What Does the New Grand Theft Auto V Trailer Tell Us?

Throughout pop culture history, few video games have had the honor and distinction of transcending the usual run-of-the-mill gamer audience and reaching mass, mainstream public consciousness. Unless you've been living under a rock for nigh on 2 decades, you know that Grand Theft Auto is one of those games. Like Pac Man, Mario Brothers, Tomb Raider and even Call of Duty, GTA has become much more than simply a game--it is a cultural phenomenon that has spawned city-wide advertising, national news coverage and--most importantly--millions of loyal fans. That said, it's no shock that the announcement of the next installment of the series--GTA V--has created a pop culture buzz the likes of which are rare, even by today's standards.

Though most in the game community knew the release of GTA V was imminent, it wasn't until last week that Rockstar Games officially confirmed the game by announcing a debut trailer would premiere today. Cue the requisite blizzard of speculation: Where would the next GTA take place? Who would be the protagonist? How big would the map be? Would there be hookers to rob? Well, while many of those burning questions are still unanswered, the world finally got a first glimpse at the next incarnation of GTA this morning:

What can be said about such a teaser of a trailer? Aside from sporting the usual style and panache we've come to expect from Rockstar, the biggest and most definitive reveal by far is the setting. Like GTA IV's return to Liberty City, GTA V brings us back to the fictionalized California locale of San Andreas. And, just like GTA IV, it does so rather beautifully: The meticulous attention to detail looks astounding, and though it likely pushes current console graphics to their limits, it appears to be--for lack of a better word-- stunning. 

The devil's in the details

Many claim GTA San Andreas was the best of the series (Though I think Vice City was), and those with that opinion won't be disappointed. Whereas GTA IV may have departed from the scope and tone of San Andreas, this trailer hints at the return of planes, jet skis, etc., mountain and water settings, and perhaps even nods to property ownership and gang activity.

However, one of the biggest questions gamers had still remains unanswered: Who is the protagonist? Based on rumors circulating around the internet, there may be "more than one" playable character--which seems extremely exciting. That said, who is that mysterious man speaking in the trailer?

Vercetti's return?

As stated above, speculation on this point has been running rampant all day. The biggest (and most ridiculous) rumor was that the voice heard was that of Tommy Vercetti--the main character of GTA Vice City, voiced by Ray Liotta. However, even the most cursory film fan knew the voice sounded NOTHING like Mr. Liotta (it doesn't), and when his representation released that it was, in fact, not him, it came as no surprise to anyone with half a brain. However, there was valid reason for said confusion: Certain shots in the trailer show an older male bearing resemblance to Vercetti surveying what seems to be some sort of business empire. If the game does indeed include multiple playable characters, it's feasible Vercetti COULD be that man, but he's definitely not the one speaking in the trailer.

The possible appearance of Vercetti in the trailer makes the question of a main protagonist more intriguing and complex, especially if one continues to look for visual clues in the trailer. For instance: many have conjectured they see CJ from GTA San Andreas in this trailer. IGN has postulated that the African American male being pursued by police towards the end of the trailer could be CJ. It's possible--but it's more likely that's someone else. When paused, the character in question bears little resemblance to CJ. But even so, there are indeed other characters in the trailer that could indeed be CJ, and the fact that Los Santos is a setting in the game does not rule out his inclusion.

Hard times for Niko?

Another interesting image is that of a homeless man holding a sign that whom some believe to be an "older" Niko Bellic (The protagonist of GTA IV). When paused, the similarity might seem to be a stretch, but if we assume Mr. Bellic spent 4 years addicted to drugs and/or alcohol and gaining weight, it's not completely impossible. Again, his appearance--as well as CJ's and Vercetti's--are pure speculation, but this speculation opens a very interesting line of thinking when thinking about just who we will be playing as in GTA V:

Consider this: Perhaps Tommy Vercetti has moved to San Andreas to extend an empire he began decades ago, only to find shady business practices have caused that empire to crumble around him (a Ponzi scheme would be timely fodder for Rockstar)--forcing him to "get his hands dirty again" and rebuild from the ground up. Maybe CJ left behind his gang banging days, only to be "pulled back in" to the life of a gangster because of a family death or economic crisis? And what of Niko Bellic? Has the American Dream crushed him, relegating his existence to a homeless man looking for any chance to start again? 

