By Diana Poulsen
It’s finally the beginning of the summer blockbuster gaming season and thank Rockstar, because I was getting bored. Summer sprinted out of the gate with the release of Grand Theft Auto IV and as per usual some controversy has already started. M.A.D.D (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) would like to see GTA’s rating boosted from rated M (Mature age 17) to A/O (Adults Only 18+) because the player can drive intoxicated. I find the difference between rated M and A/O fairly meaningless because the ages of 17 and 18 are not terribly different. When I was 17 I was aware that games were fantasies, had seen sex in movies ,and knew that drunk driving was stupid and dangerous. Honestly, if you’ve made it to 17 without learning that drunk driving is dangerous and potentially fatal for you, your friends and innocent bystanders, you should get your head checked. You’re either chronically stupid or a sociopath. On top of that, M.A.D.D has had the most enormous ad campaign against drunk driving for as long as I can remember, so how could anyone tv-literate enough to see GTA’s ad not be informed? Though, as the proverb goes, you can take a horse to water, but it doesn’t mean it will drink.
No pun intended.
Of course, technically, the rating is decided by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) and not software company and therefore all protests about rating should be directed at the ESRB.
Luckily for Rockstar controversy is free publicity and Rockstar is the master of free publicity. This new controversy is only quiet rumblings in comparison to what Rockstar has created in the past. When someone finds Hot Coffee 2.0, that’s when the real controversy can start. Personally, I say hurrah for consensual sex simulators – finally us socially awkward folks can get laid in glorious HD.
There probably isn’t a Hot Coffee 2.0, but at least I can start the rumour mill.
So far, GTA IV is the game that Sony needed, because PS3 sales finally increased in time for the release. The PS3 will be boosted again for the release of the highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid IV. It will be available to purchase bundled with a PS3 or on its own.
However, the PS3 is still experiencing trouble with several glitches already reported in GTA IV. Be prepared for stalling frame rates and having to turn off your online connection. All the experienced PS3 and PC users have become accustomed to downloading patches, so it’s nothing new for them. Gamers will just have to cross their fingers that the patch comes out shortly. The Xbox 360 version of GTA IV has had no problems so far, and has overtaken Halo 3 and Call of Duty for the top spot on Xbox live, and gamers have already unlocked over 2 million achievements.
It looks like it could shape up to be a satisfyingly indoor summer for gamers. Maybe, it will be a gaming summer thrilling enough to make me stop playing World of Warcraft.
Now here’s a thought, what about GTA on the Wii?
Ha ha ha, GTA on the Wii. Nintendo has gotten a lot less shy about non-kiddy content, but diving right into GTA it right pushing it.