Alex Schuh
Grand Theft Auto:
San Andreas
Promotion of Violence or
Fantasy Outlet
Alex Schuh
Brief GTA History
• Developed by Rockstar North then DMA
Design
– First GTA game released in 1997 for
PlayStation and PC
• Series is comprised of 3 games with a
fourth in the making
– GTA 3 has 5 subset games including San
Andreas
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Basic Plot of GTA:SA
• Play as CJ
– Play through missions to re-establish
families power
– Open ended play
• Do what you want when you want
• Have to play through missions to unlock map
– Take out former gang members who try to
start their own gang
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Plot (cont.)
• Turf Wars
– Each gang has a turf that can be fought for
and won
• Turf can change constantly
• Side Missions
– Increase skills or force an increase in skills
– Add to replay value
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Sinner or Saint?
• Breaks laws to do good (vigilante)
– Fights against drugs
– Fights crooked cops
– Wants to rebuild neighborhood
• Can be arrested
– 6 stars and you have to deal with the army!!
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Gangsta or Gangster?
• Creates stereotypical facade
– Slang, homies, drugs, bouncing cars,hoes,
etc.
• Expectedtolivelikea“hood”
– Unlawful actions boost respect
– Fellow gang members are unorganized
• Some other gangs use strategy
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More on the Thug life
• Demeans women
– Girlfriends can be treated badly
– Option to become a pimp
• Theft is required
– Steal cars to get around
• Clothing
– Wear the items that get the most respect
and have most sex appeal
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Why is it fun?
• Allows gamer to do things they can't in
real world
– Like superhero games
• Freedom
– Can do whatever you want(with the help of
cheats)
• No consequences...
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Or are there?
• Can the game have an effect in the real
world?
– Desire to steal a car, rob somebody, or even
kill
• GTA has real world possibilities
– Superhero games don't
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Personal Choice
• Consumers choose to purchase this
game(and others like it)
• There is no proof that it causes violence
• Could argue that it an effective way to
funnel antisocial behavior
– Steal cars in game world, instead of in real
world
Alex Schuh
Controversy
• Since the release of the original, GTA
has been a constant in the talks of video
game violence
• GTA: SA was actually recalled for a short
period of time
• Has had negative effect on Rockstar
North
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Controversy (cont.)
• Rockstar North now has reputation for
releasing violent, antisocial games
– Example : Bully
• GTA ranks in the top of most violent
games along with Mortal Kombat and
Doom
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Coffee Anyone?
• Google“HotCoffee”
• Was part of original program
– Removed when released but remained in
code
• Allowed users to hack game and see
sexually explicit content
– I.E. CJ getting it on with a lady friend
Alex Schuh
More Hot Coffee
• This“mod”hascausedthemost
controversy in any GTA to date
– GTA:SA was pulled of shelves and re-rated
A.O., the first in the series to receive that
rating
• The game was later re-released with the
hot coffee mod taken out
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What can be better?
• A way to change the ending based on
actions in the game
• Less stereotyping
• Legal ways to accomplish goals
– Ability to do everything illegally
• Steal clothes instead of having to buy them
• Mug people on the streets
Alex Schuh
Conclusion
• San Andreas was a great step towards
open ended gaming
– Itallowsthe“other”sideofthe“law”tobe
explored
• Took a chance by being controversial
• Created new possibilities in gaming
Alex Schuh
Sources
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_
Auto_%28series%29
• http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie
=ISO-8859-1&q=hot+coffee
• http://www.rockstargames.com/sanandre
as/
• a