Let's indulge this multiple story arc further, and look at a scene later in the trailer -- a brief glimpse of the three characters leaving a pest control van armed and ready for action. Could that be an older CJ, Niko and an older Vercetti? Could the main character we play as--the man speaking in the teaser--be someone who draws all of them together for some sort of all-star "dream team" of  criminals who come out of retirement to recapture some semblance of life they've lost? The narration clearly tells the tale of a man who's backstory bears quite a bit of similarity to each of these past protagonists' possible stories: The attempt to leave behind a life of crime, only to be pulled back in due to a unique series of events we will see unfold during the game's narrative.

Could this be the Grand Theft Auto dream team?

Again, with the rumor of multiple playable characters, this concept is both exciting and intriguing on many levels. But even if these reappearing characters aren't playable, the idea still seems very complex and well suited to Rockstar. I for one would welcome a "Crash" or "Magnolia" approach to GTA V-- where we see the lives of several key San Andreas inhabitants cross paths during a particularly turbulent series of days/ weeks. As a writer, this multi-arc story is fascinating, and seems to land squarely in the narrative wheelhouse Rockstar has been cultivating lately--an almost natural progression from GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption's tone and story depth.

Of course, all of this is pure conjecture, but it's completely feasible, and it's more than fun to consider. Rockstar never fails to disappoint when it comes to an engaging tale, and one has to expect GTA V will be no exception. At the very least, this trailer has lit a fire of possible ideas and rumors that will smolder until the product hits shelves. Gamers and non-gamers alike will likely be talking about what they can expect in GTA V for months-- creating a word-of-mouth pre-release buzz that would rival any movie, television show or movie.

After all, isn't that exactly what a teaser trailer is supposed to do?

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The Burning Notice is Here!

Looking For Your Burn Notice Fix? We've launched a brand new topic page on Scoop.it for all you fellow fans out there. If you don't know what Scoop.it is, it's a service that allows you to curate topic-specific news, notes, media and other cool items from around the web, and publish them to a sort of online newspaper/channel. In this case, the all the topic-specific content is about USA Network's uber-cool action drama "Burn Notice," and the newspaper/channel is called (wait for it), "The Burning Notice."

Feel free to check The Burning Notice from time to time to see what kind of news and notes we've found about the show and it's stars. Although not updated daily, there's generally a couple of new items added fairly often. Best part? We save you the trouble of having to sift through all the blah Burn Notice results online!

Oh, and last but not least, we've added a funky little widget to the sidebar (over there on the right, for those keeping score at home) that gives you a little glimpse of the newest stories added.

Enjoy The Burning Notice!

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Four Reasons Why You Should Be Watching Burn Notice

I'll admit it: I dont watch as much "first-run" television as I used to. Many times, I will "discover" a show in syndication, years after it premiered, and--in some cases--after it's initial run has ended. It happened with "The Office" and "Futurama." heck, it even happened with "Seinfeld" - which I consider to be the best show ever produced. I wasn't always that way: When I was younger, you couldn't tear me away from a TV when a new "Miami Vice" aired. But, nowadays, the bulk of "new" programming I tune in to falls in the "sports" or "reality" arenas. Maybe it's the nature of today's programming? Maybe it's the flood of repeated showings/syndicated episodes of shows? maybe it's a bit of both? Nevertheless, it is what it is. However, every once in a while, an exception to that rule makes a welcome appearance.

Enter "Burn Notice." If you're not aware of the show, it chronicles the life and adventures of Michael Westen: A spy who, for reasons unknown to him, has been "burned" (aka "fired") by the US government at the peak of his career. He is summarily dumped in Miami and left to fend for himself. As a result, he reconnects with an ex-girlfriend (who also happens to be a gun-toting ex-operative), a former SEAL buddy, and, oddly enough, his own mother. Westen is relegated to taking occasional "jobs" that call for his specific talents to not only make a living, but to help further his primary goal: to find out who burned him and why.

When it premiered in 2007, Burn Notice was a bit of a novelty. It was one of the few original basic cable programs on TV to become instantly AND massively successful, joining the ranks of "Monk," "The Shield," "Nip/Tuck," "Rescue Me," "Psych" and "BattleStar Galactica." Since then, it has consistently ranked as one of the highest rated television programs of it's kind and maintains a rather rabid fan base.

