Monday 26 July, 2010
My third time playing this game I decided to just run around and explore the city instead of focusing on the missions. After walking around I realized that the stereotypes that the game likes to use can be seen in even smaller details than in just the major characters that you encounter. I discovered a fast food restaurant selling fried chicken and run by a black person which is linked to the stereotype that all black people love fried chicken. I also came across a tattoo parlor and it too plays into the stereotype that poor, lower class people like to get a lot of tattoos.
After playing on three seperate occasions and looking back on my experiences, I've come to realize that you literally cannot progress in the game or do pretty much anything without partaking in some sort of illegal activities. Whether it's beating up a hooker for money for robbing someone, either way you have to participate in violent acts in order to do anything. I think it's unethical for the game developers to create the game in a way that you are forced to do this but at the end of the day the consumer does have the final decision on whether or not the want to play it and based on the popularity of the Grand Theft Auto series I would have to say that the mass majority of people do not have a problem with the game and its ideals. The game is centered around violence, stereotypes, and racism but I think it really comes down to the type of person who is playing the game as to whether or not it has a negative effect on the player.
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