Gameplay Journal Entry #4

When looks on gamescenes.org, I came across a mod named “Karl Munstedt’s Grand Theft Homo” [1], where they are looking to subvert the hetero agenda of Grand Theft Auto that has been embedded for years. Like Galloway says on Page 107-108 [2], there are different types of modding of games and for this specific mod, they are going for the 1,2 AND 3 of the types of modding. They are going into the algorithms and changing it from the inside and out, which in turn is subverting the agenda of a hetero only game and bringing more diversity within it. They are modding how the characters look, who is represented, whether it be in missions or just talking to an NPC.

Karl is actively critiquing by hacking the inner algorithms of the game and changing who and what the characters are. He believes that these “hetero-masculine tropes” are embedded within and need to be changed to include more types of people, which critiques other games as well. Because who doesn't want more diversity? It should be owed to people who are “different”.

I do agree with Galloway on page 111 [3], where sometimes people want to get across this message of inclusivity but sometimes it can get lost in translation. Sometimes that message may overpower the actual gameplay and not make it desirable to people who may be interested but not impressed. Mods and the original game need to work together to make a successful game but also a positive and easy to read message!

*Note, since this is made by a smaller creator, there isn’t a “Let’s Play” but a download to the game and a “read me.txt” to help understand the game. I will link that as the “Let’s Play”. I don’t know if this will count against me but I do hope this counts. Thanks! [4]

[1] GAME art: Karl Munstedt’s grand Theft Homo (2019). (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2021, from https://www.gamescenes.org/2019/10/game-art-karl-munstedts-grand-theft-homo-2019.html

[2] Galloway, A. R. (n.d.). Essays on Algorithmic Culture: Counter-Gaming, Page 107–108. Retrieved from http://courses.bloodedbythought.org/twdg/wp-content/uploads/Galloway-Alexander_Countergaming.pdf

[3] Galloway, A. R. (n.d.). Essays on Algorithmic Culture: Counter-Gaming, Page 111. Retrieved from http://courses.bloodedbythought.org/twdg/wp-content/uploads/Galloway-Alexander_Countergaming.pdf

[4] Grand theft homo. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2021, from http://karlmunstedt.com/gta/index.html