Last week saw the highly anticipated release of the first trailer for Rockstar Games' upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV. Excited gamers across the world ogled at the short film's rich environments and glorious lighting - but not everyone was pleased with it, especially some of New York City's most respected residents. They claim that the game's setting, Liberty City, resembles NYC too closely in a way that has the potential to damage the reputation of the place nicknamed the city that never sleeps.

The newly released trailer exhibits famous landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and introduces the game's protagonist who explains, "Life is complicated. I killed people, smuggled people, sold people. Perhaps here things will be different." We all know that won't happen, so it's easy to see why NYC's officials have become so riled.

“Setting Grand Theft Auto in the safest big city in America would be like setting Halo in Disneyland,” said City Councilman Peter Vallone, chairman of the Council's Public Safety Committee.

“It's despicable to glamorise violence in games like these, regardless of how far-fetched the setting may be," added Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. 

Jason Post, a spokesman for NYC’s Mayor Bloomberg harnessed the power of facts and figures to demonstrate his disapproval of the title. He cited that vehicle thefts have dropped 58% since Bloomberg took office, and that this year’s murder rate is down 28%. “The mayor does not support any video game where you earn points for injuring or killing police officers,” he said.

Grand Theft Auto IV is released in October this year. Something tells us that this latest outcry isn't the last one we're going to hear about concerning Rockstar Games' latest title, perhaps the most controversial videogaming franchise of all time.