspective on what it's like to be on the outside of video gaming. A game series that routinely generates controversy both inside and outside gaming results in people with varying opinions.

So I ask:
Do you play video games at all? Why or why not?
What do you know about Grand Theft Auto, both the series and the newest incarnation?
Do you think the game is a satire of modern society, or just plain disgusting?

Personally, I think the game does a fantastic job of painting the characters as a bunch of ill-tempered, laudable psychopaths. Trevor's actions are particularly disgusting, and I've had a moment where playing as him legitimately made me uncomfortable. (SPOILERS IN WHITE TEXT: The player is tasked with torturing a man for information while playing as Trevor. All actions are controlled by the player, and the scene continues while the man being tortured begs you to stop and says he will talk, though you are unable to stop. Later, Trevor drives the man to the airport to allow him to escape, remarking that torture is solely for the torturer's enjoyment, and is useless as a means of getting information. The scene was disgusting and yet extremely powerful in its manner of highlighting some of the atrocities that are committed by our government.)

Yes, I do play video games. I enjoy immersing myself into another world for awhile, and doing something I wouldn't normally do. I particularly enjoy open map games. One of my favorite games is GTA: San Andreas. I had played Vice City and III before, but San Andreas had new things that I really enjoyed that really personified the character more for me. I liked how there were skills to upgrade, beyond just weaponry. Plus, more smaller, side missions to do to keep busy.

I think it's a hilarious game. It's not meant to be polite. It shows the nitty gritty of city life. And yes, most of it is exaggerated, I'm sure. But that's what makes it funny for me.

I intend to purchase V as soon as the cost goes down. I don't like buying brand new games when I can wait six months and get it for half price second-hand somewhere.

I play video games a lot. I do it because I enjoy storytelling, interactivity, and challenges.
I've played 3-4 (lolwhat) and I enjoy the series a lot. 4 was a little too far on the realism side, so I'm glad to see that 5 seems to be moving away from that direction. The series has always been a satire and I laugh at all the people who take it seriously.

Do you play video games at all? Why or why not?

I do and its mostly for leisure. Some games can be fun. I prefer games that you can pick up and put away at any time with a minimal learning curve. So basically, pokemon games or minecraft. I used to play games that took dedication. MMORPGs and such. But I just grew out of them. I don't mean that to sound dismissive of people that do play those types of games. I more mean, that my life changed. When I was playing games like that, I had SO much free time. College was a joke and I was more interested in being social. Now I have work and family, so games like that don't fit in my life. After a while, I decided that I didn't want them to. I still hang out with the same people in vent or skype. They're usually all playing league of legends while I work or play something else.

What do you know about Grand Theft Auto, both the series and the newest incarnation?

I know that the environment artwork is amazing. I used to want to be an environment artist for games. Ever since just seeing elder scrolls, oblivion. But I have never played a GTA game. It never struck me as my type of game.

Do you think the game is a satire of modern society, or just plain disgusting?

Having never played it and knowing next to nothing about it, I can't really say that it is or isn't a satire. But it is like anything else. There are reasons so many people love the game series and gravitate towards it. I've heard professors give speeches where they believe people find interest in games like GTA because they feel oppressed and the game provides an outlet. I'm not sure weather or not that's true, but the ideas sounded plausible.

I play the game but I know enough that it parodies real life.

I wouldn't really say that I "play video games" as I don't own any gaming console and such. The only game I really play is League of Legends on my PC, just because I feel like I don't have a lot of time to just be playing video games all the time, due to studying for school. But, my boyfriend owns a Playstation 3, and he recently bought GTA5, and so have so many other people that go to my school. Some people even skipped a whole day of class just to stay home and play it, even the teachers were aware of this, lol.

About the series, all I know is that it's basically revolved around violence and theft (duh). But I actually do enjoy this game, I play it every once in a while. It's the kind of game to me, where you just freestyle. I don't really do any missions or anything, it's just kind of a game I play to just mess around with and have fun.

The game is disgusting. But that's why it's a game. It's a fantasy world. I'd rather people be playing in this fantasy world from a controller, than going and creating a lifestyle like this in real life. That's just me.

I play video game, yes. Not a lot though. I mostly like solo RPG games, such as Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts. Zelda... ya know...

Anyways, I would love to play grand theft auto but I have never played it before. Whether they had an old release or the new one that came out now. Sometimes I feel as if I would want to play it but then I watch a friend of mine play it and it just seems really off-putting to me. As much as the hype that came with it, it doesn't seem fun at all as the others were.

I play video games. I play a variety of games. I don't like FSP's, but I can tolerate Borderlands. I play video games because they are fun, and a great escape of reality for about an hour or two. I have been watching my hubby play GTAV, and I have to say it's hilarious! I do hate Michael's family, that whorish, money grubbing, lazy family. Trevor is just psychotic, and Franklin is just about the sanest person in the game.
I personally thought the torture scene was too much, but it did send a message afterwards. The game is a satire of real life. There are so many play on words in a lot of the city.
[I personally love the GTA series. I find them hilarious.]
My favourite though, is the radio stations. They are hilarious! xD