But why should you be watching it?

1) The Cast - One of the hallmarks of most of those aforementioned shows has been the talent involved in each. This is not to say they all enlist A-list actors; it simply means the actors involved are engaging, extremely talented, and perfectly suited to the roles they play. This is the case with Burn Notice. Jeffrey Donovan IS Michael Westen. He wears the skin of a savvy super spy as if it were his own. When he's on screen, all eyes are on him--and even when he's not visible, all ears are on him as well, as his running narration can't be missed. One could assume his connection with the role is due to his being a relative unknown before the premiere of the show, but I firmly believe it's due more to raw talent.

Joining Donovan is industry stalwart Brice Campbell, whose on-screen charm remains undeniable, and is pitch-perfect as the hard-drinking, easy living Sam Axe. Gabrielle Anwar (Michael's ex Fiona) switches gears between sex kitten and sniper faster than her blue sportscar, and Sharon Gless (Westen's mother) continues to be one of the most underrated television actresses of the past few decades. Rounding out the cast is new(er) addition Coby Bell - who breaks the hated, long-standing TV tradition of new cast members that all but destroy a show's chemistry. On the contrary, he;s a welcome addition.

2) The Concept - In the 1980's, TV was home to a bunch of what I like to call "hero for hire" shows: "The Equalizer," "The A-Team," "Knight Rider," "MacGyver,""Riptide," etc. Why so many? It's no secret that people love heroes, but even more so, people like heroes that help the average joe with believable issues: An abusive spouse, a custody battle, a wrongful termination, a stalker, an embezzler in their company, etc. For a while, this kind of show took a back seat to police procedurals (Law and Order), medical dramas (Er, House), high-concept dramas (Heroes, Lost) and hateful reality TV. Nowadays, the "hero for hire" concept is muddied by so-called "complex" characters who spend angst-ridden existences contemplating their navels in dour, 60 minute installments. For my money, I prefer heroes who stop whining, make a plan, pick up a .45 and get down to business. Perhaps it's time for the classic "hero for hire" to make a comeback, no?

Burn Notice stands as a "hero for hire" show for a new generation. And while not TRULY "episodic"like it's 1980's forefathers (there is an serialized story arc that runs from season to season), viewers can still feasibly tune in after missing an episode and enjoy that particular episode in the same way we enjoyed those old 80's shows--only with better acting and writing... and no mohawks.

3) The Style - Sometimes, a show will burst on the scene attempting to seduce an audience with some flashy camerawork, nifty editing or unique narrative structure--and little else. Burn Notice has it's share of style--at times it oozes it--but its always merely a facilitator, and always secondary to the story. Cinematography is clean, colorful and vibrant--thanks in large part to the setting of Miami itself (Not since "Miami Vice" has a city made such a case as legitimate co-star). Editing is brisk but not dizzying. Action is all filmed so you can actually SEE it, and direction is crisp and fat-free.

Burn Notice creator Matt Nix' most effective stylistic choice is the inclusion of Michael Westen's "espionage for dummies" commentary and how-to videos. Not only do they serve the story, but they are both ingenious and fascinating. It may seem like a rather simple addition after seeing it in action, but it's nevertheless wildly compelling. I contend a show filled solely with Michael's tips on how to effectively bulletproof a minivan or how to steal data from a business while posing as an IT professional would be as good as any show on TV. Sure, maybe some of his tips are complete nonsense, but who cares? It sounds perfectly doable, and you actually feel informed. Simply put, Michael is the cooler, gun-toting little brother of McGyver, and little brother nails it.

4) The Enjoyment Factor - A bit nebulous, for sure, but this point is actually three. Too often, shows of this nature take themselves too seriously--even those that claim to be "comedy-dramas." Not once during an episode of Burn Notice will you feel that. The cast looks like they're having a ball almost all the time, and because they are, you start enjoying the ride by proxy. It's like watching the old rat pack shoot scenes for the original Ocean's Eleven, just without all the on-set alcohol and terrible dialogue.

Additionally, the individual stories are extremely satisfying, in an old-school, wrapped-in-a-bow kind of way. Whether it be a complex tale of exposing a corrupt attorney or an admittedly sappy and somewhat generic revenge plot against a deadbeat dad,  even the most jaded viewer will undoubtedly be rooting for Michael Westen's team to "get the bad guy" by show's end.  

