the warriors videogame: 'Gangs of New York'

article by SETH SCHIESEL here.

 

WITH his T-shirt-and-jeans demeanor, thick build and pale head of stubble, Dan Houser hardly looks like the mastermind of a plot to corrupt the youth of America. But listen to certain politicians and advocates and one might think Mr. Houser, the 31-year-old creative vice president of Rockstar Games, is a threat to national security.

 

Since Mr. Houser founded Rockstar with his brother and three friends in 1998, the company has become one of the best-known and most successful video game developers, largely on the strength of its wildly popular Grand Theft Auto franchise. Propelled by street humor and a modern style, the series provides a wide-open stage for urban mayhem. Grand Theft Auto games have sold more than 50 million copies since 2001, generating more than $1 billion in revenue.

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Despite all the controversy - or perhaps because of it - Mr. Houser seems focused and confident these days as his company prepares to roll out its next big project, the Warriors, a fighting game based on the 1979 cult film directed by Walter Hill. The game, which is scheduled to come out on Tuesday for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, is expected to be one of the top sellers of the year.