Did you like V's social commentary?

[universetwisters]

As the title states, did you enjoy V's social commentary or no? I replayed the game for the fourth time and each time I play it, the commentary becomes more obvious like how the "civil border patrol" is supposed to "commentate" on bigoted "this land is my land" Americans, the words "hipster" and "millennial" somehow seem more entitled, etc. Personally, I hate it because it feels like the writers weren't even trying, using current events for their humor rather than making up their own jokes. Does anyone else feel this way about it?

Edited August 10, 2014 by Andreas

[Between3and20chars]

Way too preachy and in your face.

Edited August 10, 2014 by Between3and20chars

[Tycek]

Social commentary? Did you mean these unfunny comments how the government is corrupted and hipsters are trying to be cool pushed right in front of my face? That was one of the sh*tties commentary I've seen in entire series. Older ones were funny ironic and hidden for the smarter players, who wanted something more than creating a rampage on the busiest intersection of the city. Here it was tacky and cheap made in "look, this is funny, you should laugh now" kind a way. In normal world there is place for intelligent comedy and stupid sitcoms, but did really our favourite series had to evolve from former into latter.

[œaœa]

GTA IV did it best.

 

"I thought I was gay, or transgender! Turns out, I just needed a scooter!"

 

Rockstar, please go back to the WTF comedy.

[Xerukal]

It was kind of entertaining, I suppose. Wasn't that relevant or striking, though. Too much focus on hipsters and "irony". I see enough of "irony" from festering sh*tbags all over the internet. I don't need Dan and his writing team to shove it in my f*cking face and tell me how obnoxious it is.

[HaythamKenway]

90% of V's social commentary is annoying repetitive drivel that just uses sterotypes and strips difficult complex issues down into unfunny jokes, simplified in the name of lowest common denominator. V doesn't present much original thoughtful commentary on current issues. Everything is just boiled down into a simple caricature of LA and modern America that any average Joe can come up with during his coffee break.

 

But I have to admit, there are some bright spots here and there. The torture scene and all of "By the Book" was very well done (well, except for Trevor speech during the drive to airport) and the whole FIB-IAA business in general was, in my opinion, well written. Devin Weston was awfully overblown and cheapened for comic relief, but otherwise, I really liked what they've done with his character too.

[TheDeaconBosco]

Here's a dramatization of a typical GTA V media content writing meeting:

 

Dan: Alright lads, we talked about Hipsters, we talked about Toilet Cleaner we talked about Millenials, we talked about triathlons and best of all; we've totally managed to make'em fit inside the story with totally organic and subtle references, yeah totally... You made this old codger proud. *takes sip*

 

Lazlow: *laughs nevrously* Haha, yeah Dan that's great really, yeah. Whoo-hoo

 

Dan: Lazlow, the fook you're doing here, you gobsh*te, you're not allowed be 50 ft from me, not since that bachelor party in San Remo, mate. *takes sip*

 

Lazlow: Oh come on Danny, I've got a great idea, I know you're just gonna love it, just give me a chance.

 

*long pause only interrupted by the sound of Dan taking two sips*

 

Dan: Alright, why not, I've had too many painkillers and too much booze to even care about anything so why the f*ck not. *takes sip*

 

Lazlow: I knew you still believed in me, so alright there it is. ENEMAS!!!

 

Dan: The Bloody 'ell's an enema. *takes sip*

 

Lazlow: it's when your stools gets stuck inside your colon and the doctors have to use a pump to liquify them.

 

*Even Longer pause, the rest of the writers awkwardly look at each other, having no idea of how to react*

 

Dan: *starts to laugh loudly* So let me get this straight, th-the poor bastard gets a pump up the arsehole because he can't sh*t no more? *takes sip* Oh man that's classic, this is that classic GTA humor our fans like so much. *takes sip* Oh man there's just so many set ups for it, it's a fookin' gold mine, it is. Oh Lazlow how could I ever thank you enough. *takes sip*

 

Lazlow: Well funny how you mention that, I've just had a few ideas about the fame or shame show's involvment in the story. Trust me that when I say that if you liked that enema thing, you're gonna love what I have in store.

Edited August 10, 2014 by TheDeaconBosco

[Cutter De Blanc]

I remember this one Weasel News story about a viral video with kittens eating a hamburger. The punchline of the joke was that the video was fake, and the kittens were put in a pillowcase and killed. Not funny. Maybe it was the way announcer delivered the line, but it was just... I don't know, not funny and clearly intended to be. That's the way most of the social commentary is in this game.

[Apex]

While social commentary and satire are some of my favorite things about the GTA series, I do feel like V went a bit too far to the point where it's not that funny. I do like the more subtle social commentary, like when you call Merryweather and the announcer says: "Merryweather, because security's a private matter."

[Payne Killer]

GTA IV did it best.

 

"I thought I was gay, or transgender! Turns out, I just needed a scooter!"

 

Rockstar, please go back to the WTF comedy.

"Now I can drive my fat ass to the fridge".

Yeah your right universetwisters the humour if V was shoved in your face all the time.

