'GTA' wins the battle, CTA may win the war

The Chicago Transit Authority has reached a settlement with Take-Two Interactive to allow ads for Grand Theft Auto IV to return to Chicago's transit system in time for a needed holiday sales boost. The CTA pulled the ads back in April, breaching the $300,000 contract and causing the lawsuit. GTA may have won this round, but the CTA is planning to win the war. Its board has just voted to ban advertising for video games rated at or above "M" (age 17 and up), citing a "'demonstrable correlation' between intensely violent video games and violent or aggressive behavior." How demonstrable that correlation actually is, is debatable. It's unclear what will happen to current campaigns on the CTA for M-rated games, like Valve's Left 4 Dead. However, the CTA will continue to allow R-rated-movie ads, like the promos that ran this summer for The Dark Knight, a delightful little film in which a demented Heath Ledger blasts the crap out of most of Chicago. Holy double standard, Batman!

—Posted by Rebecca Cullers

Published on November 25, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (2)
Filed under Controversy, Cullers, Grand Theft Auto, Video games

Latest 'GTA' ads pulled off Chicago buses

You'd think the Chicago Transit Authority would have foreseen a conflict in putting Grand Theft Auto: IV ads on its buses. But that’s a moot point now, since the ads are being taken down after complaints by the local Fox affiliate. Apparently, a flurry of recent shooting incidents has made the Chicago area sensitive to openly advertising video games based around violence and car theft. They may be overreacting, and people are certainly right to ask whether the CTA rejects ads for rowdy movies or TV shows. But it’s not like this hoopla is without precedent. Look for a new tagline on the next sequel: “Steal buses just like this one in GTA: V!”

—Posted by David Kiefaber

Published on April 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Grand Theft Auto, Kiefaber

‘Grand Theft Auto IV’ gives NYC a licking

There’s a new friendly face in the neighborhood around Greene Street and Canal Street in New York: this hand-painted, lollipop-licking Grand Theft Auto gal. As Kotaku points out, she is “sure to be a hit with parents and nuns,” particularly as she is a prostitute from the game, according to reports. Check out trailers for GTA IV here and here. Photo by ikibalam.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on November 7, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (3)
Filed under Grand Theft Auto

Is Boston being torn asunder by ‘GTA’ ads?

Boston’s subway system has come under fire from community activists and politicos, who are calling for the removal of ads for RockStar’s video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. I ride the MBTA every day, and frankly, the urban-cartoon-ish artwork of assorted drug lords, street punks and molls isn’t all that memorable. Nor are the ads particularly graphic. But with violent assaults on the rise this year, nerves are understandably frayed. A city councilor and various clergy and advocates have written a letter of complaint to subway general manager Dan Grabauskas. Since the ads have been up for a few weeks, it’s a fair guess that the T has collected enough revenue from RockStar to begin taking them down. (Or maybe the system will dig in its heels; after all, it has stuck by that unsettling “Charlie Ticket” icon.) Eventually, we’ll return to ads for the latest iPods, Nike footwear, cinematic action thrillers and luxury condo developments. And that will make our little corner of the world a kinder, gentler place. Won’t it?

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on November 20, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Filed under Grand Theft Auto

Lots of Mr. Nice Guy in Coke’s ‘GTA’ spoof

In Wieden + Kennedy’s latest Coke ads, nothing is quite as it appears. The “Happiness Factory” spot is all cheery and happy and fun, except for a little mass slaughter of snowmen. Now we get “Videogame,” a cool new commercial that spoofs Grand Theft Auto, with a mirrored-sunglassed anti-hero prowling the streets, looking like he’s going to smash a Coke bottle over someone’s head. But actually, he’s a hero after all. All he wants to do is spread some cheer. It’s a great piece of animation. The only glitch is when he goes to drink the soda. When, exactly, does he open the bottle? Perhaps all Coke bottles go topless in this world. Via ’boards and Brentter.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on August 14, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Filed under Grand Theft Auto