Every day this week, I'm counting down my five favorite gaming accomplishments over the last 12 months.
In 2008, I beat a "Grand Theft Auto" game.
In years past, I started but did not finish "Grand Theft Auto III," "Vice City" and "San Andreas." Only with the first game did I even come close.
That's mostly because I didn't play video games for story, especially the "GTA" series. For me, it was all about screwing with the world.
The situation was the complete opposite with this year's "Grand Theft Auto IV." I've grown up, my gaming priorities are different and the game's visual realism did not compel me to run over pedestrians, randomly mess with police officers or participate in the sadistic fun that once hooked me to "GTA." Instead, I wanted to see the story of immigrant Niko Bellic to its conclusion.
However you feel about "GTA IV"'s storyline, Nico's story is what kept me playing for more than 30 hours. Once the story was finished -- marking the first time I'd competed a "GTA" game -- "GTA IV" went back on the shelf.
But at least I beat it.