Well, call me cynical, but the combination of the comedians in the game with the constant barrage of the word “satire” sets off my B.S. detector.  I’m starting to think that the main reason comedy is such a part of GTA4 is so Rockstar PR flacks—and others—can deflect criticism about the game.

In the past, they had to make long-winded explanations about how their game is not this/that/other.

Now, they can trot out the word “satire” as a way of defending their game.

I’m not too comfortable with this because in the end, this game will never be considered a great piece of satire and the comedy in the game will be barely memorable in 6 months to a year.  So ultimately, comedy/satire is being used as a way to defend the game and any critics.  Not a good deal at all.

Those bits themselves make fun of standup comedy.  Katt’s premises are “apartments in Liberty (New York) City are small” and “bad credit will fuck you up!” Gervais just makes fun of fat people.

Neither of them is biting satire in themselves, they’re more like bloated, tired concepts that are representing standup comedy in that world of GTA.  The joke’s on us.

Jack-

You’re definitely right… having the game be considered comedy definitely deflect criticism. And a lot of the jokes are of the more juvenile variety.

That said, I think Grand Theft Auto is satirical (though not necessarily a satire). Much of the non-playing aspects of the game does make fun of the dark heart of the American city, how power corrupts and consumerism has swallowed up everything.

But, the game is an action adventure at its core. There’s stuff that’ll make you laugh in the game, but the games purpose isn’t to make you laugh - its not where the interaction lies. No game’s is. I think that’s impossible to make.

Dave-

I suppose those bits can be taken as such. I don’t think they’re too awful far from what Katt Williams does in the first place.

The intent is not for him to come out and do a hacky version of himself. I think both Gervais and Williams like the bits they’re doing (one bit from Gervais is in one of his own specials, I assume one of Katt’s bits is as well). They’re not doing them to make fun of stand-up, they’re doing them because they think they’re funny. I certainly found Gervais stuff funny - Williams I don’t think translated as well (at least in the first bit I saw).

I imagine that though they were motion captured, a little bit has been lost from both of them in these virtual performance. It might be interesting to find the live bits and put them next to the GTA bits and see what’s translates and what doesn’t.

Yeah, I guess it’s a matter of opinion.  I just found all of the bits kind of bland and unremarkable, especially Gervais’ (and I usually find him very funny).  Definitely not the best representation of standup comedy in 2008.

I know that Gervais and Williams aren’t trying to make fun of standup, but I think the GTA people selected these specific clips for that purpose.

Or, perhaps I’m looking into it too much.