Video: GTA IV Very Gay Tony Prince Trailer
How often have you seen a game trailer that began with these words:
"In my day, gay guys used to be lonely, needy and lost. Now they're all in relationships."
I think I know Tony Prince... I think I used to be a shotcub at his old bear joint, Goldicocks. That aside, this new trailer for Ballad of Gay Tony shows Rockstar courting more than controversy - here is a layered, realistic portrayal of a genuine New York-style nightclub impresario. And as a homojourno who covered the city's club scene extensively during the first half of the decade, I can safely say that Rockstar's not far off with this mix of jaded distance, resigned decadence - and most realistic of all, the realization of how times have changed for younger gay men.
What any of this has to do with the gameplay and how well it will be received is hard to say. It's not hard to say, however, that Rockstar is proving itself a true child of the indomitable, inclusive, metrosexual New York spirit.
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Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games, Videos on 9 September 2009
· Comments (6)
Other stuff like this: ballad of gay tony, gay game characters, gta iv, rockstar, tony prince
It's good to see a well-rounded gay character in a video game. This being Rockstar I half expected him to be lisping and camp, so this trailer was definitely refreshing. It's also good to see Rockstar is still capable of writing interesting characters after the dull as dirt cast of GTA 4 proper.
I've been to that bar. Always get laid...LOL!!!
I too was worried this was going to be a clusterfuck of slurs, but these trailers have me hooked.
Love the bartender giving some love to his nails in the background when Tony first talks to the camera.
Nothing against GLAAD, the HRC, or GSAs and the noble work they do, but this is going to do more to fight bigotry than anything they have ever done.
From what I understand the game is still about you playing somebody who isn't Tony, so I don't really see a whole level of progress here.
It almost seems like this whole idea was concocted on the notion of "How can we possibly shock more people and get ourselves onto conservative TV News Stations?" followed by a relatively rounded character.
No offense to Tony but I've got a laundry list of reasons to be jaded and bitter long before I get to the part about being gay. Maybe one day gay people will stop characterizing themselves with having tons of sex, too. :/ Aw who'm I kidding. We all know The Hokey Pokey is a metaphor for sex. It really is what it's all about, kids.
Fun fact: Rockstar North's headquarters in Edinburgh are just a few minutes walk away from an area known as the Pink Triangle - Edinburgh's bustling gay quarter.
I wouldn't make any suggestions about the sexuality of the developers, but I suspect they probably make use of their nearest bars gay or straight.