Grand Theft Auto V: Wasted Potential

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by ace13 on November 12, 2012 at 02:00 PM

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We don't know too much about Grand Theft Auto V yet, obviously because it hasn't been released. I admit that I haven't had the chance to play the series myself, but I am very familiar with it. It's hard not to be. The series is critically praised, a fan favorite, and much hype has been generated for the next entry. Gameinformer is even putting the game on its next cover. And what exactly is going to be featured on it? The three main protagonists, all male, of course.

Was I surprised? I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. I'm not saying Rockstar needs to include female characters simply for the sake of meeting a quota. Not at all. However, it would have been such a refreshing jolt for the series, especially in light of how female characters have been treated in past games. In an interview with The New York Times, Dan Houser of Rockstar had this little blurb to say:

Q. There are people who still aren't delighted by the treatment of women in your games.

A. Of course. But is their argument that in a game about gangsters and thugs and street life, there are prostitutes and strippers-that that is inappropriate? I don't think we revel in the mistreatment of women at all. I just think in the world we're representing, in Grand Theft Auto, that it's appropriate.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/arts/video-games/q-and-a-rockstars-dan-houser-on-grand-theft-auto-v.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

I'm sensing some malarkey on this one, Dan. And there have been others questioning this decision as well. Many have jumped to take Dan's side though, defending Rockstar in saying it would be uncomfortable for players if a female lead was included, and that it just wouldn't be believable or compelling. Both are ridiculous arguments, and I hope Rockstar didn't base their development decisions on these opinions.

Unless you live under a rock, it's 2012, and many women have been occupying various career positions. And just like with men, there have been honorable female citizens, and also criminals as well. Ever hear of Bonnie Parker, who robbed and murdered until finally being gunned down with her partner Clyde Barrow, or Aileen Wuornos, who was a prostitute and serial killer? How about Raffaella D'Alterio, a mafia boss from Naples who led extortion and counterfeit money trafficking rings, and even survived an assassination attempt from a rival gang? History shows us that women aren't simply strippers or prostitutes in criminal areas.

Human beings, no matter which gender they are, are capable of violence. You don't have to take my word on it, just do some research on female war spies, officers, and criminals, and you'll see examples of women who have fought for or against crime.

GTA is a series full of violence, so I'm surprised that Rockstar hasn't painted a broader picture of crime. They push the envelope, so why don't they have a woman take the reigns? Instead of having women serve as typical background characters- the love interests, prostitutes, and victims- why not give them a new role? Perhaps they could be a dirty cop, a vigilante, or a mob leader? Or if Rockstar is so persistent to include a female prostitute, then why not chronicle her struggle to rise above or advance out of the streets?

Again, I'll repeat that I would never say that a developer needs to sacrifice artistic integrity to meet some quota. However, in general, I firmly believe that a game will never reach its full potential by "playing it safe" and ignoring or pigeonholing women, because they bring a different perspective and depth into the mix.

In conclusion, Rockstar, if you choose to keep strong female characters out of your game, then please, please don't use them in cheap advertisements. It's wrong to use them as eye candy in posters, yet fail to develop them beyond that in your game.

A brilliant blog, ace. I agree with a lot of your points, but I'm going to defend Rockstar a tad. Hear me out. :P Before I continue, do give them credit for Bonnie in RDR. I thought she was a fantastic character. For the most part, criminal history in the United States has been very male dominated. There are few examples in American history of prominent women criminals. It has made sense so far in the stories that Rockstar have told in GTA games for them to be centered around male protagonists and, as it is from their perspectives (the men of those respective games) it was appropriate to portray the women in that way. That doesn't mean the women have always been relegated to the background or in niche roles. Bonnie in RDR is a fine example. In GTA IV you have Mallorie and that other girl (can't remember her name right now) who tricked Niko when she was really an undercover cop. I'm not saying that women aren't capable of crimes. However, the most notable ones, especially in drugs, have been outside of the US: http://www.mandatory.com/2012/07/27/the-most-notorious-female-drug-kingpins/ I would like to see some more prominent female characters in GTA games, but I feel that the best way to do this would be to have a female in the main role. Perhaps in a country outside the US? Frankly, it would be difficult. Would I be wrong in saying that it's harder to write a woman than it is a man? With a woman you have to walk a precarious line, and try not to stereotype, have a sexist portrayal of her, have her weak, too masculine, too strong, etc. I feel that no matter how her character turned out, some people would be dissatisfied or upset over her. I don't blame Rockstar for being hesitant in giving a woman a lead role. Not to mention, perhaps the entire way the game works might have to change to fit a female perspective. It would be refreshing, but again a difficult task, even for the masters at Rockstar. (Usually though, women criminals tend to be much more vicious than their male counterparts, so that could also give Rockstar some new imaginative tools to play with). It's a challenge I would love to see Rockstar undertake in a game, and I have no doubt that they eventually will, but one must recognize that this would be a massive undertaking in terms of themes, settings, characters, motivations, etc. On a personal note, I disagree with your thoughts on the woman in the poster. I think it's quite realistic. Coming from a Californian, that looks exactly like a woman (same iPhone and bikini) I would find walking down the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on a Saturday morning. It's realistic.

