This was an age governed by the rule of law. Even though public safety in the U.S. wasn't great, this man obviously wasn't about to do the illegal things he did in a game.
But the story of GTA 5 gave him some inspiration.
Maybe life really did need a bit of madness to change the status quo.
Otherwise, you might just be bored to death for the rest of your life.
So the man started planning an itinerary.
"First, we're going to a stress-relief office."
"A stress-relief office? What's that?"
Both kids—big and small—were suddenly interested.
Because their family had almost never gone out to have fun before. Now that Dad suddenly wanted to "go crazy," it felt new to them.
"Simply put, it's a place where you smash things. That part isn't important. After that, we've got more plans—like… going to Japan."
"They've got the best amusement parks there."
"And the strongest video-game atmosphere anywhere!"
His wife rolled her eyes hard.
In the end, it all came back to games again.
What she had been expecting was something truly wild and earth-shaking.
She had felt bored with life for a long time now.
Ever since they had kids.
Everything had turned into groceries, chores, and routines.
Slowly, she started feeling numb.
Then her husband fell in love with video games, and paid even less attention to her.
"Honey, if we go to Japan, we can really experience the local culture. Oh right, didn't you really like Mount Fuji? We can climb it together."
His wife immediately smiled. "That sounds nice."
Encouraged, the man continued planning their trip for his wife and kids.
"We'll go hiking, exploring, try skydiving—if there's a chance, we can even try flying a plane!"
He wanted to experience every activity the characters in GTA 5 could do.
Flying through the sky in an airplane.
Then a skydive from high altitude.
Then riding a motorcycle across vast plains.
The kids and his wife started to look forward to it too.
"Dad, when do we leave?"
"For that… once I finish GTA 5, we'll set off immediately. It won't take long—two or three days at most."
His wife rolled her eyes again.
Still, her husband clearly wasn't as dull as before. That alone was a good thing.
Before this, she had almost decided to live separately from him.
Fine. At least he was willing to go out now.
"Dad, is that GTA 5 really that fun? Let me try it too?"
"Yeah, yeah, Dad, I want to try it as well!"
"Alright—but you two have to play under my supervision."
After going through multiple rating agencies, GTA 5 had ultimately been classified as an adults-only game, 18+.
This game rating alliance, initiated and established by Gamestar Electronic Entertainment, was the most trustworthy one.
Countless games had been clearly assigned age ratings, making it easier for players to choose what they wanted, and allowing developers to make whatever games they wished—without being shackled by unwritten rules.
If you wanted something more violent or more sexually explicit, then rate it 18+. Or even 21+.
The man was grateful for this system. It allowed him to play the games he wanted.
He didn't have to be stuck only playing games suitable for children.
After dinner, he hurried back to his study, turned on the computer, and dove right back into the world of GTA 5.
Like Cyberpunk 2077, this world was packed with content.
From driving, racing, fishing, and hunting…
To airplane stunts and all kinds of extreme sports.
In terms of gameplay variety, it even surpassed Cyberpunk 2077.
Because it was closer to reality, it was easier to create—and much easier to immerse yourself in—than a sci-fi setting.
Soon, the story reached the moment where Trevor and Mike reunited.
After Trevor learned that Mike was being threatened by a gang boss, he decisively chose to help Mike deal with the trouble.
At the same time, new forces entered the stage—two government agencies that looked respectable on the surface but were rotten underneath.
The IAA and the FIB.
The moment the man saw those names, he knew they were obvious parodies of real-world agencies.
As an American, he actually felt the game's portrayal was very reasonable—he even thought the real ones were worse.
Because Mike was being blackmailed by one of the agencies, he had no choice but to do their dirty work.
Trevor, meanwhile, stepped up without hesitation. As long as Mike needed him, Trevor would always be the first to charge in.
No other reason—they were brothers who'd survived life and death together.
The longer he played, the more the man found himself liking this filthy, unkempt guy.
As the character grew more three-dimensional, outward appearance stopped mattering so much.
If you had a brother like that in real life—someone who'd take a bullet for you—it would be the luckiest thing in the world.
Franklin was good too.
He was obedient, steady, and very rational.
Someone like that made a great partner.
Every character in the game had distinct traits, and they all felt closer to real people.
GTA 4 told the story of an immigrant's hardship. Nico gave everything he had, yet still couldn't get a happy ending—tragic and regretful.
GTA 5, on the other hand, felt more like the life of an ordinary American.
Endless petty troubles, but also good friends who helped share the burden.
More importantly, this wasn't a grim, oppressive story.
Absurdity and dark humor diluted much of the pain, making the game comfortable to play.
Not everyone enjoys relentlessly heavy, tragic narratives.
Even though those stories often get great reviews and leave deep impressions.
This man didn't really like them anymore—or rather, he was tired of them.
None of Cyberpunk 2077's endings were happy. They lingered in your mind, but he didn't want to replay the story easily—it was too painful.
He felt the same way about the Final Fantasy series. Very few of its endings were truly good.
But Final Fantasy XIII Versus broke through that pattern.
The prince and princess ended up together, ruling the kingdom side by side.
That felt good. He'd played that ending twice, at least.
If he ever got the chance, he'd happily play it again.
GTA 5 also had multiple endings.
But the man barely hesitated before choosing the best one.
One agency demanded that Franklin eliminate either Mike or Trevor—for the good of everyone.
On the surface, it made sense. Those two really did make everything more chaotic.
But the choice was in the player's hands.
And in that case—who cares if the world floods?
Kids make choices.
As a player…I want it all.