Pop Culture Reference

Pop Culture Reference is a concept that appears in 106 games
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For those of us who don't live in a bubble and/or cave. Pop culture references in games range from movie references, to other games. (Mr. T pity the foo' who don't know pop culture)
'Pop Culture References' in videogames 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 videogames.
 

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 recognisable 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.
Pop Culture Reference games Edit
Name Platforms Developer
Hit & Myth GIZ Fever Pitch Studios
Retro City Rampage PC, PSNV, PS3N, WSHP, XBLM Vblank Entertainment
Quantum Conundrum PS3N, XBLM, PC Airtight Games
Gex 3 Deep Pocket Gecko GBC
BioShock Infinite released on Feb. 26, 2013 PC, X360, PS3 Irrational Games
Borderlands 2 released on Sept. 18, 2012 PS3, X360, PC Gearbox Software LLC
Diablo III released on May 15, 2012 MAC, PC Blizzard Entertainment
Botanicula released on April 19, 2012 MAC, IPAD, PC Amanita Design
Tribes Ascend released on April 12, 2012 PC Hi-Rez Studios
Postal III released on Dec. 20, 2011 X360, PC, PS3, MAC Running With Scissors
Pop Culture Reference 1 image
General Information Edit
Concept Name: Pop Culture Reference
Appears in: 106 games
First appearance:
Aliases
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