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Parents group urges recall of video game 'GTA'

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Parents group urges recall of video game 'GTA'

Old 07-20-05, 09:27 AM
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Parents group urges recall of video game 'GTA'

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050720/...ndtheftauto_dc

Parents group urges recall of video game 'GTA'
By Lisa Baertlein1 hour, 41 minutes ago

A media watchdog group said on Tuesday it has demanded Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. unit Rockstar Games recall "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," the blockbuster title at the center of a swarm over a hack that helps players unlock a sexually explicit mini-game.

The move added the Parents Television Council's voice to a growing chorus of critics of the game -- one of the most popular ever sold and one of the most controversial for what critics see as its gratuitous violence.

For the past few weeks, the video game industry has been buzzing over a software modification for the game that allows players to have their characters engage in sex acts at the house of a "girlfriend."

The game modification, dubbed "hot coffee," can be downloaded from the Internet.


Critics have called for a change in the game's rating, from "M" (Mature 17+) to "AO" (Adult Only). Such a move could crimp sales at large retail outlets.

Just last week, U.S. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Joseph Lieberman stepped into the controversy.

Lieberman demanded that the company allow for an independent analysis of its code, while Clinton has promised to introduce legislation that would curb the sale of violent video games to minors.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board -- the group responsible for video games ratings -- has also launched a probe into the "hot coffee" modification.


"Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" got its "M" rating for blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, strong sexual content and drug use.

Take-Two's Rockstar Games has said "hot coffee" is an unauthorized modification created by individuals in the gaming community. It is cooperating with the ESRB investigation.

Patrick Wildenborg, a Netherlands-based programer identified as the lead author of the hack, said on his Web site that content in the modification -- including the animation and dialogue -- was available on the original game disk.

He noted, however, that the material is completely inaccessible in an unmodified version of the game.


It "is most probably just leftover material from a gameplay idea that didn't make the final release. I would really like to stress that this material is only accessible after willfully applying the 'hot coffee' mod (or something similar) to the game," he said on his site.

Wildenborg could not be immediately reached for comment. (Additional reporting by Lucas van Grinsven in Amsterdam)
Old 07-20-05, 09:37 AM
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Haha... this thread had/has an ad for GTA:SA in it!

This is such a joke. Why don't parents just focus on being parents instead of relying on others (like ESRB) to do it for them? Democrats are getting all upity about sexual content in video games, but they are ignoring the fact that these users are violating the terms of use. Who is pressuring congress to regulate this violation of contract?
Old 07-20-05, 09:42 AM
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The game is already rated M.

If parents would actually look at what they are buying and not just blindly buy it because little Johnny whines and cries for it, then some of these problems might not be an issue.
Also, if stores would enforce the rule and make no sales to minors. I know some stores don't care and sell to anyone that has the money.
Old 07-20-05, 09:44 AM
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Sigh.. this thread is popping up here just as much as the Full Screen whining in the main forum nowadays. Much like that thread, this one always has the same replies.
Old 07-20-05, 10:04 AM
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My support for Senator Clinton is as strong as it ever was.
Old 07-20-05, 11:47 AM
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Its a rated M game. No parent should allow their kid to play it anyway. Good luck getting that one out of circulation.
Old 07-20-05, 12:24 PM
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..... good joke ... so anyways... time to figure out the sex game...
Old 07-20-05, 12:34 PM
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As far as I can tell, this lame mod just shows dry humping and no actual penetration.

What teens arent already dry humping?
Old 07-20-05, 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Save Ferris
What teens arent already dry humping?
The ones sitting at home playing GTA: San Andreas?

to the teens: I keed...please don't shoot me...
Old 07-20-05, 02:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Save Ferris
As far as I can tell, this lame mod just shows dry humping and no actual penetration.
I agree. And the game is already rated "M" and it already lists "sexual content".

Since when does two poorly rendered clusters of polygons dry humping equal porn or a need for AO rating?

What teens arent already dry humping?
A better question, what teens aren't already having sex?


I find it very strange that the PTC wants a game recalled that was never rated or intended for children. Maybe efforts should be used to educate parents? I did read somewhere that Hillary said the ESRB ratings were "too difficult" to understand.
Old 07-20-05, 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by UAIOE
A better question, what teens aren't already having sex?
I'm not.
Old 07-20-05, 03:56 PM
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I guess Hilary hasn't played God of War has she?
Old 07-20-05, 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by ceeece
I guess Hilary hasn't played God of War has she?
What is that supposed to mean? Her role in this was "Clinton has promised to introduce legislation that would curb the sale of violent video games to minors." which I fully agree with; I don't think it has anything to do with her playing a game.
Old 07-20-05, 04:13 PM
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I think it would be fun to take Hillary, Lieberman and every member of the PTC, give them each a computer with a fresh installation of GTA: SA along with the Hot Coffee mod and then see if any of them was even able to view the objectionable scenes.

I seem to remember doing missions in the game for two or three hours before meeting my first "girlfriend" and then having to complete five or six extremely boring dates before the mod would have even come into play.

