Grand Theft Auto: The Story of Niko Bellic

      In the game Grand Theft Auto IV,  We are introduced to one of the most complex protagonists that the franchise has created.  Niko Bellic, an immigrant from an unnamed country in Europe, has traveled to the fictional Liberty City in the pursuit of the American Dream.  After communicating with his cousin Roman, who lives in Liberty City, he is informed of the rewards of coming to America such as money, women, and power.  Niko soon discovers that Roman was very much bragging about these things and realizes that the American dream is something that must be earned, even if it means pursuing a life of crime.  As well as being an immigrant, Niko is also a veteran of an unnamed war, and is haunted by the events he witnessed during his time in the military.  Throughout the progression of the story, Niko reveals the other reason why he came to Liberty City.  During the war, Niko’s platoon was ambushed and nearly all the soilders were tortured and then murdered.  After witnessing this, he discovered that it was one of his own platoon members that revealed their position and brought about the bloody ambush.  He swore to exact revenge on the traitor and eventually learns that he or she may be living in Liberty City.  With this information, Niko makes the final decision to travel to Liberty, not only to seek revenge and bury his past, but to start a new life with his cousin Roman. 
     Niko embarks on a journey within liberty city in which he must climb the ladder of the criminal underworld, with hopes of escaping and leading a clean life someday.  Unfortunately for Niko, his attempts to escape the criminal life on propel him further into it, resulting in conflict and tragedy amongst the people he cares most about.   However, towards the end of the story, Niko is presented choices that ultimately effect the ending to the game.  He can choose a criminal path in pursuit of money, power, and seeking revenge, or he can refuse the crime offer and begin starting a new clean life in liberty with Roman.  The choice is left up to the player of the game, however choosing the crime life is labeled as being the “failure ending” to the game.  The more righteous path is considered the true ending to the game.
    In my opinion, I believe this is how Hodkinson would relate his theories on “the public sphere” to this episode of Grand Theft Auto.  Throughout the game,  Niko attempts to transition from one “Public Sphere” to another.  In the beginning, Niko finds his place in the criminal part of the public sphere.  He knows his skills, personality, and lack of morality fit well within this part of the sphere, and he uses the attributes to seek revenge on enemies from his torturing past.  However, he believes he is not to remain in this part of the sphere forever.  He eventually realizes that breaking the law to achieve success does have its consequences.  After tragic events befall his family and friends, he realizes he must make a change, and is give the option to escape the criminal part of the public sphere.  The “good” ending of the game reveals Niko and Roman released from their ties to the crime world and planning to make money legitimately.  This displays Niko entering the better side of the public sphere, where him and his cousin are decent, hard working individuals who are pursuing the American dream the correct way.
    The games story depicts values that are present in our towns and cities.  We have multiple paths that will lead to success, however one may be uglier than the other.  The story defines what monsters we can become when we let the urges for revenge and power consume us.  We also get to see how this can affect the ones close to us, and what choices we can make to turn things around.