Late in Grand Theft Auto IV, protagonist Niko Bellic tracks down Florian Cravic, who Niko suspects betrayed the Army unit both men fought in in the Bosnian war. Niko discovers that Florian isn't the man he's looking for, though Florian (like Niko) has tried to begin a new life in Liberty City. Florian now goes by Bernie Crane. He's out of the closet, teaches aerobics, and has a love affair with Liberty City's deputy-mayor Bryce Dawkins. Ironically, Dawkins got elected on the "Family Values" platform. So Niko and Florian become friends again, with Florian eventually asking Niko to help fend off a gay-basher in Middle Park. This mission, "Hating the Haters", positions the player to do exactly what they might expect: hunt down a homicidal homophobe.
Niko Bellic
This section of the game illustrates the state of the video game industry regarding lifestyle acceptance. In passing, Niko tells Florian that his new lifestyle shouldn't garner harassment and gladly wastes the hater. Yet, game developer Rockstar North cloaks Florian in gay stereotypes: sing-songy vocal intonations, effeminate hand-talking, and excessive vanity.
Florian Cravic
It's this let's-have-it-both-ways mentality that drives Grand Theft Auto. All media in Liberty City is soaked in ironic condemnations of pop culture, but then the game uses dick jokes when cultural/political commentary won't do the job and the gags flop as much as they stick. For now, this can be accepted as cultural evolution in the video game industry, though it shouldn't necessarily be acceptable anywhere.
If the industry is serious about becoming an art form to the outside world, then game developers need to care more about the literary aspects of games. Naturally, this begins with scrapping stereotypes, but it also means defining a sincere, consistent ideology. Eventually, the player gathers that Rockstar is critical of conservative politics, but their methods answer more to Southpark than The Simpsons. When all else fails, they get crass and, unfortunately, undermine their own agenda.
Thankfully, Niko Bellic, GTAIV's illegal immigrant protagonist, is a start towards serious character developement. He's a principled, honest anti-hero who wants to believe in the American Dream, but who keeps his cynicism in play. He attempts normalcy by shooting pool, checking e-mails, and meeting women, but does this between committing murders and running drugs. And in the throes of a firefight, he becomes a madman drugged on survival adrenaline who taunts anyone in his way. In this manner, Niko Bellic is something of a U.S. Everycitizen, one who would quit the madness that is his life should he be able to rise above it.
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This piece originally published at www.brutestomp.com.