Edit: As a side note, my 33 year old girlfriend was carded when she was buying me the game as a birthday present.
Old 07-20-05, 04:22 PM
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Clinton has promised to introduce legislation that would curb the sale of violent video games to minors
How could anybody have a problem with this?
Old 07-20-05, 04:47 PM
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Gamestop stores got a memo today and are supposed to take it off store shelves. My local Gamestop had already done so. The game has also been taken off the Gamestop website. I would expect more stores to follow.
Old 07-20-05, 05:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Groucho
How could anybody have a problem with this?
The little teenagers whom GTA is the target audience of, that's who.
Old 07-20-05, 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by TaTTooD
Gamestop stores got a memo today and are supposed to take it off store shelves. My local Gamestop had already done so. The game has also been taken off the Gamestop website. I would expect more stores to follow.
Whoa, crazy. Only the soundtrack and strategy guide are on their site.
Old 07-20-05, 05:15 PM
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SAN FRANCISCO - The video game industry on Wednesday changed to adults-only the rating of "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," a best-selling title in which explicit sexual content can be unlocked with an Internet download.


The decision followed intense pressure from politicians and media watch groups.

Grand Theft Auto's producer, Rockstar Games, said it was now working on a new version of the game that would satisfy the original "M" for mature rating. It said it would provide new labels to any retailer willing to continue selling the version currently on store shelves.

Rockstar's parent, Take Two Interactive, also admitted for the first time Wednesday that the sex scenes had been built into the retail game — not just the PC version but also those written for Xbox and PlayStation2 consoles.

Company officials had previously suggested that a modification created by outsiders added the scenes to the game, last year's best seller in consoles.

"There is sex content in the disc," Take-Two spokesman Jim Ankner told The Associated Press. "The editing and finalization of any game is a complicated task and it's not uncommon for unused and unfinished content to remain on the disc."

The sex scenes, inserted in a game whose main character seeks bloody vengeance on gang-filled streets while pickup scantily clad women, had prompted outrage from parent's groups and politicians including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

In a statement, the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) said the sex scenes were programmed by Rockstar "to be inaccessible to the player."

But ESRB chief Patricia Vance also acknowledged that the "credibility and utility" of the industry-run board's initial "M" rating had been "seriously undermined."

Many retailers sell "M" rated games, which "may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older," according to the rating board. but won't sell "AO"-labeled games at all.

Take-Two also said Wednesday that it expects to suffer financially. It lowered its expectations for its current quarter and fiscal year to set aside funds for returns of the games, and figured that net sales could decrease by more than $50 million during the quarter ending July 31.

Shares of Take-Two rose 12 cents to close at $27.07 on the Nasdaq, but later dropped $3.07, or 11.3 percent, in after-hours activity.

The ratings change was vindication for Patrick Wildenbourg, the Dutch programmer who developed and freely distributed the modification that unlocked the controversial content in the game's PC version.

Such "mods" are wildly popular in the hardcore gaming community and — authorized or not — exploit the medium's interactive nature to extend the playing life of many popular titles.

Take-Two president Paul Eibeler stressed in a statement that only an unauthorized "mod" makes the sex scenes available, and said "the decision to re-rate a game based on an unauthorized third party modification presents a new challenge for parents, the interactive entertainment industry and anyone who distributes or consumes digital content."

That prompted an angry reaction from David Walsh, founder of the National Institute on the Media and the Family, a Minneapolis-based group that monitors the industry.

Walsh criticized Rockstar for what he called a "carefully worded statement" that leaves the impression that "modders" are responsible for the content. "They did not take responsibility for the fact that this code was created within their company and placed on disks and shipped to responsible retailers."

The Parents Television Council, another group that monitors sex and violence in the media, said it was pleased with the rating switch but called on Rockstar to voluntarily recall the game and offer refunds to anyone who purchased it.

"I tip my cap to that first step of showing responsibility," said Tim Winter, the council's executive director. "Phase two needs to be absolutely getting to the bottom of this coding issue. How did it get into that game? How did it get past the ratings board?"

The ESRB was formed 11 years ago amid congressional pressure to crack down on violent video games. The board now issues ratings for more than 1,000 game titles each year.

Game makers must submit a lengthy form describing the most extreme content, and turn over visual samples and scripted dialogue as each game nears the final stages of development.
Old 07-20-05, 05:37 PM
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Originally Posted by RyoHazuki
Walsh criticized Rockstar for what he called a "carefully worded statement" that leaves the impression that "modders" are responsible for the content. "They did not take responsibility for the fact that this code was created within their company and placed on disks and shipped to responsible retailers."
yeah riiiight.

edit: strange that in games like God of War you can have sex with 2 naked chicks at the same time in the first 10 minutes of the game but it hasn't gotten a media blitz.

the funny (or unfunny) thing is that now the game is going to sell even more now that this story came out.

this game should be restricted from minors, but god I hate overblown media like this making the gaming industry look bad.

Last edited by Outlaw; 07-20-05 at 06:10 PM.
Old 07-20-05, 07:26 PM
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So, my question of the day, anyone figure out how to unlock this content in the PS2 version? Just.... curious....
Old 07-20-05, 07:55 PM
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Polygon sex has never been more overrated.
Old 07-20-05, 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by hellmutt
So, my question of the day, anyone figure out how to unlock this content in the PS2 version? Just.... curious....

there are Action Replay Max codes.
Old 07-20-05, 09:13 PM
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i cant believe all this crap, now this game is pulled from best buy and all the other stores because it is now rated Adults only. its stupid too, since this rating isnt much different then rated M for mature
Old 07-20-05, 11:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Outlaw
yeah riiiight.

edit: strange that in games like God of War you can have sex with 2 naked chicks at the same time in the first 10 minutes of the game but it hasn't gotten a media blitz.

the funny (or unfunny) thing is that now the game is going to sell even more now that this story came out.

this game should be restricted from minors, but god I hate overblown media like this making the gaming industry look bad.
It won't sell more, it will be harder to get so it'll sell less.

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