Lastly, for an action show to be enjoyable, well, it has to have enjoyable action. And, as many a film aficionado will contend, the best action is action that's not completely lost in a polluted sea of A.D.D. editing and "I just saw a wachowski film" camera work. As mentioned above, the sequences here are well planned, easy to follow, and, most importantly, never excessive. Things don't blow up for the sake of blowing up. A fight scene isn't edited like Michael Bay on crack. Weapons aren't used unrealistically, and technology and tactics all seem to be grounded in some reality--even if it really isn't. As a result, the action in Burn Notice never feels jarring in tone, disjointed or sensational--instead, it's acceptable and engaging, and never halts the flow of each week's tale.

Now, of course, I could rattle off a a multitude of other reasons why Burn Notice works so well, but these four should do nicely in convincing you to give this basic cable gem a chance. As I mentioned, don't fret if you tune in and you're slightly our of the loop regarding the larger story arc: Stay with it until Westen's team has wrapped up a job and are sipping umbrella drinks on the beach. A taste might be all you need. Even if you're like me--a creature of habit that normally subsists on syndicated Law and Order and Seinfeld--you may find this is your one exception--and your one new addiction. After a few episodes, it will be hard to resist the charm of the cast, the brisk pacing of the stories and the jaunty vibe Burn Notice so deftly emanates.

Before long, you'll be craving a Mojito and pondering new ways to use your office's flourescent lighting system against potential attackers.

Who knows? The latter may actually save your life someday.

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The Comedy of PC Elitism

Today, Deus Ex: Human Revolution will be released for xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Currently, it's being heralded as a fantastic cyberpunk experience that combines elements of games like Mass Effect, Metal Gear and even a little Borderlands. And while this multi-platform release has resulted in popular praise, it has also once again illuminated an ugly side of gaming: PC elitism.

For those of you who don't know what PC elitism is, it's basically a belief held by many gamers that games are ALWAYS better when played on the PC, and that consoles are weak platforms akin to "toys." The odd thing is that, even when a game doesn't have a PC version, PC elitists will contend a PC version would be better, regardless.

"This cigarette is so much more tasty than the one I smoked 5 years ago."

Now, before anyone gets bent out of shape, there is, of course, some logic behind this line of thinking, not the least of which is the obvious advantage: PCs are customizable, allowing performance enhancements an out-of-the-box console does not allow. If his performance lags, a PC user can slap in a new processor any time he feels like it, but a console gamer must be satisfied with the processor his system shipped with. Such is the nature of consumer electronics.

However, what PC elitists fail to realize is that, that inherent lack of modification is what makes consoles such a viable platform: When everyone is playing with the same hardware, it results in several advantages PC's don't always have: A standardized development environment, equal footing in online interaction between gamers, and accessible entertainment for people who cant afford the expense of gaming PCs/enhancement. Additionally--and to the dismay of gamers--piracy is a tad easier to prevent on consoles than among the PC community.

That said, this is not about which platform is "better." The point here is that judging one platform against the other is, at best, an unfair and illogical battle. Game developers will develop their games for the audiences they want to reach, and the audience that will provide the most profit--that's simple business. Unfortunately, many PC elitists don't accept that fact, and continue to troll PS3 and Xbox forums daily telling the world why consoles "fail." GTA is better on PC because it can be "modded." Black Ops is better with a keyboard and mouse. Never mind that both of those games became the cultural icons they did based mostly on console sales.

To be completely honest, when the PS3 and Xbox were released 5 years ago, PC elitists actually had a bit of a leg to stand on. Since these "next-gen"consoles were actually next-gen, the comparisons to contemporary technology held water. The problem is, half a decade later, PC elitists can't grasp that current comparisons only result in making them look desperate and stupid--like the ones currently existing in forums devoted to Deus Ex: Human Revolution these past weeks.

The argument is, for lack of a better word, ridiculous now: Of course a PC you bought yesterday and had built to your specifications is going pack more of a wallop than hardware purchased 5 years ago that could never be modified, and that cost half the price. Would you compare a 2011 Lexus to a 2006 Camry with a permanently locked hood? Would you compare an iPhone to a 2005 LG flip-phone that was state of the art when it was released? Apparently, PC elitists would.

