Meteornotes Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/07/20/state/n135226D99.DTL Best Buy, Target and WalMart have already pulled the game from their shelves, and I've seen a report somewhere else that Gamestop has also stopped selling the game. I think that WAY too much is being made out of this, but I tend to be much more liberal about sex in entertainment media than many people. Thoughts? dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not For Sale Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Why is it that The Guy Game and Leisure Suit Larry get M ratings and this gets AO?! The Guy game shows real women topless and Leisure Suit Larry has TONS of sex in it. This is just an excuse for politicians to get the support of the insane parents groups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterking Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Also the sex game thing is some mod that people made from taking the code from the game. You can't do it on a normal copy of the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 From what I understand, the code for it was still in the game, just that Rockstar decided to take it out of the game but left the code there. All you need to do for the PS2 version to access the mini game is use the Action Replay cheat device, nothing that modders or hackers did and all you need is a regular copy of the game. I think it's crazy the game was pulled. The game was rated Mature to begin with so it was only intended to be played by those 17 and older in the first place. There isn't a huge difference between 17 and 18. And the whole reasoning just seems messed up to me. Killing police officers, running over and shooting anyone you want, stealing cars,breaking into house, going into a strip club for a lap dance is all ok but the second there is this sex mini game which doesn't even show anything, it causes this whole concern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Does anyone else find it completely hilarious that this game is exceedingly violent, but everyone is in an uproar about a hidden sex scene?! It's cool to show people getting their heads blown off, but OH MY GOD TITS!! BAN IT! God Bless America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterFanatic Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 I hate how American has this big aversion to nudity but violence is cool. Just goes to show how f**ked up our standards are. If you kiss a ***** (XXX Rated) If you cut off a ***** with a chainsaw (R Rated) WTF! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 As usual Wes took the words right out of my mouth. It's all fun and games until someone's pants come off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 How bad is the game? Not having played it, and yet having no desire to play it I'm not sure what the uproar is about. Like Wes said, it's funny that we can be as violent as possible, but show a boobie and it's crazy time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 In the game, the main character (CJ) can date girls. You take the girls on dates by picking them up and driving them to a restaurant, a bar or sometimes they want to go on a drive by shooting. As you take the girl on dates, your progress meter increases and once you reach 100% you get a reward. There was originally going to be a sex mini game where you have sex with the girl. No private parts are shown in the game but it does show them having sex (CJ still has his clothes on). This was pulled from the game but still left in the code which can now be accessed with a simple cheat code and cheating device. People were upeset about the other stuff in the game but this seems to be the biggest concern. They also weren't happy that the game "promotes" gang life (the first and last parts of the game are about living in LA and being part of a gang) I think the problem is that people in general still see games as a kids form of entertainment even though it has been shown over half of gamers are over the age of 18 yet people still have a problem with games being made for adults. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Okay, so let me get this straight. You can pick up girls, on your "date" you go on a drive-by shooting. Then, you get sex as a reward. And what people are upset about is the sex? God this country is backwards. Gregg "What ever happened to Dinner and a Movie" C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 The sex mini game was taken out of the final game and because of that people are upset that the sex mini game itself exists and are also angry that Rockstar didn't take the program code off the game disc and that it slipped by the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating's Boad). The same thing happened with Tiger Woods '99 on Playstation 1 where there was a hidden South Park episode left on the disc casuing all copies of the game to be recalled. But, yeah it's the sex that people are upset about. Even BMX XXX which didn't have sex but had topless women BMX riders caused an issue so much that Sony forced Acclaim to take out all nudity in the game for the Playstation 2 version (the Gamecube and XBox versions were not censored). I think some stores like Best Buy refused to carry the XBox and Gamecube versions because of that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 I don't know about you guys but all my dates include drive-bys and sex for a reward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 The thing that worries me more than anything is the fact they altered the rating based on something external to the game. Sure the code and models were left in the game but they were deactivated, nobody can get access to the "Hot Coffee" sex minigames during normal gameplay. They have to purposefully and willfully download a mod (for the PC) or use AR/Gameshark codes on XBOX/PS2 to get access to what are essentially laughably bad sex scenes. The whole furore about kids playing the game and seeing sex scenes is pathetic because GTA:San Andreas has (or should I say HAD) a 17+ rating in the US and a mandatory 18 rating in the UK so it should (in theory at least) not be seen or played by kids anyway. It's the parents responsibility to KNOW what their kids are playing. Back to the point at the top of the post, if someone hypothetically made pornographic mod content for RCT2/3 should the ESRB or BBFC (in the UK) be able to go back and change the games rating because of community made items ? (I know in the case of GTA the minigames weren't community made, someone just figured out how to switch them on) I don't like the precedent set by this. Modding could be heading for dark times. (AFAIK in the US the rating change is only a problem due to outlets not stocking AO games...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Well, in ways, it seems in ways like this is another step in the mad world known as "Politically Correct Utopia America" (if you ask me, our utopia is more of a Fruitopia). Like pucechan said, why boost a rating just because of a hack cheat that can't be accessed in gameplay? Then again, in ways I don't understand why everybody is like "GTA is teh bestest game ever!!1" If you ask me, puh-lease, the only reason why GTA became popular was due to its contreversey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 ^^ The mini-game was built into the game. The patch simply unlocks it. That was the issue; the fact that it already existed within the software. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Then again, in ways I don't understand why everybody is like "GTA is teh bestest game ever!!1" If you ask me, puh-lease, the only reason why GTA became popular was due to its contreversey. I thought the same thing at first and wasn't even going to get San Andreas (thought GTA 3 was ok, never played Vice City). But San Andreas has become one of my favorite games this generation of games. I thought it was awesome because the open ended gameplay. Tired of the missions? Well then go play firefighter or paramedic instead or go to a low rider event or go to the par and play a game of pool. It was one of the best 45 hours I spent playing a game. I do agree that the reason it sells so well is because of the controversy but IMO there is a great game under the controversy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllisonY2K Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 GTA became popular was due to its contreversey that's why I would play it! curses! I was waiting for the game to drop in price before I went out to buy it. so Best Buy is out..does Circuit City or EB Games still carry it? can it be purchased online? ~Allison "96% completed with Vice City (stupid stunt jumps)" Y2K~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted July 22, 2005 Author Share Posted July 22, 2005 ^Pretty much all chain stores have pulled it from the shelves. You might be able to find it in some store with a lazy manager or something, but as far as I know, no chain stores will sell "Adults Only" games, which is what this version of the game is now rated. A new version without the offensive (and locked) material will be out in September or so... dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Real Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 The game wasnt modded. It was revealed. Pretty much from what I gathered was there was basically a "switch" in the code that you turn on or off, that simple. The code was left in the game but in the off position with NO WAY to turn it on from the game. It had to be done in the code. Obviously some lame hacker got in there and somehow, either looking for it or stumbling on it, found it. So its not a mod. A mod is changing the existing games skin and gameplay - this was built in, just not meant to be discovered. Frankly I dont care for the game. Its too far over the edge for my standards and Id rather go play Forza Motorspot or Halo 2 than to run around mindlessly capping people in the head, picking up hookers and having drive bys. So I think it serves Rockstar right for not taking it out. If they did that, we wouldnt even be having this conversation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllisonY2K Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 mindlessly capping people in the head I just "accidentally" run them over. hey, it's the easiest way in the beginning of the game to get lots of $$ and weapons! ~Allison "doesn't use a cheat code" Y2K~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crispy Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 I just have Vice City save where I have a ton of weapons, so When I have a crapp ass day, I go home, and go on a rampage, my friends and I see how long we can last, it alot of fun I'll get San Andres eventually Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingScooter Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 Here's my take. I love the GTA series. There is something fun about getting home after a hard day of work and running down people in the video world. I find it relaxing. I don't think venting anger in the video world is bad or even harmful. Now watch, 'A 14 yr old boy raped a 12 yr old girl. When asked what games he plays, the fair-haired child responded: GTA San Andreas. It'll be like Led Zepplins Stairway to Heaven being responsible of Teen suicides all over again. Glad i got my copy of GTA SA two weeks ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisFL Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 mindlessly capping people in the head I just "accidentally" run them over. hey, it's the easiest way in the beginning of the game to get lots of $$ and weapons! ~Allison "doesn't use a cheat code" Y2K~ Its easier to hit them with helicopter blades because you won't get any wanted level that way...just tricky to "aim" the helicopter. GTA games are awesome due to their "do whatever you want, whenever you want" gameplay, not because of the violence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 GTA became popular was due to its contreversey that's why I would play it! curses! I was waiting for the game to drop in price before I went out to buy it. so Best Buy is out..does Circuit City or EB Games still carry it? can it be purchased online? ~Allison "96% completed with Vice City (stupid stunt jumps)" Y2K~ From what I heard on a gaming site, EB will still sell it. They pulled it off the shelves but supposedly you have to ask for it to get it. I'm not sure if that's EB policy or only some stores are doing it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Clinksalot Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 I think the main problem with the whole ratings issue is that for the most part they are voluntary (I know that in some US states they are enforceable). In the UK games are rated in a two-tier system. PEGI (Pan European Games Information) voluntary classification and mandatory BBFC classification. All games are rated by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) in the same way that a movie would be. If the game qualifies for an official BBFC certificate ( usually 15 or 18 ) then it is enforceable by law and in theory at least shouldn't be sold to anyone underage. If the game doesn't warrant a 15 or an 18 BBFC certificate then the PEGI system comes into play, this is evaluated by the game developer then rated by PEGI. This is a purely voluntary rating meant as a guideline to parents. As far as I'm aware the ESRB ratings in the US are similar to the PEGI ratings here in that they are voluntary and just a guide. The problem in my experience in the UK is that the BBFC ratings are seen as voluntary even when they aren't. And even voluntary ratings are just ignored by most people. Stores don't check ID often enough (in the enforceable ratings case) or offer decent advice to parents (some who often are obviously buying the 15 / 18 rated game for little Jimmy stood by their side). The other side of the problem is that a lot of people, especially parents, still see video games as a toy, as something for children. Because of this they often ignore the ratings or don't care because "it can't possibly have anything as bad as a movie in it". The parents also need to take SOME responsibility and actually pay attention to what their kids are playing. Videogames are just the newest target to blame societies ills on. It was Videos in the 80's, it has been Music in numerous decades, it's Videogames in the 90's - Present. Instead of blaming entertainment society needs to take some responsibilty themselves. As for GTA's case, I think Rockstar made a mistake by leaving that content on the disc even if it was inaccessible in normal gameplay. Although I'm sure similar things happen in games development all the when ideas get scrapped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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