The New York Times claims the new video game Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is “one of the most important” because of its story telling and maturity.

But really, it’s just because this is a violent video game on a stereotypically kiddie and girlie gaming system, the Nintendo DS. The article praises game developer Rockstar and Nintendo for being “bold” and making a “vital statement to the public” that video games are not just for children.

Didn’t we already know this?

How is it bold of Nintendo for approving one of the best-selling video game series of all time to make a game exclusively for their system, almost certain to sell millions of copies. GTA is a safe-bet, not bold. And as amazing as Chinatown Wars is, it’s not a “crucial moment in the maturation of the gaming industry.” It’s a well-known franchise in an industry more known for violence than child-friendly fare. The New York Times itself has pushed flawed research about how all this violence is harmful.

Video games are still maturing yes, and Chinatown Wars is a helpful step to spreading the rich storytelling potential of the medium. But it’s a miniature version of the also adult GTA IV released only a year ago. Just as adult and arguably more visually spectacular. Adult is not always maturity.  Video games can be mature without violence, but talking animals and magic spells don’t get the same headlines as blood and gore.

I recognize the DS itself has expanded the video game market. Yay. It’s more than four years old. About time the New York Times realized violence can sometimes make good storytelling.

While the actors unions mull their contract negotiations, one actor feels slighted by the video game industry.  Actor Michael Hollick portrayed Niko Bellic in Grand Theft Auto IV, providing voice work and motion-capture acting over a 15 month period.  Hollick earned $100,000 for his efforts, which came out to $1,050 per day he worked, almost 50 percent more than the standard $730 rate.  GTA IV earned $600 million within its first week, none of which Hollick will see.  And that’s the way it should be.

Hollick negotiated his contract for a fee he found reasonable at the time - you can’t renegotiate after the fact just because you think you didn’t get enough before.  I’ve express issues with royalties before, but Hollick’s complaint shows an lack of understand the economics of his business rather than mistreatment by evil corporations. 

As Hollick admits, he was paid a premium over acting guild rates.  He just wants a piece of that huge GTA pie.  But who bought GTA IV because of this no name actor?  Even a big name actor wouldn’t pull me into a video game I didn’t want to play anyway.   Hollick had every right when negotiating his contract to ask for royalties and GTA maker Rockstar had every right to throw him out and hire someone cheaper.  And it’s hard to believe Hollick didn’t know GTA IV would make hundreds of millions of dollars when negotiating.

The media industry has evolved itself into a corner with royalties turning into an entitlement for actors and writers rather than entertainment’s form of profit sharing.  Some companies give employees stock options to give them incentive to make the company more money.  Actors and writers argue royalties are their way of getting a fair share of the millions media companies make off their hard work, but who said business is fair?  Royalties are

I do see royalties serving a purpose with big name actors.  Major movie stars do attract large audiences and are often worth their expensive salaries.  These stars then promote their movies on talk shows and at press events, work they do months after filming finished.  With royalties the actors are encouraged to promote the film because the bigger the box office the bigger the paycheck.

But what promotion did Hollick do?  Does anyone think he did a half-assed job because he wasn’t getting royalties?  Was $1,000 a day not enough?  Or is Hollick just doing this as a publicity stunt (probably)?  Hollick was willing to do the work for $100,000 and that means the job was worth $100,000 then and now.  Hopefully the experience would net Hollick a bigger paycheck for his next job, but after this publicity stunt, video game companies might stop calling.

Grand Theft Auto has become the poster child for everything wrong with video games. From glamorizing criminal activities to shooting cops to abusing women and engaging in every kind of illegal activity, GTA does seem pretty bad. But as the book Everything Bad Is Good for You points out, there are many benefits missed when you judge a game by its box. I’m not making a judgment about whether 4-year-olds should play GTA (maybe a really really mature one), but I think parents and even adult gamers should look at what GTA really offers.

