New video game highlights N.O crime problem
20th February 2017 · 0 Comments
With a rising murder rate, a spike in gun violence and several high-profile shootings on Bourbon Street in recent years, the last thing the City of New Orleans needs is more negative publicity about its struggle to get a handle on crime both in the French Quarter and across the city.
But that’s exactly what it’s getting thanks to a new video game created by a local company that uses the Crescent City as its backdrop.
Needless to say, the game which is set to be released this month, has already ruffled some feathers among New Orleans officials.
WWL News reported last week that Gamelot’s “Gangstar New Orleans” hopes to appeal to video-game enthusiasts by offering them a walk on the wild side in the Big Easy where they can do battle with “possessed voodoos, rednecks, bikers and corrupt cops in America’s crime capital.”
WWL showed the new offering to several local gamers last week who weighed in on the video game and its appeal.
“It’s the same way they played it out in Grand Theft Auto,” Ken Erisman said. “I think it was Detroit. It’s not an accurate portrayal.”
“It’s no different than a movie using (the city) as a backdrop,” Chris Lloyd said. “You don’t hear people complaining about ‘Angel Heart’ and ‘Bad Lieutenant,’ things like that.”
Among those who are not at all happy about the release of “Gangstar New Orleans” is Greg Rusovich, chairman of the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation.
He told WWL that the game perpetuates a false narrative about the city — which is working hard to overcome its real-life crime problems.
“We really don’t need this kind of unfair assault on our brand,” Rusovich said. “We absolutely have a crime problem in the city. But, we are hardly lawless and we are hardly America’s crime capital.”
Anti-crime advocate Tamara Jackson said the game appears to glorify violence.
“We are already numb to the violence that exists in our community,” said Jackson, the Executive Director of Silence is Violence. “We definitely don’t need an added sense that this is okay. This is what we try to keep our kids away from.”
Gamers say you have to suspend reality in the world of today’s video games.
“There is definitely a lot of people who do apps and mobile-based games,” Lloyd said. “I can see them playing (Gangstar New Orleans).”
“I’m sure it’s going to have an audience,” Erisman said. “It won’t necessarily be me though.”
Some local leaders also admitted they are a little taken back by the video game, particularly because it was developed by Gameloft, an international company with a studio located in New Orleans.
“We certainly did roll out the red carpet (for Gameloft),” Rusovich said. “We are delighted to have them here. However, they clearly have a misunderstanding of the city. I presume they are doing this really for sensationalism and for money.”
The video game is the fifth installment in the “Gangstar” series.
“I don’t play video games but I can see why someone who created video games would want to make one about New Orleans,” the Rev. Raymond Brown, a community activist and president of National Action Now, told The Louisiana Weekly Thursday. “From the Algiers murders to the Len Davis case to the Danziger Bridge and Henry Glover cases, the police here have a long history of killing innocent people. More often than not, they get away with it.
“On top of all that, this is just a violent city where you can get shot just about anywhere,” Brown added. “The creators of this video game didn’t make that up. You can get shot walking down Bourbon Street, at a second line, at a parade or birthday party or just sitting around in your home. You just never know.
“We just have to make sure that our children and grandchildren know the difference between reality and virtual reality,” Brown added.
“Perception is reality,” Ramessu Merriamen Aha, a New Orleans businessman and former congressional candidate, told The Louisiana Weekly. “New Orleans is a violent, dangerous city. That’s not some made-up reality — that’s life in this city where local elected officials don’t do enough to make things better for those at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder.
“Most people don’t appear to be worried about the city’s violent or dangerous reputation,” he added. “They just take whatever precautions they can to avoid becoming a statistic.” Aha added.
“If the City of New Orleans is upset about the way it is portrayed in television dramas, movies or video games, its leaders should do something to turn this city around and make it safer for everyone, not just visitors and those at the top of the socioeconomic ladder.
This article originally published in the February 20, 2017 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
