The Interview Controversy Sheds Troubling Light On Video Game Acceptance

The big movie news cannot be ignored: Sony decided it will not go forward with it's plans to release The Interview, a Seth Rogen film about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Sony was hacked and received threats, while the number of respectable movie chains who would take the film was dwindling. All at once, the internet (save for a few rogue supporters) cried out about free speech, bowing to terrorist demands and all-around support for Rogen and his now-canceled film. The equally troubling news is that no one cares when this happens to a video game.


It was an incredibly strong showing for games this year with three major 'Game of the Year' contenders in Grand Theft Auto V , The Last of Us and BioShock Infinite all hogging the nominations. In fact, the program featured close categories throughout with Game of the Year, Studio of the Year, Best Independent Game and acting categories being especially tight ca


Call of Duty: Ghosts has a lot to overcome if it wants to even come close to GTA V 's sales numbers. Even so, Activision seems confident that even if it isn't Call of Duty: Ghosts , their flagship franchise will hold the record again by the time Rockstar release the next game in the Grand Theft Auto ser

When both of these incidents took place, there was controversy. Debate ensued with two sides each offering up different points and demanding equal validity. But Sony has been met with almost universal admonishment after pulling The Interview. A quick search of The Interview mentions on Twitter reveals a starkly one-sided picture. A tweet by Judd Apatow (long-time associate of Rogen's) calling the move by Sony "disgraceful" was retweeted more than 5 thousand times in 11 hours.

The video game industry has been embroiled in this sort of controversy for the past few weeks leading up to the news about The Interview. In two separate events, the gaming community (and even some outside the gaming community) have shown a willingness to accept and often times support acts comparable to Sony's just as often as it condemns them. The first happened when Target and Kmart stores in Australia decided they would not carry Grand Theft Auto V due to its depictions of violence against women . Then days ago, Hatred, the game that may yet actually morph into a scolding-hot button, was pulled from Steam Greenlight .


It goes without saying that adding that adding retired WWF (WWE) legend Macho Man Randy Savage to a game shouldn't make it terrifying. The Slim Jim snappin' wrestler was a popular figure with fans worldwide, and his colorful personality made him fun to watch on television. However, nothing could prepare us for what would happen if somebody replaced the dragons of Skyrim with Randy Savage. The way the theme music just subtly creeps in, the way the Randy Dragon's neck just seems to bend, everything combines for a traumatic experience that would fill the pants of the most stoic amongst us. We would rather fight a hundred normal Skyrim dragons than face off against one single Randy Savage dra


While Call of Duty remains one of the industry's most consistent moneymakers, it has begun to see a slow decline in sales over the last few years. On top of that, Activision revealed that the number of pre-orders for Call of Duty: Ghosts have been a little lower than expected - subsequently blaming the discrepancy on confusion over the next generation launch. Piling the odds against the game even further, this year they'll be up against Battlefield 4 , which is expected to be chasing sales records as w

But saying that this dimension is "a game-changer" is overzealous. The first-person perspective in Grand Theft Auto V constantly evokes an aura of novelty. It doesn’t fit in. Grand Theft Auto V, and the Grand Theft Auto series in general, was never built for first-person. Many of the actions benefit from a more peripheral viewpoint, as you can attackers easier and see a nearby getaway vehicle without fiddling around with the camera too much. Firefights are not the focus of GTA 5 online guide|https://Gta5play.com/, nor are the driving segments. Grand Theft Auto’s appeal has always been the open-world. Moving around a city, launching off a ramp, shooting enemies, and making a clean getaway are not that valuable on their own, but the cohesion between these elements is what make GTA into what it is. The first-person perspective disjoints that synergy; it frames the firefights and vehicles as the most core elements, when they’ve only been pieces of a bigger puzzle.

The first-person mode includes a new cover system, a traditional FPS control scheme, along with auxiliary features like new animations. It aims (no pun intended) to deliver a new perspective on Grand Theft Auto, a series that until now has focused entirely on a third-person perspective. The trailer illustrates many highlights of Grand Theft Auto V like taking out street assailants, jumping a train on an off-road vehicle, and even shaking an enemy off the wing of a plane. The new perspective makes moments like piloting a jet fighter different, with aiming displays and cockpit views all in tow. It definitely adds another take on Grand Theft Auto V.