Controversial game released

Players have finally got their hands on Grand Theft Auto V and the gaming world has received another titillating dose of the mischief and violence that has come to define the series in the eyes of millions – many of whom have never played it.

Early reviews of the game confirm a checklist of activities from any good criminal’s daily planner: armed hits and seedy entertainment, torture and tasers. They also herald the return of what The New York Times newspaper called ‘the most immersive spectacle in interactive entertainment’.

And, in a world that’s learned to take ‘Call of Duty’ and Quentin Tarantino in its stride, it’s a combination many predict will result in the most lucrative entertainment launch in history.

“GTA is easily one of the biggest game releases of the year,” said Steve Butts, editor-in-chief of games and entertainment site IGN.com. “The previous game is still one of the biggest entertainment launches of all time, and there’s no reason to think GTA V will be any different.”

Although not available in Bahrain because previous versions were banned by the authorities due to its explicit content, many youngsters still play the game after buying it online or when travelling abroad.

Last week’s launch came at a time when the $66 billion video game industry, which has been struggling with flagging sales, is expecting a shot in the arm from holiday game releases and new hardware like Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One.

Launched in 1997, the Grand Theft Auto series has sold more than 125 million units. Along the way, the series has transcended the gaming world to become a cultural phenomenon through its rare mix of popularity and controversy.
 
Samuel L. Jackson, Dennis Hopper, Ricky Gervais, Peter Fonda and Debbie Harry are among the voice actors who have lent their talents to the series.

Flipping the script on the typical good-versus-evil story, gamers play Grand Theft Auto titles as criminals – from two-bit hoodlums trying to work their way up the ranks of organised crime.

Much of the franchise’s appeal is its status as an ‘open world’ game. While most video games, even those with story lines attached, keep the player busy on a predetermined course of action, open-world games allow greater freedom to explore.

And while games with some open-world elements date back to the video arcades of the 1980s, none had ever combined as many as the Grand Theft series, creating an immersive experience for players of its 10 titles and numerous expansion packs.

Want to work out? Hit a night club? Get a job? Change the radio station on your car stereo? All are possibilities.
But there’s no denying that, for some players, the ability to do very nefarious things in that open universe has also been a draw.

The game was also briefly banned in Australia and a modified version was later released. Other bans, protests and even lawsuits would follow. But Mr Butts says that’s not why the games have endured.

As recently as last month, authorities in Lousiana said a child had been playing Grand Theft Auto IV before he shot and killed his elderly carer. The killer was eight and it’s worth mentioning, is far too young to be playing the game according to its ‘M for Mature’ rating.

The sheriff’s office implied the child’s activities in a violent virtual world might have led to the killing.