Do you feel dirty after playing GTA IV?

[Peench]

Let's face it, the GTA series has made more headlines than Sonny Bono and Cher's breakup. And with all those headlines, I would venture to say (because I'm not checking them all), that the vast majority of them are negative. "Too much blood," "too much alcohol," "too much violence," "too many boobs," etc.

Even with all of the negative mass media hype there are a large number of us here who are playing the game and enjoying it. Are we partaking in a guilty pleasure or just seeing games for what they're meant to be: entertainment and fun?

So I pose the question to you all, do you feel dirty or evil or wrong or at all negative after playing GTA IV? Or do you just feel like you've spent some time having fun in a game?

[Epyon MX]

Nope. The game is too obviously a game for me to feel bad about it. The world betrays its 'reality' when I go barreling down the freeway with passengers in my car, run over 15 people and slam into 5 cars and no body says word one.

It's the uncanny valley in a different way. The closer that Rockstar gets to creating New York, the more and more unrealistic it becomes for each increasingly small detail they miss.

So I don't feel bad.

The worst I've actually felt for something I've ever done was in Knights of the Old Republic. Let me first say I was going 'hard-core' Dark Side. This woman had a skull of a sand dragon from her dead husband. Her husband had died on the hunt leaving her and their three children destitute. They had no money, but the skull was worth several thousand dollars. However, only men could sell dragon skulls on this world so she asked me to sell it for her and she'd split the money with me. I sold it and came back with the money. When she asked for it. I said 'no' and walked off as she collapsed and wept in great heaves and sobs.

I felt horrible after that, even if it was only a game.

[JParker0105]

at least you got all the money... lol

[Spzombie]

LOL that's awesome. I'm gonna go bad ass when I get Fable 2. I'll kick a puppy, and then shoot your spouse. But to be on topic I don't really feel dirty for playing this game it lets me do things I'll never get away with in real life. It's great for stress relief. After I had my fill I do the goody two shoes thing to make up for it.

[The Milk Man 09]

I was about to post a thread similar to this lol.

I feel that it is a game and a game world its not real the people arent real and like all other games it gives you a chance to do things you would never think of doing in real life so I have no qualms and no guilt.

[Twilight]

I was totally evil in Fable, but the way the game was designed, I never actually felt guilty about it. The dragon skull thing is just ruthless though. I feel no guilt in this game but I find myself being merciful when confronted with decisions. Mainly because I don't like taking orders from anyone I assume. I would probably be more apt to squeeze the trigger if the boss ordered me not to.

[lovekeiiy]

I don't feel bad at all. It's just a game with some very adult themes, jokes, and so forth. It's just entertainment. It's also a way to vicariously do some things that would otherwise put me in prison for a very very long time, 8)

And besides, I've watched plenty of movies that are just as adult, if not more, with similar content as GTA.

[MadBryan]

It mortifies me to think of the kids playing it. How old do you guys think you should be to play this porn. This game is a one trick pony and I think its like a standup comic that cusses alot. Take the smut out and your not left with very much.

[2Times]

Originally Posted by MadBryan

It mortifies me to think of the kids playing it. How old do you guys think you should be to play this porn. This game is a one trick pony and I think its like a standup comic that cusses alot. Take the smut out and your not left with very much.

Funny you say that because there are stand up comics in the game. There is also bowling, racing, darts, pool, relationships you have to maintain, etc. I have to say after the first time, even the strip club becomes a chore. But sometimes you have to do it because your friend calls up and wants to go to the strip club. If you want to keep him happy, you have to go.

The game is not about the cussing or the killing. If that were true, COD4, Gears and many other FPS should be considered "porn" as well. Those all contain lots of cussing and killing. This is just a game that encompasses many aspects of a criminal's life. If as a person, parent or player, you feel this game has no worthy qualities, don't play the game. Don't let your children play.

[MadBryan]

Well yesterday while playing I wandered into an open door and it was a sex shop. Shelves lined with porn mags and dildo's. You won't find that in a fps you listed. FAIL!

[2Times]

Originally Posted by MadBryan

Well yesterday while playing I wandered into an open door and it was a sex shop. Shelves lined with porn mags and dildo's. You won't find that in a fps you listed. FAIL!

I need to find that. Every time I think I found a building I can walk into I hit a door that won't open. I stopped trying to enter just any door on the street and stuck to what appears on the map.

Although I remember the porn shop in San Andreas. Good times.

[Crippler]

I don't feel dirty at all. It takes a good zipper mask, a diaper, and Der Wunderaffe yelling at me to do that.

[Causedawg 83]

I haven't played the game, so I'm not answering, but I'm curious who said "Yes" and why.