Rockstar Games founder Dan Houser has said the company expects an angry reaction from certain corners of the media when GTA IV is released this April. Really?
"I expect it because we've had so much of it in the past," Houser said at a recent game demonstration in North America.
The elusive company founder said that he thinks GTA and other violent games area "convenient enemy" for the mainstream media. "I wish people would treat video games the same as other media," he said. "They seem to not want to do that for reasons that I don't understand. It's a convenient enemy for people."
It's also convenient for Rockstar's time in the media spotlight and sales numbers, no doubt.
Speaking to The Canadian Press, Houser also decided to distance GTA IV from the more 'cartoony' parts of previous instalments.
"If the graphics are slightly cartoony, we make sure the writing is slightly cartoony to match that," he said. "Obviously, the graphics have gone closer to realism, so we wanted everything else to be closer to realism as well."
Read our latest, stupidly detailed eyes-on with GTA IV here.
I don't think we're being told anything we didn't expect. Jack is certainly going to try and stick the boot in, in his usual Frank Spencerish way and the Daily Mail will have kittens.
Meh. It'll sell billions of copies, be the biggest game in the world for a while and Rockstar will be rich, rich, RICH!
Tsk, R*... getting a bit predictable in your old age.
You old cynic, you...
This shows that he talks a lot of sense: "I wish people would treat video games the same as other media," he said. "They seem to not want to do that for reasons that I don't understand. It's a convenient enemy for people." I wish that too, and again, can't fathom why it's not.
He obviously hasn't thought too hard about this if he doesn't understand why the media criticise videogames so much.
They do it because it is the one form of entertainment they have practically nothing to benefit from.
The other forms of media generally serve one and other well; music and films generate celebrities, whose antics help sell newspapers and gossip magazines which in turn helps promote that person and the film/song they're currently touting. It's a self-serving cycle that videogames sit uncomfortably outside of as the medium that struggles to cast off it's image as a toy for kids.
There are no gorgeous Hollywood-style stars in gaming, no star-studded red carpet events for OK Magazine to get exicted about, but surprise surprise, the minute something remotely glamourous does happen in gaming - Lara Croft - the mainstream are all over it.
Gaming has little to offer the celebrity hungry media; a delay for Super Smash Bros is never going to be a headline in the same way as a Big Brother winner or a Football Manager getting sacked. As such, only the most sensational stories will ever be told, and thus the belief is maintained that games are for children and so violent games are bad.
It is also arugable that as the popularity of gaming rises, a reduction in viewing time and readership of other forms of media has occured. It may well therefore not be in - say for example ITV's - interest to extol the virtues of gaming when more and more people are playing games instead of watching their prime-time shows. As long the traditional forms of media control the majority of information flow to the mass public, there will always be reistence to any threat to that establishment; until it too becomes a part of the same.
Tsk, R*... getting a bit predictable in your old age.
You old cynic, you...
This shows that he talks a lot of sense: "I wish people would treat video games the same as other media," he said. "They seem to not want to do that for reasons that I don't understand. It's a convenient enemy for people." I wish that too, and again, can't fathom why it's not.
I don't think they treat it the same simply because of the interactivity of games. Your actions, your choices result in the story evolving be it driving recklessly or a bullet between the eyes. Whereas the other forms of entertainment are a visual/audio experience only.
This interactivity in their eyes equates to on the job training for when you go on crime spree.
I'm getting tired of grown men and whingy little boys crying out like f**king victims.
*oh poor us... everyone hates us, we're so misunderstood"
I think are getting a little out of hand now..
As Mappman says...
When newspapers mention video games, they're hardly likely to say they're fabby... that'd make as good a story as Tiddles being rescued from a tree. Bad news sells. Manhunt 2 was manner from Heaven and R* have been courting that kind of exposure for a long time.
It's p**sing me off, nowadays.
This self victimisation gamers have gotten themselves into is making me gip. Bunch of f**king pussies.
"oh poor us... everyone hates us, we're so misunderstood"
<SNIP?
This self victimisation gamers have gotten themselves into is making me gip. Bunch of f**king pussies.
You DON'T think gamers are seen by 'the masses' in a negative light? It's seen as a dorky past time, partaken by children and flabby middle aged men who still live with their parents. Average Joe on the street would look down at you for spending an evening playing games when all they do is sit in front of the TV and watch dross - and that is because the media ALWAYS portrays gaming in a bad light.
And negative stories are always media mana from heaven - it's what sells papers. Or at least, that's the belief, I can't back it up with figures.
Of course they want the publicity, good or bad. More press coverage = more sales, unless the mighty ban hammer falls on the head of G.T.A. Which i think is highly unlikely.
