Pop Culture Reference

Overview

'Pop Culture References' in video games are normally inserted as subtle gags about different areas of modern life. Many games make use of pop-culture and draw similarities to it, in order to feel more realistic. Some games also reference pop-culture and make jokes about it. Some of these jokes can be downright hilarious, and below is an incomplete list of pop-culture references contained in different video games.

Grand Theft Auto IV

• America's Next Top Model: During 2008's Grand Theft Auto IV, a radio commercial can be heard in-game, advertising a program. This program is called 'America's Next Top Hooker'. The name alone easily brings reference to the hit US show.
• McDonalds / Burger King: In the Grand Theft Auto world exists a chain of fast-food restaurants, known as 'Burger Shot'. Ads for the chain in-game frequently suggest that they use unethical business practices, and these ads frequently display some violent humor. The name and content suggests that the content could be direct ed at either McDonalds, or Burger King, though it is possibly a reference to both.
• Statue of Liberty: The Statue of Liberty is an instantly recognizable symbol of New York, in the United States. Rockstar make a subtle parody of the statue, and it is entitled 'The Statue of Happiness'. It can be seen south of Algonquin. Rather than holding a torch, the statue appears to be holding a cup of coffee. It is almost certainly a reference to modern American culture.
• Toyota Prius / Environmentalism: One of the cars available in Grand Theft Auto IV is the Karin Dilettante. The design is extremely similar to that of Toyota's well-known hybrid car, the 'Prius'. A unique 'advertisement' for it, made by Rockstar, suggest that owners of the car are superficial at best, and are more concerned with appearance than actually helping the environment.
• Twitter: Contained inside The Ballad of Gay Tony is an additional website, which is an obvious parody of Twitter. The site is known as 'Bleeter', and users are able to 'bleet' from their mobile device or computer about what they are currently doing. The site logo is a sheep, which is a reference to how people who sign up to Twitter are occasionally described as 'sheep'. Using an in-game web browser, players can access the site at http://www.bleeter.biz.

Red Dead Redemption

• Heinz: In the Undead Nightmare expansion for the game, you will have to secure the area of Twin Rocks from the undead. Occasionally, one of the survivors will say 'I smell death... and about 57 other varieties of shit'. This is a reference to the Heinz company's infamous '57 varieties', and quite possibly a dig at their quality.