Grand Theft Auto rating changed

[♦ ficino ♦]

The rating of Grand Theft Auto, the video game, was changed from Mature to Adults Only, after a sexually suggestive scene came into public discussion. Before it was noticed, the violence and theft motifs were OK for teenage guys (don't know how many girls) to get off on.

 

Now it will make less money 'cause WalMart and Target will sell violence and theft but not sex, no, no, that's evil.

 

So a new version will be marketed without the sex but with all the other stuff.

 

I'm glad a live in a country where its Christian heritage helps keep our youth from the forbidden knowledge of sex. I'm also glad that our youth are encouraged to develop their growing brain neuroconnections playing video games about violence and theft. And I'm glad that I can make money by investing in these companies.

 

If George Bush redesigns the supreme Court properly, we'll get rid of abortion but bring back necktie parties and lynchings. Maybe invade another couple of countries.

[Vixentrox]

Xtians have to get used to violence. It'll help them in the future when they persecute heretics.

[LloydDobler]

You're not quite stating it correctly. The game 'as shipped' was fine for the M rating. It had implied sex, (moans and a rocking car, etc) but nothing visible. However, there was some code that was discovered could be unlocked by downloading a patch that was fully pornographic. This is NOT in line with an M rating, it is in line with an AO (adults only) rating.

 

At first, Rockstar games tried to blame the patch makers for this content, but when it was revealed that the code was also included (but locked) in the PS2 version of the game, they had no choice but to accept responsibility, even though a user unlocked it and distributed the patch.

 

Here's what happened: They basically wrote porn into the game, which is fine, and then simply locked it out rather than delete it, to get the M rating. Just like filmmakers do with their NC-17/R transitions. Push it and let the censors tell them what to cut.

 

Someone on the net of course figured out how to unlock it. Quite frankly I agree with the whole decision to change the rating and/or change the code and redistribute.

 

I will buy my kid an M rated game when she's old enough. I will not buy her an AO game until she's an adult, at which time she can buy it herself. As a parent, I would not be happy with an M rated game that she could turn into an AO game with the click of a mouse.

[Guest WhatIsTruth9]

I think its funny that Wal-Mart will sell guns and "The passion of the Christ" with that sick whipping scene in it, and lots of "violent" movies...

 

But anything that has sex on it...oh no....I mean hell I got carded once for buying fucking condoms once there.

[The Silent One]

This is ridiculous, and here's why: This wasn't part of the finished game, it was something they worked on but then scrapped - but instead of just removing it completely locked away (Stupid mistake). The point is, that it's not on the released version, YOU have to take the initiative and find the codes to get it, there's a skin that makes Laura Croft naked - maybe we should up the rating on that too.

 

If it was part of the game as shipped? You bet your ass, AO. It's not, it's something that was never intentioned to be unlocked - someone found out how to do it and BAM. Then by giving it so much publicity it further spreads, now everyone knows "HEY! I can go online and get this patch!"

 

No, I'm sorry this is wrong. Rockstar took this out (probably because they knew it was too much) but left the coding in, maybe due to time constraints or part of the coding being connected to the game as a whole, but it wasn't supposed to be on the finished product as shipped. Should they be changing it so that part of the code isn't there, and shipping out a proper version, well DUH. Maybe offer to replace all existing copies if the consumer wants to replace.

 

More so, even cleaning it up and re-releasing it, it'll now have a stigma attached to it - certain chains probably won't even bother to pick it up again.

[Vixentrox]

I remember back when Tipper Gore was on the warpath. Warrent released a CD called Cherry Pie. There wasn't any cussing in the album till the very last song called "Ode to Tipper Gore". The song was nothing but swearing, talking a blow jobs, ect. It was a jab at her and a way to get interest in the album which now had to carry the warning label on it.

[sonofspong]

Tells you how fucked up the morals are in this country.

 

During the 2004 superbowl, if Janet Jackson, instead having a "wardrobe malfunction", had been shot in the head by a sniper and her skull split open like a ripe melon, people woulda forgot about it 2 days later.

 

But no, she shows a tit, and armageddon nearly begins.