7. Fantasy is good

Imagination is healthy and rewarding. Video games help bring that fantasy to life. Sure it’s a morbid twist on good ol’ cops and robbers, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. GTA is a chance to pretend to be something most of us could never be. The key is to…

6. Learn right from wrong

And hopefully parents, or adults, can us GTA as an example in right and wrong. Specifically, anything you do in GTA is wrong. Easy to understand, right. So go crazy, enjoy yourself, but remember, don’t try this at home…without a game controller.

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With the next-gen races begun, this year’s E3 looks to be a major turning point for the Big Three, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. From exclusive games to price cuts to redesigns to new colors, each console (and handheld) has a lot of hype (Nintendo) and bad press (Sony and kinda Microsoft) to trounce. While everyone’s doing their predications (PSP redesign, I hope), I figure I’ll instead go over what each of the big three has on the line at this E3.

Nintendo

Everyone’s favorite underdog rules the roost (enough cliches?) this E3 with the best selling Wii and DS and massive profits perfect for game development and R&D.

Nintendo needs playable AAA games that finally show the Wii isn’t just a fad. Super Smash Brothers Brawl is out, but look for Metroid Prime 3 and maybe even Mario Galaxy. Announcing no more supply issues would, of course, make everyone happy, though who knows how realistic that is.

But the two biggies: online strategy and a hard drive. WiiWare, the upcoming Wii channel with original games, is the Wii’s answer to Xbox Live Marketplace, shows Nintendo isn’t just using digital distribution for milking their own library. And while their at it, Nintendo will reveal its Mii and online codes for 3rd party developers so we can finally start getting some multiplayer party games. And instead of keeping a library of twenty SD cards with WiiWare and inevitable Sega Saturn and NeoGeo games, let’s just have a hard drive peripheral.

Verdict: For all it’s hype, Nintendo will meet expectations with games, but the buzz with start moving to other places…

Microsoft

This slow and steady giant has a staggering fall line-up of exclusive must-have titles, Halo 3, Mass Effect, and Blue Dragon, plus its own editions of once-PS3 exclusive blockbusters like Grand Theft Auto IV and Devil May Cry 4. But Microsoft won’t let the past limit its future. They’ve still got tricks up their sleeve.

Aside from getting the glowing praise it’s AAA games deserve, Microsoft should and will already prep the future, either with a new game announcement or some new exclusive stolen from Playstation. Either way, Microsoft needs to hype its stellar holiday line up, and accent this with a small but headline generating price cut for the 360. Maybe even announce a Halo 3/360 bundle. And free Xbox Live would stick it to Sony’s anemic online presence.

Microsoft’s wild card will be the long-rumored gaming handheld. While the disappointing Zune may leave a sour taste in Microsoft’s…hands, the Xbox’s growing brand name is proven and soon to be profitable. A handheld puts Microsoft in the larger and cheaper end of the gaming market. Even the “failed” PSP, with 25 million units sold, has outsold all three next-gen consoles combined. Microsoft could again aim for third place in this handheld generation, offering more of a portable PC than a handheld Playstation.

Verdict: The games will impress. The announcements will generate buzz. And a new handheld could be the announcement of the year.

Sony

The PS3 has failed to meet the staggering expectations set by the PS2. Sony has the most to lose should their games and announcements not start showing why the PS3 is worth $600.

First things first, price cut. The free press alone could save Sony enough marketing cash to make this worth it. And with some playable Metal Gear Solid 4 and several top secret announcements, the value of the system will begin to make sense. Also, more information about HOME and a download service for the PSP and PS3 will reveal Sony’s elaborate and free online strategy. Rumbling gamepads and a PSP redesign are near certain announcements.

Unfortunately, the only hype Sony needs to generate is in games, and ones that come out this year. Microsoft and Nintendo have mega exclusives this holiday season but the PS3’s killer apps are months if not a year away. Heavenly Sword and Lair must meet and beat expectations, and hands-on at E3 need to support this. Some other AAA games, even if they’re original IPs, will make the PS3 worth buying before the new year.

Verdict: The PSP will generate huge buzz with its redesign and new download store, both out by the fall, but the PS3 will still suffer from being an inexpensive Blu-Ray player that also happens to play games.