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by Coachscorner00 Monday, November 12, 2012 at 03:52 PM

Ace, this is why I am so glad that I have been able to call you a friend on GIO. There are good people in life and there are bad people. Good and bad isn't gender specific. I really enjoyed your examples and thank you for giving me insight. I coach girl's basketball at the high school and it is always good to have that insight so that I can try to understand my players better. Maybe someday RockStar will get their act together. I have never played this game but don't think I will either.
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by mojomonkey12 Monday, November 12, 2012 at 04:20 PM

Wow Ace, very intriguing premise here. Yes, women can be very much the leaders of criminal organizations! I haven't played much(meaning, hardly any at all) of GTA, but the little bit I did play, I didn't really like the way that women were represented, even in that thug lifestyle. I have been watching the crap out of Sons of Anarchy lately, it is a show about a Motorcycle Club, and they are basically a bunch of criminals. While the women in the show aren't the official club leaders, they are some of the best characters because the writers aren't afraid to make them be very strong, emotional, passionate and not afraid to get their hands dirty if need be. Rockstar got lots of (well deserved) recognition for the role of Bonnie McFarlane in Red Dead Redemption, you would think they would want some of that same praise for GTA. Good stuff as always!
by blaxar Monday, November 12, 2012 at 04:30 PM

Sadly my GTA gaming Stopped at San Andreas. Not because of the Gender issue. I just got bored with the series. Although, I would play a GTA if they added that sort of twist. (Women as the main character). I think they could have some fun with that. For example a female Pimp. Rumors i've heard from friends who are cops. Female pimps are way more violent then male pimps. That's just one example. Even though I own GTA 4 I haven't played it for more than 2-3 hrs. hard to get into a GTA game any more. If GTA 6 (we all know they wont kill the series) and they have a chick as the main character They will have earned my $60.
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by Hannibal Monday, November 12, 2012 at 04:38 PM

Awesome, awesome, awesome blog ace. I love the GTA series, but this is an issue my sister brought up way back in the Vice City days. I can't say that I've ever played a GTA game that's painted a woman in the light of a protagonist, much less the main character. Maybe we'll see a change in one of the future iterations. Great job again, ace.
by Arnulfo Hermes Monday, November 12, 2012 at 05:19 PM

A brilliant blog, ace. I agree with a lot of your points, but I'm going to defend Rockstar a tad. Hear me out. :P Before I continue, do give them credit for Bonnie in RDR. I thought she was a fantastic character. For the most part, criminal history in the United States has been very male dominated. There are few examples in American history of prominent women criminals. It has made sense so far in the stories that Rockstar have told in GTA games for them to be centered around male protagonists and, as it is from their perspectives (the men of those respective games) it was appropriate to portray the women in that way. That doesn't mean the women have always been relegated to the background or in niche roles. Bonnie in RDR is a fine example. In GTA IV you have Mallorie and that other girl (can't remember her name right now) who tricked Niko when she was really an undercover cop. I'm not saying that women aren't capable of crimes. However, the most notable ones, especially in drugs, have been outside of the US: http://www.mandatory.com/2012/07/27/the-most-notorious-female-drug-kingpins/ I would like to see some more prominent female characters in GTA games, but I feel that the best way to do this would be to have a female in the main role. Perhaps in a country outside the US? Frankly, it would be difficult. Would I be wrong in saying that it's harder to write a woman than it is a man? With a woman you have to walk a precarious line, and try not to stereotype, have a sexist portrayal of her, have her weak, too masculine, too strong, etc. I feel that no matter how her character turned out, some people would be dissatisfied or upset over her. I don't blame Rockstar for being hesitant in giving a woman a lead role. Not to mention, perhaps the entire way the game works might have to change to fit a female perspective. It would be refreshing, but again a difficult task, even for the masters at Rockstar. (Usually though, women criminals tend to be much more vicious than their male counterparts, so that could also give Rockstar some new imaginative tools to play with). It's a challenge I would love to see Rockstar undertake in a game, and I have no doubt that they eventually will, but one must recognize that this would be a massive undertaking in terms of themes, settings, characters, motivations, etc. On a personal note, I disagree with your thoughts on the woman in the poster. I think it's quite realistic. Coming from a Californian, that looks exactly like a woman (same iPhone and bikini) I would find walking down the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on a Saturday morning. It's realistic.
by DJH Monday, November 12, 2012 at 08:54 PM

