Freshman Shai Yulish recently raced on a motorcycle through a desert landscape. When his friend, chasing in a car, took out a gun and shot his tire flat, Yulish began to yell.

He eventually calmed down, but then broke into another rage when he was “wasted” after getting into a serious accident.

Of course, Yulish did not really get injured, killed, or “wasted.” He just lost the money and weapons  his character had earned in the video game Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5), released this September by Rockstar Games.

BHS students have spent countless hours this fall playing GTA 5.

“I like the realistic aspect of the game,”  senior Paul Flowers said. “I also like the fact  that they are pushing the graphics even further.”

GTA 5 has taken over the gaming world. According to Engadget.com, the game made $1 billion in its first three days.  The headline on the technology news site states that GTA 5 “may be the fastest-selling entertainment product in history.”

Back in his Beachwood basement, Yulish sits one foot away from his T.V., which is hooked up to an Xbox 360. There is clutter everywhere: puzzle pieces scattered around the floor, video games disorderly stacked. His cat Moo roams around, and the room is crowded by furniture.

Yulish screams maniacally after crashing his 18-wheeler on the highway. After losing all his money and weapons, he searches unsuccessfully in the game for the lost items. He takes out his phone and  texts a friend to race with him, so he can forget the fact that he lost almost everything.

With GTA 5, Rockstar Games enhanced Grand Theft Auto 4. They added more “activities” to the game, improved the graphics and added two more protagonists, according to gamers.

“Since there are now three characters, it just seems much better,” freshman Mitchell Penn said. “I like most of the missions and the online mode.”

“This is better than previous games, because you can play against other people online. You can have gangs and become the head of a mafia,” sophomore Justin Edwards said.

“My favorite feature is stealing jets, because you get the thrill of taking something that shouldn’t be taken,” Edwards elaborated

“The game is very realistic, and I like the setting,” freshman Yossi DuBow said.

The game has received a lot of criticism from adults for excessive violence, vulgar language, sexual content.

This seems to be an attitude among some parents of Beachwood gamers.

“They don’t like killing games,” Lazar said.

“My parents didn’t want me to buy me the game, so I got my older brother to buy it for me,” Edwards said.

However, other parents are not as concerned.

“I don’t think they really care if I don’t do anything bad and if I keep my grades up,” Penn said.

“[My parents] don’t really care, but I’m not allowed to play around my little brother,” Flowers said.

Some gamers commit a tremendous amount of time to the game.

“I play four hours a day,” Edwards said. “Overall, I’ve played for… days.”

“I would have played more, but my Xbox broke,” freshman Josh Lazar said.

Other students reported playing about an hour per day.

Despite the time spent playing, many BHS gamers claim that it hasn’t affected their grades.

“Noo… it hasn’t affected me yet,” Penn said.

“Homework is done before I play, and I don’t play that much,” DuBow said.

(Image source: Rockstar Games)