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Grand Theft Auto goes gay? Not really
10:10 pm Sep 10 - by Eric Gordon – buzz Wrter
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Any hardcore gamer who's familiar with the company Rockstar will know of their popular Grand Theft Auto series, and will remember the hot coffee mode in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that eventually was removed from the game. I won't explain the game mode, but it landed Rockstar in some hot water and some versions of the game in the “Adults Only” category. Many versions since have become notorious for the high levels of violence, racism, and even full frontal nudity.
After Grand Theft Auto 4, there have been many versions of the popular series released for hand-held systems like Chinatown Wars and Liberty City Stories. The most recent trailer released on behalf of the series was for one reoccurring character in the GTA 4 series, Gay Tony. Gay Tony, or the game character Anthony Price, owns several nightclubs in the video game that cater to both heterosexual and homosexual individuals. He's now getting his own game, Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony.
My biggest problem with this new game is the spin that Rockstar will put on the nightclubs and the character “Gay” Tony. I’d predict the game makers will portray a stereotypical gay figure to the dismay of those who identify as LGBT or otherwise. I will admit that I enjoy these games and own copies of some. I also realize that companies travel on a razor’s edge when it comes to having controversial content. However, I saw no real need for this storyline, as the series is rich with a number of other storylines.
Maybe denying the gay lifestyle a presence in the game is discrediting as well. I can’t speak on behalf of all the players and what they want in the series. However, while I know little about how these nightclubs and the gay lifestyles will be played out in the script, it only makes me nervous. Rockstar likes to be outrageous in their Grand Theft Auto series because it is simple, profitable and popular. As a company, it makes sense to go with what has always been successful, but it is a slippery slope. The company nearly lost me with Chinatown Wars with their portrayal of Asians.
I won’t ask people to boycott their games or claim that they are directly contributing to certain stereotypes and prejudices. I just implore consumers to know how different entertainment and media may impact you and not be blind to the content inside that game case. We must draw a line where fantasy and realities don’t intertwine and affect us beyond that loading screen.
The game trailer for Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony will be released on the second half of this year, rumored to be in October.
Sound Off
Last post: Sep. 14, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Timbo (unregistered user) said on Sep. 11, 2009 at 12:22 pm:
I predict that your state of preemptive offendedness will be unfounded. Rockstar's GTA 4 characters (Nico Bellic, Johnny Klebitz) have been exceptionally 'round', departing from stereotypes, and exhibiting complexity more often seen in cinema and literature than video games. The people that they interact with and the setting is likewise rich, diverse, and generally beautiful (even when it showing the ugliest sides of humanity). Gone are the days of flat, sterotypical criminals, a la Ray Liotta's Tommy Vercetti in Vice CIty.
No, Gay Tony will not be a character gays (or anyone) will seek out as a role model. He will be a GTA 4 Liberty City denizen: one prone to violent acts for personal gain, with complex motivations, distinct frailties, a sardonic sense of humor and probably an overarching sense of desperation. He will also be gay. Big fucking deal.
Eric Gordon (Eric Gordon) said on Sep. 14, 2009 at 10:40 pm:
Thank you both for your comments. I meant in no way to offend anyone and meant for this to be something people can talk about. Thanks for the clarifications.
It is fair to say I perhaps am "jumping the gun" but the point of my article is to say that while the plot may not entirely focus on the gay lifestlye in the GTA universe, that reaction that Rockstar is possibly looking for that you speak of Kionae is my problem. It is nothing new for Rockstar, but I just wanted to let people know.
I'm fine with it centering slightly on gays and realize that may not be a big deal, but with the past history I'm sure there might be some controversery, founded or unfounded. The gamer culture extends to many different people and hopefully it will be something that most people can enjoy playing.
Again I can't truly say much since the video game still has to came out. In terms of the video coming out a week ago that is true, but it is possible not everyone is aware of it and I just wanted to bring it up.
I consider new content in a game like an expansion to be a seperate game even though it deals with an ongoing series. As for the Hot Coffee "mode" you are correct, but if it wasn't easy to access in original versions the Adults Only rating may not have appeared so quickly.
Thanks for the opinions. I am not the final say by any means on this subject, but my goal was to see what people thought. Thanks for reading.
Kionae (unregistered user) said on Sep. 11, 2009 at 10:44 am:
While I have no problem with speculating about games and calling out the stereotypical idiocy that pops up... I think you're jumping the gun on this one based solely on its title (which, in all fairness, was probably the reaction Rockstar was going for).
There are a few things I would point out, though.
1) The Ballad of Gay Tony is not actually a new game. It's an expansion pack for GTA4.
2) The main character of the expansion is not actually 'Gay' Tony. It's his bodyguard, Luis Fernando Lopez, a member of the Northwood Dominican drug dealers, and it is his exploits that are detailed in the new content.
3) The trailer you mentioned came out over a week ago. It can be viewed on Youtube
4) Not really related to the new expansion, but just to point it out... There is no Hot Coffee "mode" is San Andreas. Hot Coffee was an abandoned mini-game that was disabled and inaccessible during normal game play, but was left buried in the code for the game itself. It was only ever available if you intentionally modified the game from it's original state.