As mentioned in my personal blog, I have completed Grand Theft Auto IV. It came to me through playing the game that morality and morals do play some part in the game.
Of course a game of its nature, you cannot avoid stealing cars, committing drug related crimes, killing people. But, you do get choices who dies and if they die in the game. (I can think of about 4 or 5 instances where this happens)
Crucially, the big moral issues in the game come at the end. You reach your characters enemy from the past, who seemingly massacred your friends in your village for drug money. Do you kill him or let him live? He does, afterall want you to end him and he does egg you on. This part of the game has no bearing on the ending, but it is interesting and other than giving you a gamers choice to explore what happens in either case, I'd like to think it makes you reflect on what decision to make. The story of the game, as it unfolds leads up to this. But is killing him just?
The other decision making issue is the finale of the game, whether you work with your arch-nemesis from earlier on in the game for the sake of money (despite the fact he has tortured your cousin and caused many problems for you), or you choose to go ahead and kill him. The game either way, does not end their either, but you'll have to play to find out.
I went with my gamers instinct and chose to kill him, but thinking back on the decision, whats easier on the conscience? Remembering, 'forgiving' traumatic events caused by an evil man for the sake of money, or seeking justice and revenge? There is no way out of choosing either one for the altruistic person, so you have to go one way or the other.
The game's morality issues are not complete (thanks to a reader for highlighting this) without the complexities of sexuality and homosexuality. Earlier in the game, you 'pretend' to be gay to kill a gay man because he has annoyed at friend (not for being gay, though). I thought the game was a bit unfair on the gays, but then later on, you befriend a gay man and help him fight off a homophobe (you kill him too). So its even then. It does make you think.
Afterall it is a video game, but if it were real life, what would you do, go against principles for money or seek revenge? I'm not even sure what I would do, but I found it fascinating that a video game like Grand Theft Auto, despite all the criticism it has received in the past can throw up moral issues. Maybe most gamers don't think about the morality involved.
Perhaps they should.
Of course a game of its nature, you cannot avoid stealing cars, committing drug related crimes, killing people. But, you do get choices who dies and if they die in the game. (I can think of about 4 or 5 instances where this happens)
Crucially, the big moral issues in the game come at the end. You reach your characters enemy from the past, who seemingly massacred your friends in your village for drug money. Do you kill him or let him live? He does, afterall want you to end him and he does egg you on. This part of the game has no bearing on the ending, but it is interesting and other than giving you a gamers choice to explore what happens in either case, I'd like to think it makes you reflect on what decision to make. The story of the game, as it unfolds leads up to this. But is killing him just?
The other decision making issue is the finale of the game, whether you work with your arch-nemesis from earlier on in the game for the sake of money (despite the fact he has tortured your cousin and caused many problems for you), or you choose to go ahead and kill him. The game either way, does not end their either, but you'll have to play to find out.
I went with my gamers instinct and chose to kill him, but thinking back on the decision, whats easier on the conscience? Remembering, 'forgiving' traumatic events caused by an evil man for the sake of money, or seeking justice and revenge? There is no way out of choosing either one for the altruistic person, so you have to go one way or the other.
The game's morality issues are not complete (thanks to a reader for highlighting this) without the complexities of sexuality and homosexuality. Earlier in the game, you 'pretend' to be gay to kill a gay man because he has annoyed at friend (not for being gay, though). I thought the game was a bit unfair on the gays, but then later on, you befriend a gay man and help him fight off a homophobe (you kill him too). So its even then. It does make you think.
Afterall it is a video game, but if it were real life, what would you do, go against principles for money or seek revenge? I'm not even sure what I would do, but I found it fascinating that a video game like Grand Theft Auto, despite all the criticism it has received in the past can throw up moral issues. Maybe most gamers don't think about the morality involved.
Perhaps they should.
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