Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
GTA IV: A Modern Masterpiece
()
There's nothing like three days of music and partying to distract a gamer from the release of one of the most anticipated games of the year. This dedicated LAista got back from Coachella in style; straight to my local GameStop to pick up my pre-ordered copy of Grand Theft Auto IV. After about 5 hours of solid playing time, its pretty much safe to echo the sentiments heard all across the internets; GTA IV is a magnum opus.
Niko Bellic is a fresh-off-the-boat Eastern European immigrant searching for the American dream. His cousin Roman welcomes Niko to what he initially understood to be Roman's high society lifestyle, but in reality he's introduced to a roach-infested studio apartment and a low-brow taxi service. The story follows Niko through his trials and tribulations of permeating American organized crime through Roman's various criminal clients as we discover how the protagonist's troubled past contributes to his success.
Not one detail is spared in GTA IV; from paved roads to radio stations, the tongue-in-cheek humor and banter produced by the game's A.I., it would take months to see, hear, and do everything in the game. Just before sitting down to write this piece, I shot a couple drug dealers, roughed up some loan sharks, and even bowled 10 frames with my shady new girlfriend, all in the span of 15 minutes. Normally this would take a week in my world.
Support for LAist comes from
The main reason why GTA IV is set to break numerous records is its depth. It's probably the closest possible thing you could get to controlling a character in a film. The freedom this title allows is infinite, offering the consumer considerable re-playability, and that's not even taking into consideration the online multi-player mode. The fact of the matter is, Liberty City feels like a real place; a living, breathing metropolis that takes its toll on every one of its inhabitants. The game pushes the boundaries of reality and control, cohesiveness and harmony, physics and visuals; this is what garners a 10/10 score from major gaming media outlets.
I'd recommend any casual gamer to pick up GTA IV just to see how publishers strive to set precedence for future titles. It's pretty much a given for anyone interested in epic crime sagas and intense dramatic films. There's no question that the game will incite a media frenzy due to its maturity level, so it'll be interesting to see just when the media pounces all over some story about a kid who finds his father's gun in his underwear drawer. All we can say is, once you get the game, don't forget to check your text messages.
Image courtesy of Conneee via flickr, and videos used with permission from IGN.com
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist