Conan O'Brien and his writers at the Late Night Show have developed a kinder, gentler version of the violence-laden and much-maligned yet popular video game, Grand Theft Auto 4 which was released a few days ago. The spoof is called Grand Theft Auto for Yuppies and it is pretty funny.
Implications - Violent video games are often credited with harming our society's youth, but comedians have found ample inspiration in these games. In this example, by replacing the gore and pugilism in a violent video game with milquetoast suburban yuppies, Conan O'Brien turned a controversial topic into an over-the-top, ridiculous skit that would get a rise out of late-night viewers.
Video Game Spoofs
Grand Theft Auto for Yuppies by Conan O'Brien
Trend Themes
1. Comedic Video Game Spoofs - Opportunities for creating and sharing comedic renditions of popular video games.
2. Creative Commentary on Sensitive Topics - Opportunities for using humor and satire to address and mitigate controversy surrounding sensitive topics in popular culture.
3. Reinventing Existing Products and Content - Opportunities for taking existing content and putting an innovative spin on it to appeal to new audiences and generate interest.
Industry Implications
1. Gaming and Entertainment - Opportunities for game developers and content creators to collaborate with comedians and humorists to create satire and new content within the gaming industry.
2. Media and Broadcast - Opportunities for television and streaming networks to develop new comedic content based on existing popular video games and other entertainment products.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Opportunities for advertisers to collaborate with popular comedians and other content creators to develop innovative and viral marketing campaigns based on popular culture references.