San Andreas bumped up to Adults only

[SnowTrooper]

Who else heres thinks that it was stupid that GTA:San Andreas was bumped up to Adult purchase only.It was only bumped up because of a cheat code that shows a sex scene.I dont know what the cheat code is but im goin to find out.

[BlairH]

It's not even a "cheat code" it's a user made content patch for the PC version of the game that users can download. It unlocks a portion of the game that the developers chose not to include in the final release of the game.

[Valmore]

I've got no real problem with it, since it is a game that only adults should be buying and playing.

And it's not only because of a cheat code. The GTA series has tons of content that only adults should be able to have - humping prostitutes, killing cops, stealing cars, etc.

Seriously, it's not a children's game. And if a retailer sells it to someone under age limits, they should be hit.

However, if a parent buys it for his or her kid and lets them play, they've got no place to complain.

[Hiromi]

And it's not only because of a cheat code. The GTA series has tons of content that only adults should be able to have - humping prostitutes, killing cops, stealing cars, etc.


The ESRB only decided to move the rating up due specifically to the Hot Coffee mod. IOWs all the cop and ho killing and car thievery and unexplicit fornication was only enough to rate an M, whereas this is enough for an AO. IMO its them caving into pressure, nothing more and nothing less and has absolutly nothing to do with whether or not the Game is available only to 18 year olds rather than 17 year old.

[Anthony]

So this only affects the PC? Or will the Consoles catch backlash because of it?

[Metaphysician]

Apparently, its the console versions that were the last straw, as the scene is available via a cheat code on PS2.

[Flawless P]

If me (17) and my 14 year old brother wanna blow crap up on a video game about these things or watch the little... Cut scene, I think we should be able to. I've had San Andreas since the day it came out.

[Donald M.]

If me (17) and my 14 year old brother wanna blow crap up on a video game about these things or watch the little... Cut scene, I think we should be able to.

Do your parents agree with this? If so, one of them cn buy you the game.

I've had San Andreas since the day it came out.

You already have it? Then what's the problem?

[Donald M.]

Apparently, its the console versions that were the last straw, as the scene is available via a cheat code on PS2.

It certainly doesn't help that Rockstar lied their asses off about it. I mean what, once people knew this stuff existed in the PC version, they didn't think people would look for it in the console versions?

[SnowTrooper]

Im 14 and my parents bought the game for me.Most parents know that a video game with some adult content isnt going to make you go out and screw a hooker or kill a cop.Anyway im sure the scene isnt any worse than what I could download on Bearshare right now.This isnt really the turn out I expected for this thread, I wanted some angry outraged kids bad mouthing Hilary Clinton or the government,but whatever this is cool too.

[Urusai Wrangler]

It certainly doesn't help that Rockstar lied their asses off about it. I mean what, once people knew this stuff existed in the PC version, they didn't think people would look for it in the console versions?

This could come back and bite Rockstar in the ass, in a very legal and binding sense.

[StoneGold]

Wouldn't be the first time. They've been in trouble with either the FEC or the IRS for ages.

[Convoy]

Now the govt.'s getting involved.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/07/25/news_6129723.html

[Captain Sarcasm]

Apparently, its the console versions that were the last straw, as the scene is available via a cheat code on PS2.

Technically, it's only available via a third-party hack program, or something like that. It's impossible to get to it without it. I don't know why they didn't bother to remove it from the source code, though, so, frankly, it's their own damn fault.

[Captain Sarcasm]

This could come back and bite Rockstar in the ass, in a very legal and binding sense.

Bah... so they'll get a fine. And maybe they'll have to submit future games to more scrutiny. Big deal. GTA's been one of the most popular and best-selling game franchises ever since its inception, and this kind of press will only make more of the core, adult, american male audience buy it. Sure, there may be a few bumps, but I have no doubt that they'll bounce back.

[Sheldon]

As mentioned above the funniest thing is that the age restriction has only been bumped up a year. So at age 17 its ok to chop people's heads off, kill cops and solicit hookers, but only at 18 is it ok to see computer sex.

[Johnny Morningstar]

Im 14 and my parents bought the game for me.Most parents know that a video game with some adult content isnt going to make you go out and screw a hooker or kill a cop.

I dunno. I'm 28 and, after playing GTA, I get tempted to take a shot at a cop and see if I can outrun him.

But then again, I think I'm Hannibal after watching Silence of the Lambs.

[Dreadstar]

Doesn't really matter much to me. As a parent, that game isn't entering my house for at least 2 more years (the kid is 15).

But it's good to know that someone cares about truth in labeling.

[CHEYENNE-BLACKBIRD]

my lil boy and girl just turned 10 but they had the game before then.the game is really jaust a over the top satire game.its completly harmless,and most kids know its just fiction.nobody's gonna live their life by it.

[IQ!]

It's kinda stupid that a patch is the thing that bumped it up to an AO rating. But then again on the other hand it was Rockstar's fault for leaving the code in there in the first place. I mean crap, it's not that hard to take the code out especially if it's not gonna be used. Legally I don't think it's gonna happen and I think the government is really overreacting.

[SnowTrooper]

I dunno. I'm 28 and, after playing GTA, I get tempted to take a shot at a cop and see if I can outrun him.

But then again, I think I'm Hannibal after watching Silence of the Lambs.

LOL. Thats pretty funny.

[mgs]

I didn't get this yet, but man! I thought Hilary was okay in my book before she made this an 'issue'. bleah! :(

[BlairH]

Apparently, its the console versions that were the last straw, as the scene is available via a cheat code on PS2.

Only if you hack the game using a gameshark or similar.

[Convoy]

Grandma sues Take 2 over GTA

July 27, 2005 - The hot coffee won't stop pouring. Just a day after the FTC opened a formal investigation of the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas "hot coffee" scandal, a woman is now suing publisher Take-Two Interactive for "false, misleading, and deceptive practices."



The Associated Press reports today that Florence Cohen, 85, of New York, has sued the publisher after learning of GTA: San Andreas' hidden sexual content and the ESRB's new rating of "AO" for the game. Cohen says she bought the game for her 14-year-old grandson when it was rated "M" -- for its unapologetically violent gameplay and adult themes -- and when she knew nothing of the "hot coffee" content.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, seeks unspecified damages for Cohen and all consumers nationwide.

The brouhaha over a sexually-themed mini-game unlocked in San Andreas with a user-created mod has led to public outcry, a change in the game's rating, and a full investigation by the FTC. For its part, Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive has ceased manufacturing the original version of the game, and is creating a version in which the "hot coffee" content is inaccessible. While retailers have the option to sell the current version as an "AO" game, most have simply pulled the game from shelves.

Take-Two did not respond to IGN's request for comment as of press time, but we'll keep you up-to-date on the ongoing "hot coffee" saga as news comes in.

source: IGN

Here come the gold diggers!!

[grendel824]

So have there been any actual material effects from this? Or is it still too soon to tell?

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

Unless Florence's grandson happened to download the mod and install it, I fail to see how exactly this would have effected him.