Ace... I just... This is a pure bashing on GTA, and I love it! Oh, man. I just can't say anything other than job well done.
by markus1142 Monday, November 12, 2012 at 09:16 PM

Great blog Ace :) I've always hated that excuse, "it wouldn't work with a female character." It's as much a cop-out as limiting yourself based on something like race or nationality. Even games with default male protagonists often let players customize their characters to be women, with great results. Mass Effect and Skyrim proved this. Gears 3 added female characters alongside the dudebros and they were fantastic. Even in the crime world, Saints Row: The Third let you make your character female, and it didn't detract from the game one bit.
by Drym Shyuan Monday, November 12, 2012 at 10:20 PM

Great blog post, Ace! I just kept wondering, what city is that in the picture in the photo below with that beautiful woman... That ferris wheel reminds me a lot of Los Santos from GTA: San Andreas. But there was nothing across the sea on the other side. They either created a completely new city in the middle of nowhere (perhaps Atlantis) or it is not Los Santos.
by xking595x Monday, November 12, 2012 at 11:09 PM

has jolt read this? This is a great post actually, and something I've often wondered about. I'd be lying if I said most of the women in GTA weren't subject to playing stereotypical roles, but I will say this....Catalina from 3 and san andreas was one of my favorite GTA characters ever....she was a tough chick! So yea we might not have gotten to play as her, but at least she was fun while it lasted. All together though I agree with you...I'd love to play as a female protagonist....or a cop....ooooh or a lady cop. Great blog!
by xl9 Monday, November 12, 2012 at 11:59 PM

I am also going to join Glasses in defense of GTA. GTA's world is not necessarily our world, it is a world where things happened a bit differently. In GTA, the world is more corrupt and violent then it is in our world, and the law enforcement does little to fight crime. In this world, women are rarely in positions of power. However, women criminals and cops are in the GTA series all the time. There have been undercover cops, psychopathic drug dealers, deceptive killers, and yakuza leaders that are all women in the games.
by Brandon Dumsky Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 12:02 PM

Great thought-provoking post. However, I think your argument loses ground to the overall essence of the franchise: being politically incorrect. Basically you are asking the series to become the antithesis of what it represents and transitition to be politically correct by introducing female protagonists. Yes, it is possible, and you pointed out a couple of good reasons that females are just as capable as males, but GTA is intentionally sexist, and at times misogynistic for a reason: It is a satire of our culture and values. It's holding a mirror out for us to reflect on our culture of excess, glut, and perchant for violence. Machismo indeed, but it's probably the only game out there with the most substance. It's an elaborate study of American culture beneath that wide-appealing facade of destruction and chaos.
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by Orochisama LEVON, Spectre Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 12:04 PM

I totally agree with you wholeheartedly here. Rockstar really lost a critical chance to do something incredible and fresh storywise.
by Seamoni Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 07:36 PM

Well said Ace. I agree with you for the most part. I do think there have been a few really well designed female secondary charecters in the rockstar roster. My problem is the well designed female charecters are underused and unappreciated for the most part. I would like to see more female charecters in the driver seat in a rockstar game.
by MercuryWater Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 02:27 PM

Thank you. Thank you.
by Trenchmace Friday, December 14, 2012 at 01:18 PM

GTA is a disgusting franchise as it is, nothing will change them.

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Grand Theft Auto V: Wasted Potential