There's no denying an Alienware powerhouse with 80gigs of RAM is going to be a technical beast next to an Xbox. The point is, who cares? The two are exclusive of each other. Does anyone really think game developers are competing with themselves? Are Eidos Montreal (The developers of Deus Ex) employees hanging around their water cooler mocking the Xbox? Of course not. They want to reach as many people as possible, and a game like Deus Ex is one of the rare titles that can appeal to every platform. Excluding one would be ridiculously bad for business. Judging the validity of one version against the other is just as ridiculous.

The point of all this is that PC elitism is comical at this point. Consoles are not built to compete with the liquid PC marketplace. They can feasibly match the tech specs of the average PC the moment they roll of the assembly line, but within months, they'll be behind the curve. What PC elitists don't realize is is that that's the idea: Consoles are made for everyone. Not just for people who can successfully install a motherboard. Not just for people who can afford a $2,000 desktop. Not just for people who want to spend hours finding players with comparable hardware to play online with. Not just for people who want to download an unofficial mod that makes their cars shinier in GTA. Those people are welcome to enjoy the PC gaming world, and companies like Eidos Montreal will--and should-- happily cater to them. But they'll also cater to console gamers. PC elitists simply need to accept this fact and move on. Going into a Deus Ex Xbox forum and saying, "I guess those next gen consoles aren't so next-gen anymore" just makes you look stupid.

One has to wonder... Maybe the PC elitists are just getting this all out of their systems before the advent of "cloud computing" - when we're all using standardized terminals instead of modded tower computers? When that day comes, they may have to go back to trolling Apple forums like the old days.

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Battleship Trailer Gives Us That Sinking Feeling

IGN has gotten their hands on the new poster and trailer for the upcoming film, "Battleship." In case you missed it, the film is supposedly based on the classic board game of the same name. Yes, you heard that right. Get back into your chair.

Ridiculous, you say? Ha! Perhaps! But what's more ridiculous than making a film based on a one-dimensional board game from 40 years ago? Making a film that seemingly only adapts said game in name only. But, to be fair--there's really not much source material to draw upon, which is what made the choice to make this film such a massive head-scratcher. It's not as if this is Halo or Dungeons and Dragons. Battleship has about as much depth as a game of Boggle... pun intended.

However, "no story" didn't stop Hollywood from making 3 more Pirates of the Caribbean movies, right? So why not a film about plastic boats with pegs in them? The result of such forward thinking is a story for the ages: A rather extensive Naval exercise is rudely interrupted by--wait for it--water-born alien ships which begin attacking our vessels for unknown reasons. Our apparent hero? A brash, young officer who must prove himself while dodging the scorn of his girlfriend's protective father--who just so happens to be his commander.

I think I see Liam Neeson's career
in the distance!

I don't know about you guys, but when I was playing Battleship as a kid, I know this is exactly what I was thinking. And if they'd been around at the time, I'm sure I would have envisioned Taylor Kitsch, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker and an apparently desperate Liam Neeson manning the helm.

In all seriousness, I can't for the life of me understand why this film is even being called Battleship, since the reference to this vintage toy can't possibly increase public awareness, right? In fact, I'd go as far as to say if they had chosen to name the film something else, it might actually have more credibility. As it stands now, the only connection to the game is a rather heavy-handed shot of "pegs" being shot into a ship in the trailer (yes, it's in there).

Until the actual release, I'm going to keep telling myself this is some sort of April Fool's joke. If it's real, then I can only hope Hollywood green-lights that film adaptation of Gnip Gnop I've been clamoring for.

"In a world where the fate of mankind rests on three magic spheres..."

See the trailer here

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Some Assembly Required!

If you've been keeping track of the flurry of promotional concept art for next year's AVENGERS movie (and who hasn't?), you probably realize that the posters for each character are parts of a greater whole. Recently, the final character art was released--the Hulk/Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), thus completing the final group image.

Brace yourselves for probably the best movie promotion you've ever seen. Your inner child will thank me:

(Click for larger image, external site)

I have to admit, as a kid reading comics in my room years ago, I never thought I'd see the day where an Avengers movie would be a reality. If Iron Man, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger are any indication, the wait was worth it.

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