[Goldn-Bayse]

I liked it at first, but it got old quick. I prefer previous installments' social commentary because it was subtle and not shoved in your face. It also never got old.

 

However "I love coke, I love cocaine!!!"

[Tlaneloli]

Seemed shallow and too drilled in.

[OneManCrimeWave]

Nope. Some parts were pretty good, like the message in Franklin's part of the story that money won't always fix your problems, but overall, it's just downright annoying. There is no subtlety to the humor anymore and it's so damn preachy to the point where it just comes off as R* being overly judgmental and ridiculously b*tchy about everything that they've viewed in America. Whatever happened to radio advertisements like Cluckin' Bell from San Andreas:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Piggsy pls]

The only social commentary I thought was really handled well, was the torture thing. Other than that, nope, for the same reasons others mentioned.

[DopeFresh]

it could of been done better.

[RedDagger]

It's been said enough how in-your-face GTA V's was, but I want to add a little.

 

In IV, it seemed at points to be over the top - for example, on the conservative radio station in one part you have some paranoid caller saying about someone reading a foreign language book on the train. The radio host says racist stuff, the caller is completely accepting of the bile coming from the host, and of course is carrying a gun to protect the children around for added measure. As subtle as a ton of bricks, you could say.

 

In V, the host would announce that he's xenophobic and racist, the caller would use the word 'sheep' a few times, and 'think of the children' would be strewn around in case we hadn't got that yet. The host would probably end by saying 'that may have been racist but...' so that the less mentally gifted would understand the high-class humour rockstar had spoon fed - by ripping open our bellies and pouring in the metaphorical mined earth so we got enough gold, because purifying that gold in the first place is soooo 2008.

 

So no, I didn't like it.

[restlessmind]

For the most part I loved it but some of it seemed pointless, like toeshoes for example, I did notice a lot of dialogue on TV, radio, and one of the random or taxi missions where the passenger wouldn't shut up about them. But it wasn't funny or anything, just wasteful.

[Official General]

Social commentary? Did you mean these unfunny comments how the government is corrupted and hipsters are trying to be cool pushed right in front of my face? That was one of the sh*tties commentary I've seen in entire series. Older ones were funny ironic and hidden for the smarter players, who wanted something more than creating a rampage on the busiest intersection of the city. Here it was tacky and cheap made in "look, this is funny, you should laugh now" kind a way. In normal world there is place for intelligent comedy and stupid sitcoms, but did really our favourite series had to evolve from former into latter.

 

This is so spot on I cannot even write my own reply to the OP.

 

I've said before, what helped ruined V was Rockstar's stupid, new-found obsesssion with excessive parodying. Too much of that crap V that we did not need. It is for this reason I believe Rockstar have lost their focus on the essentials that made GTA the great game franchise it is today.

Edited August 11, 2014 by Official General

[Journey_95]

I liked it sure sometimes they went overboard with it BUT I think that especially since the
HD era began with GTA taking place in our time its an important part of it

I mean the social commentary stuff/satire is unique and I think they should keep it

but maybe use it in a more subtle way

 

I also think that many don't like it because much of it is in our life right now and not like previous GTA's (like SA) like 20 years before its basically a parody of these times with stuff like lifeinvader (facebook) bleeter (twitter), terrorism (all that stuff with Merryweather (aka Blackwater) etc.

[universetwisters]

I also think that many don't like it because much of it is in our life right now and not like previous GTA's (like SA) like 20 years before its basically a parody of these times with stuff like lifeinvader (facebook) bleeter (twitter), terrorism (all that stuff with Merryweather (aka Blackwater) etc.

 

Then again, I don't think the III-era games didn't try to push the parody on you. If anything, they put what parodies there were in the radio and kept them there.

[DaRkL3AD3R]

Way too preachy and in your face.

 

This. GTA IV's social commentary was perfection. Past GTA games didn't even have any. This one was just like watching Colbert try to be funny while simultaneously be educating. It didn't work for me.

[Doland J. Trump]

The social commentary was a parody within itself, it was stupid because it was parodying the stupid pop culture nowadays. Sure it wasn't smart or witty as previous games but it definitely did stupid well.

[Harryhenry]

(Responding to all you guys who don't like the game's commentary) Yeah, because the 3d era had SO MUCH BETTER COMMENTARY! In all seriousness, I'd like one of you guys to post a bit of social commentary from one of the new games, and one from the old games, and put them side by side.

Edited August 11, 2014 by Harryhenry

[don ovdi' island]

I made a thread about this, pretty much highlighting that the satire in this series is dry and unenjoyable now.

[universetwisters]

(Responding to all you guys who don't like the game's commentary) Yeah, because the 3d era had SO MUCH BETTER COMMENTARY! In all seriousness, I'd like one of you guys to post a bit of social commentary from one of the new games, and one from the old games, and put them side by side.

Of course that isn't possible because the 3d era didn't have any commentary to shove down your throat.

[Drunken Cowboy]

"Look, torture is bad and stuff and we're showing you through THIS FUN INTERACTIVE TORTURE MINIGAME! SUCH CONTROVERSIAL! MUCH VIOLENT! It's okay, because morally-upstanding Trevor will give some hogwash and baseless speech about it afterwards."