 

Imagine what woulda happened if she had shown BOTH TITS....dear god....

 

 

*on a second note*

 

Whatistruth, you seriously got carded for condoms at wal-mart? What kind of shit is that? Would they rather you DONT have them so you can have unprotected sex?

[Vulgaris Prime]

A lot of people are taking Rockstar to task for this, as though they've committed some horrible evil by putting that half-finished content in there and locking it away.

 

First, games are FULL of half-finished content. Y'ever hear about developer levels? Debug codes? Stage selects? Metroid's "hidden worlds"? Those are all programmer leftovers that often aren't taken out. Some enterprising soul finds out how to unlock it, and voila!

 

Second, there's a reason that Rockstar didn't go for the AO rating - it's because it gets seen as a kiss of death to any game, much like the NC-17 rating is death to a movie. Granted, that's not well thought out on their part, since, y'know, it's only ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS GAME SERIES OF RECENT TIMES, and I doubt an AO rating would change that.

 

Besides, Rockstar knows that if they stir up controversy, they sell more. They knew that with GTA: Vice City, they knew it with Manhunt, they know it with this. People are buying directly into it.

 

No, I'm sorry this is wrong. Rockstar took this out (probably because they knew it was too much) but left the coding in, maybe due to time constraints or part of the coding being connected to the game as a whole, but it wasn't supposed to be on the finished product as shipped. Should they be changing it so that part of the code isn't there, and shipping out a proper version, well DUH. Maybe offer to replace all existing copies if the consumer wants to replace.

 

On time.

Under budget.

Bug free.

 

Pick one. Two if you pay the programmers enough.

[Guest ElGuapo]

Yeah, I just watched ol' Hillary sermonizing on television about the evils of this type of content in video games. God I hate that fucking whore.

[Amethyst]

First, games are FULL of half-finished content. Y'ever hear about developer levels? Debug codes? Stage selects? Metroid's "hidden worlds"? Those are all programmer leftovers that often aren't taken out. Some enterprising soul finds out how to unlock it, and voila!

 

Then there are games that are shipped half-finished, like Dungeon Lords.

 

[Vixentrox]

Yeah, I just watched ol' Hillary sermonizing on television about the evils of this type of content in video games. God I hate that fucking whore.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thought it was her husband that was the whore?

[Guest ElGuapo]

Thought it was her husband that was the whore? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Haha..ok, both then.

[Barnacle Bill]

"there's a skin that makes Laura Croft naked - maybe we should up the rating on that too"

 

Funny you should mention this, because one of the people that pursued the AO rating on GTA is now going after the Sims2.

 

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/07/22/news_6129609.html

[The Silent One]

Haha..ok, both then.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

*TOTAL MENTAL MELTDOWN*

 

BLEAHHFODSHF:DSIFH:H:!LJ!J!KJ!!!!!

 

*Bangs head randomly against keyboard* Just make these people DIE, already.

[Yaoi Huntress Earth]

Funny you should mention this, because one of the people that pursued the AO

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

As a Sims fan, this makes me want to bang my head against a wall. Maxis can't really control the Mod makers just like authors can't control people who write fanfiction. It's so annouying how people get all pissy over nudity (I wouldn't be surprised if this jerk is all estatic over Passion of the Christ). People do not shower with swimsuits on and hygene is part of life. I'm just glad he hasn't discovered some of the other stuff: all Sims are basically bisexual and can easily fall in love with either gender, gays can marry (though they call them joint unions) and adopt, you can have premarital sex and out of wedlock children, married people can have affairs and illegitimate children, and how Mrs. Crumplebottom (she's in the upcoming expansion pack) basicly pokes fun at people like him. They're just being honest about life with the exception of everybody being bi.

 

I just think uber-prudes and fundie have to have their daily quota of misery (either against themselves or others) or they shrivel up and die or something.

[Valgeir]

That Jack Thompson guy should seriously just die. I don't mean kill himself, I mean spontaneously combust in the middle of a meeting.

[Amethyst]

Funny you should mention this, because one of the people that pursued the AO rating on GTA is now going after the Sims2.

