Grand Theft Auto IV. (2008). [PS3 game] New York, NY. Rockstar Games.

Grand Theft Auto IV. (2008). [PS3 game] New York, NY. Rockstar Games.

Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA) immerses the player into the world of Niko Bellic, a survivor of the Bosnian war, who comes to America with the hope of obtaining the American dream. Niko initially enters into a world of crime to protect his brother from loan sharks, and works various missions in order to alleviate his brother’s debts. The game has been extremely controversial over the years because of it gratuitous violence and the protagonist’s ability to have sex with prostitutes. GTA IV is the first of the series to allow the protagonist to make moral choices that effect the outcome of the game. The game also acts as a simulator, such as the Sims, by allowing the player to date women and alter their appearance. The game was highly successfully upon its release and received perfect critiques by many game reviewers. Because of the games controversial nature, it is often cited by the media as a cause of youth crime and as a result has become a significant interest in media scholarship.