The Meaning and Culture of Grand Theft Auto: Critical Essays in Bloomington, MN

The immensely popular
Grand Theft Auto
game series has inspired a range of reactions among players and commentators, and a hot debate in the popular media. These essays from diverse theoretical perspectives expand the discussion by focusing scholarly analysis on the games, particularly
Grand Theft Auto III (GTA3)
,
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (GTA:VC)
, and
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA:SA)
.
Part One of the book discusses the fears, lawsuits, legislative proposals, and other public reactions to
, detailing the conflict between the developers of adult oriented games and various new forms of censorship. Depictions of race and violence, the pleasure of the carnivalistic gameplay, and the significance of sociopolitical satire in the series are all important elements in this controversy. It is argued that the general perception of digital changed fundamentally following the release of
Grand Theft Auto III
. The second section of the book approaches the games as they might be studied absent of the controversy. These essays study why and how players meaningfully play
games, reflecting on the elements of daily life that are represented in the games. They discuss the connection between game space and real space and the many ways that players mediate the symbols in a game with their minds, computers, and controllers.