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It's very early, but does anyone else feel anxious about GTAVI and how Rockstar's brand of satire will taste in the current political climate?

Robin

Robin

Restless Insomniac
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Oct 25, 2017
3,508
There was a GTAVI thread on the front page a few days ago, and my girlfriend finally decided to give RDR2 a shot and I've been watching her play it over her shoulder for the past week or so, and it's gotten me thinking a bit.

I have quite liked Rockstar games in the past, including GTAV. I think Rockstar does a pretty bang up job at what they do, but GTAV was not without it's issues. I also think it's always worthwhile to take a look back at older games and giving them honest critique, but it isn't fair or at all productive to blame Rockstar for any of the more sophomoric elements of games older than GTAV, the same can be said for hypothetical future games. It would be like being angry at a spouse for something they did in a dream.

Nevertheless, I find myself deeply filled with dread thinking about the future of Grand Theft Auto and if it really has a place at my table anymore without really making some big changes. I think about the topicality they'd likely cover, President Trump, #MeToo, LGBT rights, Black Lives Matter. I don't know, it scares me. The way I currently feel about things, I'm not sure I even want a game that reminds me of our woes in that way even if they broach them with the necessary tact required.

Rockstar has routinely managed to rise above it's previous games and sincerely seem to manage to innovate and evolve with each title they release. But, is this a hurdle they can successfully vault?
 
Chivalry

Chivalry

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Nov 22, 2018
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They'll continue to make fun of the US in the most tacky way possible, don't you worry.
 
Goldenroad

Goldenroad

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Nov 2, 2017
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I don't think they'd "cover Trump", because that's not really what Rockstar does. Rockstar has enough money and time to get some really good writers on board. I picture GTA VI going in an even more focused Heist/Crime movie direction and focusing less on the satire. It's pretty much impossible to be "funny" when joking around about the current political situation since the reality is so much more far fetched than what anyone can write, so I think VI will have much less emphasis on that aspect.
 
TacomaSCDisaster

TacomaSCDisaster

Member
Oct 28, 2017
1,978
GTAV's satire was one of it's weakest aspects. It felt like aimless complaining without any particular point or message other than some cynical teenager-esque "everything sucks" mentality. And that often included punching downwards, which is just not cool.

It's weird because RDR2 had maybe the strongest writing I've seen in any video game ever, so they're clearly capable of really great stuff. I feel like they're beholden to the mean-spirited nature of GTA and will just write takedowns of everything, both deserving and undeserved.
 
flyingman

flyingman

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Apr 16, 2019
1,678
They already said they wont cover current politic climate. Nothing needs to be said about this
 

Daxa

Member
Jan 10, 2018
622
I don't know whether they're still South Park edgy, but their attempts at making political or progressive points in RDR2 were pretty damn atrocious from what I saw. And then there's the online "RP" experience ...

Their GTA5 business model is all kinds of sketchy, so I wouldn't expect much from their moral compass.
 
SolidSnakex

SolidSnakex

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Oct 25, 2017
23,792
Dan Houser's already said that he's happy that they aren't releasing GTA6 in the current climate because of how satire is with the headlines we're seeing.
 

Moist_Owlet

Banned
Dec 26, 2017
4,148
Rockstar is awful at satire. If they would try to tell a serious story it might age better. I think the story in gta4 was way more interesting than gta5.
 
Nacho

Nacho

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Oct 25, 2017
8,151
NYC
I mean, it's still selling on the top charts month to month. I don't think it's gonna have a problem. Whether that's a good or a bad thing is another question.
 
ckareset

ckareset

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Feb 2, 2018
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Future Resetera thread: Will the alt right co-opt GTA6
 
Duffking

Duffking

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Oct 27, 2017
5,796
I feel like since they added an actual casino to gta v any satire in the series is now basically moot
 
TacomaSCDisaster

TacomaSCDisaster

Member
Oct 28, 2017
1,978
Goldenroad said:
I don't think they'd "cover Trump", because that's not really what Rockstar does. Rockstar has enough money and time to get some really good writers on board. I picture GTA VI going in an even more focused Heist/Crime movie direction and focusing less on the satire. It's pretty much impossible to be "funny" when joking around about the current political situation since the reality is so much more far fetched than what anyone can write, so I think VI will have much less emphasis on that aspect.
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Takedowns of American culture are central to GTA and always have been. Even if it's not the focus of the main story, the open world, the brands of items in the game, the radio stations, the side missions, the ambient dialogue, etc. are all steeped in satire of American culture. I mean, I remember Vice City and Vice City Stories having some pointed things to say about Reagan via their radio stations.
 
