TEACHER BLOG| 30 April, 2008 - Published 11:03 GMT Grand Theft Auto IV launched | |||||
The latest version of one of the world's most successful video games was released yesterday. Grand Theft Auto 4 is the latest in a series which began in 1997 and which has often been controversial because of its violent content. This report from Vincent Dowd: This new version of Grand Theft Auto has prompted huge interest from gamers worldwide. In several countries, fans queued to buy it when sales began at midnight local time last night. It's a highly sophisticated game with impressive graphics. The new storyline plays out in an animated version of New York called Liberty City. The narrative concerns Niko Bellic, an Eastern European who comes to America to make a new life only to find that life is harder and much more violent than expected. The critics smell a hit. One wrote that GTA-4 is "...a violent, intelligent, profane, richly textured and thoroughly compelling work of cultural satire". The game sells for roughly $65 and sales in its first week are expected to reach $400,000,000. Some suggest Hollywood has cause to worry that video games are beginning to replace movie-going in people's leisure time. And it's true Grand Theft Auto hits the much sought-after demographic Hollywood finds hard to reach -- young men aged between 18 and 34. But it's also true that 2007 was Hollywood's best-ever year at the domestic box-office. It seems that if people like a form of entertainment they'll always find the time and the money needed to enjoy it. Vincent Dowd, BBC Arts Reporter gamers plays out in The narrative smell a hit profane thoroughly compelling work of cultural satire roughly Hollywood much sought-after demographic best-ever year at the domestic box-office | |||||
