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Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto Audiobook
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(3.03) - 210 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Inside the making of the multibillion-dollar Grand Theft Auto video game empire
Grand Theft Auto is one of the biggest and most controversial video game franchises of all time. Since its first release in 1997, GTA has pioneered the use of everything from 3D graphics to the voices of top Hollywood actors and repeatedly transformed the world of gaming. Despite its incredible innovations in the $75 billion game industry, it has also been a lightning rod of debate, spawning accusations of ethnic and sexual discrimination, glamorizing violence, and inciting real-life crimes. Jacked tells the turbulent and mostly unknown story of GTA's wildly ambitious creators, Rockstar Games, the invention and evolution of the franchise, and the cultural and political backlash it has provoked.
–Explains how British prep school brothers Sam and Dan Houser took their dream of fame, fortune, and the glamor of American pop culture and transformed it into a worldwide video game blockbuster
–Written by David Kushner, author of Masters of Doom and a top journalist on gaming, and drawn from over ten years of interviews and research, including firsthand knowledge of Grand Theft Auto's creators and detractors
–Offers inside details on key episodes in the development of the series, including the financial turmoil of Rockstar games, the infamous "Hot Coffee" sex minigame incident, and more
Whether you love Grand Theft Auto or hate it—or just want to understand the defining entertainment product of a generation—you'll want to read Jacked and get the real story behind this boundary-pushing game.
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"If you're just a little bit interested in videogames, this book is a must read. It gives great insight into what kind of company Rockstar is and how they set out creating the games they do. And off course it's also about all the surrounding controversies related to the company."
— Henrik (4 out of 5 stars)
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“The most fascinating element of the GTA saga is not the groundbreaking gaming experience, but its cultural impact…Kushner…turn[s] what could be a dry, technical history lesson into an entertaining, if hyperbolic, read.”
— The List
Jacked Listener Reviews
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" An inside look at DMA/Rockstar's studios during a ten year cycle of GTA releases. This is interesting enough for fans of the series. Alongside this inside look is the endless litigation that accompanied these releases. I enjoyed the insider perspective of the studios, but could have used less Jack Thompson, although I'm just tired of hearing his name, so it's hard to fault the book for that.. An enjoyable read for fans, although there isn't too much that is 'must read' material. "
— Steve, 1/29/2014 -
" This was wildly good. A great look at development of the series but an even better telling of the Rockstar Games studio's story. A great read for gamers and game developers. "
— Todd, 1/15/2014 -
" Now I want to work for Rockstar. "
— Jules, 1/4/2014 -
" A fun read for anyone interested in R* games and GTA. The book also touches on Jack Thompson and his fight to ban GTA. Also included- the "Hot Coffee" scandal! "
— Jeff, 12/26/2013 -
" Interesting view from what seems to be the inside out of Rockstar Games and specifically their Grand Theft Auto game series. Good read for GTA and/or video game fans. "
— Bob, 12/7/2013 -
" Entertaining read. Makes me like Sam Houser more. This was an ode to freedom of speech. "
— Steven, 10/6/2013 -
" really loved this book. actually made me want to fish out my ps2 and play gta3 again (which i did). good insight into rockstar and how the bubble grew then burst. "
— khal, 7/9/2013 -
" Very enjoyable book and interesting for anyone who's a fan of Grand Theft Auto. "
— Samuel, 6/30/2013 -
" Not nearly as good as Masters of Doom, but interesting enough. "
— Matt, 5/23/2013 -
" I didn't read any non-fiction book for a long time but this one was a good break and great read. Whole history of GTA franchise, Rockstar studio and its triumphs and downfalls written in very engadging way. "
— Petr, 11/2/2012 -
" It's an interesting story, but Kushner is too forgiving of Rockstar; it borders on fanboydom. The story also felt incomplete -- there were many times where I wanted a lot more elaboration, like with the release of Manhunt and Red Dead Redemption (even though, yes, it's a book about GTA, still...) "
— Brennon, 6/29/2012 -
" Really good read. Because he obviously didn't get time to talk to the Houser's it focuses more of the cultural impact the games made, rather than the story of their development, which I would have liked to read. "
— Mathew, 6/24/2012
About David Kushner
David Kushner is an award-winning journalist and author. A contributing editor of Rolling Stone, he has written for publications including Wired, New York Times Magazine, New York, GQ, and Details. He served as the digital-culture commentator for National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition Sunday. He has been included in The Best American Crime Reporting and The Best Music Writing and is an adjunct professor of journalism at New York University.
About Adam Verner
Adam Verner is a stage, film, television, and voice actor and an Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator. He holds a BS in theater arts from Bradley University and an MFA from Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.