skeezx

skeezx

Member
Oct 27, 2017
20,459
GTA tends to satirize the commercialization of americana, it never (to my recollection) goes South Park in kicking around a particular "side". some of the underlying stuff is (IMO) in bad taste but mostly relegated to a particular character and plotline

guess it's reasonable to be a little wary about it though
 
Poppy

Poppy

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Oct 25, 2017
18,322
richmond, va
i dont think that it would be meaningful enough to give them a chance to fuck up majorly, i think it will just be cheesy and dumb and obvious like in 5
 
Foxnull

Foxnull

Alt-Account
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May 30, 2019
1,651
The satire isn't the thing to worry about in GTA VI, the microtransactions are.
 
Dark Knight

Dark Knight

One Winged Slayer
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Oct 25, 2017
19,519
GTA is good at exposing the nihilism that's usually hidden in the background of a modern society full of distraction. GTA humor doesnt really match the political climate, since things are glaringly and blatantly nihilistic right now. It's basically why milquetoast jokes about Trump usually suck, because things are already beyond parody in their nature.
 
Putty

Putty

Double Eleven
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Oct 27, 2017
935
Middlesbrough
R* will do whatever they want and millions and millions will lap it up. It is going to be insane, though it's no doubt...4 years away.
 

Deleted member 7883

User requested account closure
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Oct 25, 2017
2,387
The brand of satire in GTA V was suited for the time GTA V released, imo. The writers are more than capable of nuanced dialogue as shown in RDR2. I have faith until they prove they'll fuck it up otherwise.
 
cyklisten

cyklisten

Member
Nov 12, 2017
442
I personally think Rockstars satire has been toothless, stale and downright not funny or interesting for many many years.
But they´ll probably just continue in V´s form.
 
ThousandEyes

ThousandEyes

Banned
Sep 3, 2019
1,388
How will people react if Rockstar decides to go with another white male protagonist for GTA 6 is the bigger question?
 
Lant_War

Lant_War

Classic Anus Game
The Fallen
Jul 14, 2018
23,633
After RDR2 was so praised, I think they might go back to a more serious story than GTA V's instead of making another one with that game's humor which was very hit or miss. Also no, I doubt they'll try to tackle Trump at all. Dude's already written like a GTA character irl lol
 
Quinton

Quinton

Specialist at TheGamer / Reviewer at RPG Site
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Oct 25, 2017
17,436
Midgar, With Love
I don't like Rockstar satire much in general so unless honestly I'll probs just avoid bumping into the script and voicework regardless. Unless it's a ton more serious, I guess.
 
Complicated

Complicated

Member
Oct 29, 2017
3,398
They exploited their employees to churn out the most profitable entertainment product on the planet. They are what they try and mostly fail to satirize. It hasn't worked in the past and it definitely won't work in the future.
 
MegaMix

MegaMix

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
786
Cocolina said:
GTA V's satire was toothless
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I never played GTA V, but I walked in a room with a friend playing it and listening to the radio. There was a commercial for their version of NPR about how it was radio for guilty liberals who subsidize people who don't want to work. It wasn't even anger inducing or eye rolling, it was just...dumb.
 
AuthenticM

AuthenticM

Son Altesse Sérénissime
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
30,712
oh they are going to "both sides" this shit so hard. I'm expecting it.
 
Dothraki Horse

Dothraki Horse

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Dec 28, 2017
495
I hope they don't bend the knee to anyone. Make fun of everyone and then everyone will hate you, that's the plan.
 
ThousandEyes

ThousandEyes

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Sep 3, 2019
1,388
Rockstar is in many ways more critical of the political right than Ubisoft. They won't shy away from politics in GTA 6
 
JamRock7

JamRock7

Banned
Aug 19, 2019
2,125
FL
Anxious over satire in a video game? Nope. Got way more important things to be anxious about lmao
 
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