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wd40s's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PC)
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| [September 24, 2009 02:07:36 PM]
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Today is my final session with the game. I would say that it is my last session, but that would be a lie. The complexity of this game just makes it too fun not to see the entire story line through. Today I play probably the worst mission in the game. I sneak around some random guy's house as I steal guns for Ryder. I stop to wonder why they made Ryder look like Easy-E. Is it a homage? I find it interesting that the one true life gangster they choose to include didn't even die from that lifestyle. Instead, he died from sleeping with too many women. In my mind this only furthers the glorification of being in a gang.
To be honest I could go the typical moral route here and rant about how the racism, stereotypes, and criminal behavior of this game is unacceptable and offensive to me, but that just wouldn't be true. Sure GTA presents some improper ideals but nonetheless the game is fun. However playing the game for this class makes you experience GTA in a different way. I think everyone should realize that although GTA may be offensive to some, for others this is real life. The lifestyle shown in the game is not much different from the culture of America's ghettos. Personally, I think GTA provides the looking glass into a culture many do not understand and I appreciate it for that. Nonetheless there will always be those that outraged at the games content saying its not suitable for children. I really wish that instead of parents relying on the TV to raise their children that they actually become parents and live up to their societal duty. I find it absurd that one could imply the game makes people more violent or racist. If one cannot separate the difference between fantasy and reality then they have a problem.
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| [September 24, 2009 12:09:37 AM]
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During my second session of San Andreas, I start to realize how much this game glorifies the gangster lifestyle. I complete drive-bys and beat up random people in the street for money and at the end of every mission I receive "Respect" for doing so. All the while, I find it interesting how the main character never sees any consequences for his actions. Sure sometimes you get caught by the police or have to go to the hospital, but those are just small inconveniences. I would say they should show more negative aspects of living this lifestyle, but then the fun factor would severely suffer. At this point I start to wonder if I have a morbid sense of fun. Its fascinating that I don't have fun unless I'm beating prostitutes and doing drive-bys.
This game is a perfect example of cultural relativism. The only life CJ knows is deep rooted in drugs, killing, stealing, and mainly loyalty. While that may seem unacceptable to people outside that lifestyle, the characters support their friends through morally inept decisions even if there is no reason to. During a mission with Big Smoke, we try to buy weed from the Mexicans. When everything falls through Big Smoke kills one and sends me to kill another who got away. Even though I have no reason to harm this man, I steal a car, chase him down, and kill him. Loyalty is a good virtue to have, but sometimes loyalty can go too far.
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| [September 23, 2009 05:44:28 PM]
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GTA San Andreas is a classic game that you either love or you hate. The story line follows the main character, CJ, as he comes back to west coast after his mother's death. Shortly after being back, CJ falls back into the gangster lifestyle he once led. First thing I notice is Samuel Jackson's voice. Is there anything that he hasn't been in? Not two minutes into the opening cut scenes and one can tell that this game is definitely intended for a mature audience. Some might argue the language is over the top, however I contend that it contributes to the story's realism. I did not spend money on the game to get the West Side Story's version of the gangster lifestyle. With rating and restriction systems in place today, the only way a child would be able to buy and play this game would be with the consent of a parent. Thus it is up to them to decide whether or not its ethical to let their child be exposed to the excessive language, violence, and racism.
The first thing I do is head over to the barber shop. I guess if you're going to be breaking the law, you might as well look good. However, after several missions I get bored with the story line. Its time for some action. I drive around, running over as many people as possible, in an effort to increase my star rating. I reach four stars before a police cruiser runs me into a wall igniting my car in flames. Instead of getting out and running, I decide to die like a man. I burst into flames as my car explodes.
Even after just a short period of time, one can notice how morally depraved this game is. The whole concept of the Grove Street vs. Ballas story line preaches a very revolting message; we hate them because they are not like us. This idea of blind loyalty to a particular group of individuals is very applicable to our society. The most recent example of this would be segregation.
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