In 2007, Rockstar Games, the company behind the Grand Theft Auto series, did something unique to make GTA IV feel even more realistic and satirical. They set up a phone line and invited fans to call in and rant about anything they thought was wrong with America. The best and most entertaining calls were selected and used as part of an in-game radio station called WKTT (We Know The Truth). This radio station was designed to sound like a typical conservative talk radio station, featuring extreme political opinions, over-the-top patriotism, and ridiculous conspiracy theories. But what made it special was that some of the voices heard on the station were actually real fans who called in with their own complaints.
This was a clever move by Rockstar because it fit perfectly with GTA IV’s theme of exploring the “American Dream” and its flaws. The game’s story follows Niko Bellic, an immigrant who comes to Liberty City (a fictional version of New York) searching for a better life, only to find that the American Dream is not as perfect as he thought. The radio stations in GTA games are known for being full of satire, and WKTT was no different—it exaggerated real-life talk radio by featuring outrageous rants that sometimes sounded very similar to things you might actually hear on American radio.
Some of the rants that made it into the game were hilarious, extreme, and sometimes completely nonsensical. For example, one caller went on about how children should be forced to work instead of going to school, saying:
I say we take all these kids that are cryin’ about how hard school is, and we put them to work in factories like the good old days! You don’t learn about life in school, you learn about life when you’re missing three fingers and still gotta show up for work the next day!
Another caller ranted about how America was being taken over by people who eat sushi:
I remember when this country was about burgers and fries! Now I go to the supermarket, and what do I see? Rows and rows of sushi! Raw fish! This is America! Cook your damn food!
One particularly paranoid caller believed that technology was a government plot to spy on everyone:
Ever wonder why they tell you to get a cell phone? Because the government wants to listen to your calls, that’s why! They know what you’re saying! And don’t even get me started on microwaves! I haven’t used a microwave in ten years, and I feel great!
These rants were meant to be exaggerated and funny, showing the kind of over-the-top opinions you might hear on real-life talk radio. Rockstar has always been known for satirizing American culture, and this was one of the most creative ways they did it. Instead of just writing all the content themselves, they let real people contribute, making the experience feel even more authentic.
The WKTT station in GTA IV also featured a fictional host who responded to these callers, sometimes agreeing with them and sometimes making fun of them. The entire station was designed to feel like a mix of entertainment and propaganda, poking fun at how some radio shows push extreme views to get attention.
Rockstar Games has a long history of using humor and satire to comment on society, and this phone line experiment was a perfect example of that. Fans not only got to be a part of the game, but they also helped shape its humor and its take on American culture. It was a brilliant marketing move and added another layer of realism to the game’s world.
Even today, GTA IV’s radio stations, including WKTT, are remembered as some of the best in the series. The idea of letting fans rant about America and then using their calls in the game was something no other game company had done before. It was one of those small details that made GTA IV feel so alive and relevant, turning real frustrations into satire that fit perfectly into the world of Liberty City.
