Comments on: Sex, Prostitution, and Scandal in Grand Theft Auto IV

By: Bonnie Ruberg

Bonnie Ruberg — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:37:22 +0000

Well, this mini scandal, i.e. IGN’s “The Ladies of Liberty City,” answers some of our questions. Yes, sex. Yes, violence against sex workers. Yes, immature reporters adding to the hype and paranoia.

By: Bonnie Ruberg

Bonnie Ruberg — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:12:19 +0000

Oh, I agree with you, that rape shown on camera is still rape shown on camera–whether or not it pretends to have a moral message. But that’s sort of the point of calling those movies “exploitation films” as opposed to “cautionary tales”–it reveals the voyeuristic, salacious reality beneath the veneer of morality.

By: cadallin

cadallin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:53:46 +0000

Is the pretense of a moral veneer really significant?

A graphic depiction of rape/other sexualized violence is what it is. Whether it purports to carry a moral message or not.

I’m certainly not in favor of censorship, and I would love to see more sex positive content in the game industry (even though I’m not really certain what that would look like). I am sure that the GTA series isn’t it, and I dislike the series on that and other grounds.

By: Bonnie Ruberg

Bonnie Ruberg — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:06:06 +0000

I would argue, as Ed Halter (Voice critic, video game writer, and all around cool dude) has that exploitation movies were specifically about showing risqué imagery with a moral veneer–the whole “cautionary tale” idea. GTA however hardly comes with a moral justification :).

By: cadallin

cadallin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:16:34 +0000

The Grand Theft Auto series is to gaming what 1970’s and 1980’s exploitation movies are to cinema.

By: Bonnie Ruberg

Bonnie Ruberg — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:25:24 +0000

Fair enough, The Guy. As for the problems the sex workers’ rights people have with the game, it’s a mixed bag. On the one hand, it’s true that the GTA hardly limits its violence to sex workers. On the other hand, sex workers already have such a hard time being considering decent people deserving of health and safety…

By: Soulofaqua

Soulofaqua — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:25:05 +0000

@ The Guy

I thank you for the correction.

By: The Guy

The Guy — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:52:54 +0000

@ Soulofaqua

Rape is only considered if it’s a sexual act between non-consenting individuals. As the virtual prostitutes do consent to the act it’s not rape. It’s prostitution followed by murder and theft.

By: Soulofaqua

Soulofaqua — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:47:10 +0000

DOSFreak you are right that there is no rape in GTA overall or actual points accrued to murdering prostitutes,
but if you looked close enough you know that prostitutes usually had quite some pocketmoney and you could pick up a prostitute while in a car then drive into the bushes and your car would rock as if you are “busy”.
Thus if you would drive around honking and a woman would enter your car you could go behind a bush then when done step out of the car to kill the prostitute so that you would get your money back plus some extra.
This can be considered rape since you have “intercourse” with her only to kill her afterwards.

so them usually having more money then other NPC’s can accrue you to go after prostitutes because it rewards you more and the ability to have “intercourse” with a prostitute and then can kill her afterwards to get your money back can be considered as rape.

There are only two sorts of people actually noticing this, whiney Jack Thompsons and Lifeless game geeks

By: DosFreak

DosFreak — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:27:19 +0000

“accruing points to players for the depiction of the rape and murder of prostitutes”

This has been covered many times before and for those of us who have actually played the game we know there are no points accrued in the game for “raping” (which isn’t possible in the game..mabye it is in GTA 4? If so good.) and murdering prostitutes. (Prostitutes can be killed just like any other character in the game)

Just thought I’d post that for any FOX news people (or their ilk) who may read this Blog. I doubt they can read though.

I can’t image what inane thing in the game will become the latest controversy. Mabye there should be a scene in the game like in Pet Semetary where you mow down a little kid crossing the road chasing a balloon or mabye a scene like Basic Instinct’s interrogration scene where you see a woman cross her legs with no underwear. (OHMYGOD!)