 

Arrrgh!

 

The Sims is one of the most non-violent games there is, without going to the little kids' games. Jeez. Unless, of course, you like to torture your Sims by drowning them or something, but still.

 

The hacks are done by third parties -- it's not like they were built into the game. And if they ban modding the Sims entirely, that'll take most of the fun out of playing it.

[crazy-tiger]

And if they ban modding the Sims entirely, that'll take most of the fun out of playing it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And if they take the fun out of playing it, no-one'll play it anymore.

 

 

Perfect plan, since then people will have more time to be brainwashed...

[Shadfox]

It pisses me off that the Democrats are doing this just to gain voter appeal with the Puritan dry crotches. It's nothing more than a political gimmick.

[nirrti]

All these prudish cry-babies need to get off the video game bashing and find solutions to some real problems like making sure all Americans have healthcare, all the good jobs aren't going overseas and all kids besides those living in the upper middle-class suburbs can get a good education.

 

But, of course, if they don't make it their mission to stop "nekkid" people from warping our brains, they would have to stop being in denial about more pressing issues.

[Merlinfmct87]

OK, I have to come down on the side of the people rating this as AO. Rockstar could and should have outright yanked that code. Leaving it in there is, essentially, delaying the inevitable release and(not to make a pun) exposure of said code. For many people, the first thing they do with a new game engine after running around in it to get a feel for the interface is go over to program files and explore the settings and inner workings of it... speaking AS A GAME MODDER MYSELF, someone who has made mods myself and has spent many, many years around game modders much brighter than myself, they look(and find) *EVERYTHING*.

 

There are only two reasons for leaving the code in:

 

1.) They wanted to enable it in a patch themselves at a later date

2.) They wanted to leave it in as an easter egg for someone else to 'do it for them.'

 

This isn't someone sticking their own mod into their program(as seen with The Sims), this is someone uncovering what was already there.

 

Rockstar left the gun on the table here. It should suprise no one that someone decided to squeeze of a round.

 

Merlin

[Asimov]

OK, I have to come down on the side of the people rating this as AO. Rockstar could and should have outright yanked that code. Leaving it in there is, essentially, delaying the inevitable release and(not to make a pun) exposure of said code. For many people, the first thing they do with a new game engine after running around in it to get a feel for the interface is go over to program files and explore the settings and inner workings of it... speaking AS A GAME MODDER MYSELF, someone who has made mods myself and has spent many, many years around game modders much brighter than myself, they look(and find) *EVERYTHING*.

 

There are only two reasons for leaving the code in:

 

1.) They wanted to enable it in a patch themselves at a later date

2.) They wanted to leave it in as an easter egg for someone else to 'do it for them.'

 

This isn't someone sticking their own mod into their program(as seen with The Sims), this is someone uncovering what was already there.

 

Rockstar left the gun on the table here. It should suprise no one that someone decided to squeeze of a round.

 

Merlin

 

 

Irrelevant. The point is that the people who rally up in arms about this sex code is that it's ok for "the kids" to shoot people as long as no nudity is involved.

[Amethyst]

I went over to Mod the Sims 2, which is one of the more popular Sims modding sites, just to see what they were saying about it. Apparently, a few people had e-mailed this Jack Thompson guy, who is a lawyer involved in the lawsuit, and at least one of them was told to read the Bible. So apparently the guy is a fundie.

 

Sims 2 content "worse than Hot Coffee" (their thread)

[Asimov]

I went over to Mod the Sims 2, which is one of the more popular Sims modding sites, just to see what they were saying about it.  Apparently, a few people had e-mailed this Jack Thompson guy, who is a lawyer involved in the lawsuit, and at least one of them was told to read the Bible.  So apparently the guy is a fundie.

 

Sims 2 content "worse than Hot Coffee" (their thread)

 

Oh yea, I read about that too, that's fucking hilarious!

 

They don't have human anatomy, the guy is a liar.

[Amethyst]

They don't have human anatomy, the guy is a liar.

 

Well, adult female sims do have breasts, but it's not like you can see them in detail or anything.