 

"Look, all patriotic Americans are savage and vile redneck militants! We're showing you how every Mexican immigrant is a poor and law-abiding victim through this FUN TAZE THE MEXICAN SIDE MISSION! Funny stuff! We Europeans are not as racist or intolerant as Americans at all!"

"Look, selfies! Social networking! So gross and vapid. We're going to remind you how stupid modern trends are by making our Facebook and smart phone usage vital components of the story and gameplay! Is the selfie-mechanic still funny after 20 hours?!"

"Look! The occult! These people are deplorable! Pick up lost hikers and sell them to be cannibalized! Pretty wacky! This is what California's like, right, guys?"

 

Anyway. the commentary was, as discussed, very in-your-face, overly simplistic whilst attempting to be brooding and didactic, and sometimes just plain irrelevant. But worst of all is just how ill-informed and contradictory it is... Seemed like Lazlow was absent to the writing process and a bunch of limies were just taking the usual hypocritical jab at America. I think worst of all is how they depict racist Americans, when the whole game's atmosphere is walking stereotypes of all the races and genders...

[OMGmyFACE]

I don't live in LA and I've never been to LA before so I can't tell if the social commentary of the time and place is as spot-on as it was in GTAIV regarding NYC in 2005-2007, but aside from the the hipster millennial turds, just how Darwinian is it there?

 

The writing was sloppy as hell, we should all be aware of that.

"Hey, that's Trevor. He was born here, is this many years old, did that thing that one time and is crazy wacky zany, watch out for him or he'll do a violent thing!"

"We're the government, we do corrupt things and say we don't. Also, you can't trust us at all and I'm making you do things that I don't want to do because that's what the government does!"

"Meth is a problem! It's bad for you and it's everywhere and people do it a lot and I make meth so I know these things. Want to do some speed?"

"We're not really teen actors, we just say we are to make money, right other teen actor guy?" "But I really do love you, teen actress!"

 

But the commentary itself was equally as terrible from what I gathered. It makes the entirety of the fictional LA seem like children who either have to con their way into peoples' lives via yoga and social networking or con their way into a better life, one represented by an idea of arbitrarily monetary success and celebrity relevance. Blah blah, we know. If it really is that accurate, however, then it's at the very least terribly expressed.

[Sofa]

Whoa, social commentary sound so serious and goal oriented, i think spiteful (juvenalian)satire fits better, i don't think a social effect or any purpose is the intent. Honestly i don't seem to recall much "subtle and cerebral" humor from any of the gtas, granted V hasn't got the funniest jokes, but i don't think it is as abysmal as many claim, the humor in this series has always been crude and spiteful, hence the appeal, it's a breath of stinky, stale air, atleast for me. I sure as hell don't regard gta games as a source of social commentary.

 

Things have a tendency to stop being funny when you take them seriously, imagine that.

 

Although i am hearing a faint "headupanus" wooshing coming from R* in the back of some of the material, i don't really expect different. I hope they know this and don't give a sh*t about it.

 

Voted indifferent, not because i am regarding the quality of funneh, but would be if i thought it was a serious attempt at social commentary, instead of parody spam as normal. Nonsensical i know.

Edited August 11, 2014 by Sofa

[Severe]

...using current events for their humor rather than making up their own jokes.

 

... the f*ck do you want them to joke about, then? Do you even understand what satire is?

 

And 3D does have 'social commentary', as you call it. American consumerism, the corruption of corporate America, McCarthyist communist-fear, politics in general, etc. But I'm guessing those rose-tinted goggles can make it hard to see that.

[Mr.Nedich]

I'd say the torture sequence was the only good part of the social commentary, the rest of GTA Vs jokes can be summed up as:

"HIPSTER BASH. BECAUSE HIPSTERS SUCK!"

"ENEMAS! BECAUSE IT INVOLVES YOUR BUTT LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL"

"LOL VAPID LA HUMOUR WE'VE SEEN SINCE THE 1980S. ITS FUNNY RIGHT?!?!"

"GOVERNMENT AND BIG BUSINESS ARE THE CROOKS!"

 

Those 4 were virtually every f*cking joke in GTA V. Plus, I hated how V generalises everyone born in the early 80s on as entitled lazy f*ckwads. I mean, some of it is funny, like in Michael's comments, but much like a lot of GTA V's writing, it's so hamfisted it's a hard pill to swallow. I miss the 3D era humour because it had a way of being overly obvious (IE: Escobar Airport in Vice City) but still very funny. IV was funny too, but in Niko and Johnny's stories there was so much grim and grit to their stories it could make the lighter humour a bit hard to laugh at, but Ballad was light hearted enough to make the jokes easy to laugh at since it wasnt like someone spilled coffee on my screen.

 

In general though, I wasn't very impressed with GTA V's writing. It was too overt and constantly shoving its hate for the modern world which makes me believe V was written by some very very bitter 40-50 year old men or sh*tty 20 something interns.