You could hardly think of two more disparate things than Oxford University and Grand Theft Auto IV. A venerable institution of learning and an ultra-violent crook game just don’t go together. Under the surface, however, it’s different.
In this case, very much under the surface. The Euphoria engine used for GTA IV was developed by two Oxford students, who formed a company for that purpose. And Oxford has a piece of that company. What is mindboggling is that it was research from the Zoology department that was used to create Euphoria. Zoology? Woof!
Since the engine is a licensed product, royalties have to be paid. How much? No one is saying. But given the popularity of GTA IV, the payout is likely to be quite nice. Any day now, we’ll be hearing about “record sales” for the game. It’s already the top seller in Britain. Yes, I think this is going to be a windfall for Oxford.
I wonder how the university is holding up, given all the controversy about the game, the usual ranting and raving about “turning our kids into killers”, etc. Do they feel a little uncomfortable about making money from this? The article dances around that question.
Speaking of turning our kids into killers, it appears Jack Thompson is now writing to the mother of a Take Two executive. Well, actually he sent the letter to their legal department to pass on since he is banned from direct contact from a previous settlement.
http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/04/jack-thompson-p.html
I got to see GTA IV on a friend’s system. I am going to play the Devil’s Advocate. In ways, it’s a lot of what we ask for in an RPG – an open world, strong story line, and memorable characters. While I thought Manhunt 2 deplorable, GTA 4 isn’t so far removed from the games I play already, except the setting is modern instead of fantasy. I think the modern setting is the reason there is such an outcry against the game. Nobody complained when that you could garrote a guard in Thief or kill a town patrol in Oblivion, but doing the same to the equivalent modern day authority figure and it becomes a cop-killing simulator. Is there really a lot of difference in Niko Bellic doing Mafia style hits and doing the Dark Brotherhood quests in Obilvion?
As I have said in previous posts, I usually play the good character, so I am not sure if I will ever play GTA IV or not since you are forced into the role of a bad guy. I am just trying to rationalize some of the sensationalist media I hear, and the modern setting is what I believe is the real issue. If it was Grand Theft Chariot, I don’t think it would barely be on the media’s radar.
Yeah Xian, I heard about that letter. Anything to keep his name in the spotlight, eh?
And yeah, you’re right. If the game had the usual “faux medieval” setting, no one would be batting an eyelash. It’s because it looks like “today” that everyone is upset.