Mainstream media have always banged their war drum about something be it video nasties in the 80s when video players came out remember them or rap music and heavy metal in the nineties.
Im sure Shakespere got s**t for something about the poo on the street in Ye old ENGERLAND.
All new forms of media are accused of being responsible for the social ills of society if only life was really that simple.
"oh poor us... everyone hates us, we're so misunderstood"
<SNIP?
This self victimisation gamers have gotten themselves into is making me gip. Bunch of f**king pussies.
You DON'T think gamers are seen by 'the masses' in a negative light?
Not as much as it used to be.. But who cares? To my mind only 3 games have ever been banned in the UK. Carmageddon - which was overturned and released, uncensored. Some PS2 game, whose name escapes me but it was a survival horror game involving young girls in a fraternity - deemed too cruel, and Manhunt 2 - and if you couldn't figure out why that game was banned you need help. Wii Remote... is the clue?
Other games effected centre around censored content - something that both TV and film experience to this day, as well.
Gamers are all too quick to get their knickers in a twist and then sound off, rather vehemently, in hugely negative ways which gives off an air of hostility. Very clever way to get heard, I find.
Lots of other games have been released, full of violent content, but if R* keep bleating about how hard done by they are, and gamers echo this crap then of course people are going to sit up, take notice, and what are they going to notice?
Mature debate? Or childish moaning?
As a medium, I think video games do very well and I don't worry about a game losing valuable playability by not having a decapitation animation, or lots and lots more blood.
Kill Bill 1 had to have the Crazy 88 scene displayed in B+W, simply because it overstepped what the BBFC deemed as suitable content.
How many games have feature more gore than that? Fleshy bodies, blood splats and arcs hitting the walls?
It's high time people just relaxed and got on with the game rather than cry about being victims every time a headline appears, concerning what games contain.
Although, I suspect that it's those under 18 who moan the most... Adults tend not to be so bothered.
Apart from this adult, whose fed up with the tears before bedtime lot who can't seem to just get on with it.
Buy a game, enjoy the game and leave it at that. Why there is this need for gamers to be super popular and the toast of the frigging town, just because they like what they like is old. Very old.
Maybe these fools should consider upholding the good name of the video games market rather than irresponsibly damaging it just so they can get some money.
Is this seriously true or just a myth because I can't say I know anyone who's w*nked themselves blind and my visions great oh and on the main topic, God bless Dan Houser!
"oh poor us... everyone hates us, we're so misunderstood"
<SNIP?
This self victimisation gamers have gotten themselves into is making me gip. Bunch of f**king pussies.
You DON'T think gamers are seen by 'the masses' in a negative light?
Not as much as it used to be.. But who cares? To my mind only 3 games have ever been banned in the UK. Carmageddon - which was overturned and released, uncensored. Some PS2 game, whose name escapes me but it was a survival horror game involving young girls in a fraternity - deemed too cruel, and Manhunt 2 - and if you couldn't figure out why that game was banned you need help. Wii Remote... is the clue?
Other games effected centre around censored content - something that both TV and film experience to this day, as well.
Gamers are all too quick to get their knickers in a twist and then sound off, rather vehemently, in hugely negative ways which gives off an air of hostility. Very clever way to get heard, I find.
Lots of other games have been released, full of violent content, but if R* keep bleating about how hard done by they are, and gamers echo this crap then of course people are going to sit up, take notice, and what are they going to notice?
Mature debate? Or childish moaning?
As a medium, I think video games do very well and I don't worry about a game losing valuable playability by not having a decapitation animation, or lots and lots more blood.
Kill Bill 1 had to have the Crazy 88 scene displayed in B+W, simply because it overstepped what the BBFC deemed as suitable content.
How many games have feature more gore than that? Fleshy bodies, blood splats and arcs hitting the walls?
It's high time people just relaxed and got on with the game rather than cry about being victims every time a headline appears, concerning what games contain.
Although, I suspect that it's those under 18 who moan the most... Adults tend not to be so bothered.
Apart from this adult, whose fed up with the tears before bedtime lot who can't seem to just get on with it.
Buy a game, enjoy the game and leave it at that. Why there is this need for gamers to be super popular and the toast of the frigging town, just because they like what they like is old. Very old.
My God...thank you Mr. Bear for the most mature comment I've read on these forums in quite a while. All the namby pampy immature whining that goes on detracts from what is generally a very good forum/site. I applaud you dear sir!
R* dont take any crap from the media, they will make a game they want and they will expect reactions. Rockstars obvious reaction is.. "F*** em*. R* Gives us GTA, they wont let tme media mess that up.
"oh poor us... everyone hates us, we're so misunderstood"
<SNIP?
This self victimisation gamers have gotten themselves into is making me gip. Bunch of f**king pussies.
You DON'T think gamers are seen by 'the masses' in a negative light?
Not as much as it used to be.. But who cares? To my mind only 3 games have ever been banned in the UK. Carmageddon - which was overturned and released, uncensored. Some PS2 game, whose name escapes me but it was a survival horror game involving young girls in a fraternity - deemed too cruel, and Manhunt 2 - and if you couldn't figure out why that game was banned you need help. Wii Remote... is the clue?
Other games effected centre around censored content - something that both TV and film experience to this day, as well.
Gamers are all too quick to get their knickers in a twist and then sound off, rather vehemently, in hugely negative ways which gives off an air of hostility. Very clever way to get heard, I find.
Lots of other games have been released, full of violent content, but if R* keep bleating about how hard done by they are, and gamers echo this crap then of course people are going to sit up, take notice, and what are they going to notice?
Mature debate? Or childish moaning?
As a medium, I think video games do very well and I don't worry about a game losing valuable playability by not having a decapitation animation, or lots and lots more blood.
Kill Bill 1 had to have the Crazy 88 scene displayed in B+W, simply because it overstepped what the BBFC deemed as suitable content.
How many games have feature more gore than that? Fleshy bodies, blood splats and arcs hitting the walls?
It's high time people just relaxed and got on with the game rather than cry about being victims every time a headline appears, concerning what games contain.
Although, I suspect that it's those under 18 who moan the most... Adults tend not to be so bothered.
Apart from this adult, whose fed up with the tears before bedtime lot who can't seem to just get on with it.
Buy a game, enjoy the game and leave it at that. Why there is this need for gamers to be super popular and the toast of the frigging town, just because they like what they like is old. Very old.
But Kill Bill was tongue in cheek, it's violence was more like an episode of "Itchy and Scratchy", and I'm sure if someone had never watched it, or the Simpsons, they would be horrified if someone described what it was about, just look at what that silly woman wrote about Mass Effect.
Not as much as it used to be.. But who cares? To my mind only 3 games have ever been banned in the UK. Carmageddon - which was overturned and released, uncensored. Some PS2 game, whose name escapes me but it was a survival horror game involving young girls in a fraternity - deemed too cruel, and Manhunt 2 - and if you couldn't figure out why that game was banned you need help. Wii Remote... is the clue?
Thrill Kill was banned too, right? That's 4
It's high time people just relaxed and got on with the game rather than cry about being victims every time a headline appears, concerning what games contain.
I suspect the reasons are two fold. Firstly, people get carried away with the hype of a game, start to really look forward to it, and then just before it's released, learns that it's hit with the ban hammer. That's what happened to me with Manhunt 2. After I read the NGamer review of it I knew it was a game I'd really appreciate. I was gutted when it got banned.
And secondly, many of us are sick of video games being made scapegoats for the worlds ills. Some dude goes postal in the US and shoots loads of his school mates? Well, that'll be computer games. Stabbing in a playground? Computer games. Robbed a bank? Computer games. Farted in a lift? Computer games. Annoys the t**s off of me. And I can see where it ends too - more and more games getting banned and an eventual tax slapped on those that are released.
"Bully" seems to be in the news a lot recently as well.
I remember booking the friday off work to buy Gta3 on ps2 and sitting there thinking this is going to be f**king massive as i ran down pedestrians in a police car,roll on april thats all i can say!
Rockstar don't expect and angry reaction among the media as much as they WANT an angry reaction amongst the media. As the saying goes there's no such thing as bad publicity and it'll give them more coverage amongst the mainstream population than they could possibly get from a proper advertising campaign.
If the media were truly serious about their anti-videogame stance the best thing they could do is relegate the GTA 4 pieces to a tiny column buried amongst some adverts so nobody ever notices it, but they want controversy to help sell their rags so they'll splash it over a page or two along with fiery righteous indignation and furious analysts decrying the destruction of the moral fabric of society, and thus continue doing Rockstars PR departments work for them.
don't see how manhunt2 is still banned just because of the wii remote, this game is also still banned on the ps2. as far as i know the ps2 doesn't use motion sensor controls! GTA4 seems to get delayed every month, i'm sure they're having to edit it every month until the censors are happy with it. the only problem is there won't be much of a game left when it's finally released!
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I'm truely shocked! I feel that my winking days are now over, and I'm going to live a life of either starring or blinking!
I'm at risk 
and my visions great 
