Well the reason why I bring up the new version is because I guess it's way more vulgar and detailed than the previous ones.

It shows the main character actually engaging in the sexual acts with the prostitutes. Before, according to friends, they would just show the car rocking back and forth. Now you actually see the two people.

And in the strip club, there are two women giving lap dances. First it's girl-on-girl, and then they're bent over with their butts in the man's face....

Wtf.

Edit: And yeah, I've never seen the game in action before. Can you tell? haha. I was shocked the whole time I was watching some friends play it!

Okay, so since last last Tuesday, I've played about 15-20 hours worth of GTAIV. Probably more. I'm too afraid to check. And I've been a diehard fan of the GTA series since the release of Grand Theft Auto for the PC back in some Godforsaken year in the mid 90's.

The sexual content is a very small part of the game and the virtual world. It is just another element the developer has implemented to make the world seem that much more real. Like the new ability to buy a hot dog from a street vendor, or give money to street musicians. Yeah, you can do it. But you are never forced and it is not a highlighted feature of the game. The open-world "sandbox" style allows for players do do what ever they so desire. It serves no purpose other than eye candy and a waste of money.

Personally, I tried it once to see what all the fuss was about, then showed it off once to friends and had a good laugh. Really, that's all it's good for. A laugh.

I was looking for the input of a well-informed gamer, such as yourself, Alek. Thanks.

I am definitely not a gamer. If I ever play a game, it will be a sports video game, so my opinion is coming from someone a little naive.

It's very much understandable to compare it to what's available on television and in the movie theater. But I guess I just grew up with games that were not comparable to GTA. I played Pac-Man and Mario Kart!

The violence was not what I was referring to anyway because I know there are way more violent things out there. Just surprised by the interactive sexual content. That is all.

Ahhh, okay. Sorry, with all the reports in the media about various charities and support groups being "outraged" by GTAIV, I'm a little on edge about the subject. :)

For those curious, here are videos of the hookers and strippers:





(Oh, and I edited down my little novella up there.)

Damn, Alek, those are long videos (I watched 30 seconds of one before I got bored ... attention span of a gnat over here).

Anyway ... my two cents ... what shocks me most about controversies like this is that parents don't know what their kids are playing. Some parents who have major issues with this sort of thing have no idea their kids are playing this.

I'm also shocked by the number of parents who think their baby is the cutest wittle 16-yeaw-old-eber and the kid is quite obviously in a gang. Clue phone, it's for you! Your kid's not 2 anymore.

I'm honestly more interested in WHY any of this is interesting to us as a society. These features are more of a symptom, and I'd rather look into the causes, which are obviously rooted pretty deeply.

It's happening because sex sells. Because guys like sex (and as stated, they are obviously the target demographic). Because a lot of gamer guys can't get any in real life, so they feel better if they can in a game. It's not deep. It's a way to get money, and create buzz and publicity(which you just gave it! so it's working). In ths day and age, where Second Life is so popular, people expect virtual worlds that closely mirror our own. It's just the latest thing.

As Beth points out, I'm talking about children playing this game. My friend mentioned today that a 10-year-old she knows plays it daily.

I wasn't questioning why they would make this game to begin with.

No, you didn't. But LK did!

And I agree, Carolyn. It's all about the fantasy.

For some, it's the fantasy of sex with a skank in a car in an alley. Running people down and laughing maniacally as they flip hysterically over the windshield and 50 feet into the air is much more up my alley.

Sorry for my poorly worded response- it was late! I understand the idea of fantasy, for sure. I'm not really into video games but I enjoy a good horror movie every once in awhile and I think that follows the same idea... So yeah, fantasy for adults makes sense, although I think there are more issues you could get into if you wanted to, but I really don't know anything about the game so I won't do it myself. BUT I still want to know (like Lilo I think) why this still is entertaining to younger kids. When I was 10 I don't think I would have been at all interested in it, but of course times are changing and that's what I'm curious about.

Everyone should play a few minutes of GTAIV. The ragdoll physics (lifeless body physics) alone are worth the price of the game.

Like when you're barreling down a straightaway on a motorcycle, then hit another car head on and flip over the handlebars hundreds of feet into the air, into a flagpole, off a balcony, and back down onto the roof of a car. Maybe it is just a boy thing, but that is HILARIOUS.

I think sex and violence are a part of any culture. (that sounds really flippant ... I don't mean it that way)

In our culture, all sex and violence are "closeted". In other cultures, you can hear your neighbors having sex ... or your neighbors fighting.

I don't know how to elaborate without going on for 10 minutes.

I see, Lilo. Yeah, it's sick that kids play that, and their parents should be more aware of what they're up to and not let them. Any 10 year old kid who actually understands what's going on in that game has issues. I know my parents wouldn't even let me watch tv other than PBS when I was young...so I don't really understand parents who let stuff like this through. I have actually never heard of little kids playing it (and I have to do a lot of research about games for my job, so I read pretty much every article I can get my hands on) though.

I don't think the creators are at fault, though...it's definitely meant for an older crowd (and makes a lot of money for them). As much as I totally hate the way women are portrayed and violence, etc...I have to say...this game is pretty fun. And yes, the graphics are pretty awesome (from a developer's standpoint).

I agree about the graphics. It's ridiculous how well it's made.

Alek, I laughed a lot when the guy did flips in the air. One time, the guy (Niko?) flew maybe 200 feet and landed in the ocean. We, of course, laughed our rears off like the lighthearted folks we can be.

Yes!! That sounds hilarious. That is EXACTLY what the Grand Theft Auto series is about. Not hookers, not strippers.