It's Not a Game
The more I think about the word games being played by the manufacturer of "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," the more steamed I get.
By now, you've surely heard about the decision by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to reclassify the video game from M (for "mature 17+" audiences) to AO ("adults only 18+") because of the presence of pornographic "mini-games" that are accessible to anyone with an internet connection and the knowledge to download and install the third-party software that unlocks them. That would include about 90% of the pre-teen and older kids in America who own the game, I'd guess.
As you may recall, the manufacturer first claimed that the illicit material on the game wasn't its fault; it was being made available by "unauthorized third parties." Now, Take-Two Games, the parent company of Rockstar Games, admits that the porn was included at the factory on all the game disks.
However, in an amazing display of chutzpah, Take-Two claims it's actually the victim here. This is from a news release on its website:
Say what?
It gets better...
The company fails to address the rather significant question of just why it was putting the pornographic scenes on the disk to begin with. I don't buy the explanation that "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.", as Take-Two spokesman Jim Ankner told The Associated Press. Somebody at Rockstar went to a lot of trouble to create that content and make sure it got included on the disk...and that it could be unlocked and accessed.
If there's any justice to be found in this story, it's that the market reacts swiftly to such shenanigans, and Take-Two will take a significant hit to its bottom line, possibly to the tune of $50 million in decreased revenue as many retailers discontinue carrying the AO-rated game, even as it rushes to create a "clean" version that might reclaim the M rating.
It's obvious that some companies need a swift kick in the pants to do the right thing. Let's hope that Take-Two and Rockstar will learn a lesson in forthrightness. Cleaning up their games is probably too much to hope for.
Technorati tags: Grand Theft Auto | Take-Two Games
Mr. Freen, you're right on target with your prediction (and assessment). I understand that the eBay market has already gone into overdrive for the unedited version of this "game."
Posted by: Eric at July 22, 2005 06:29 AMEric, yesterday, while listening to "All Things Considered" on NPR, I heard the exact same explanation from the Rock Star Games spokesman ... and I was wondering how you, with your background in web design, might respond ...
The thing that gets me is ... I thought game-makers did NOT want to encourage mod'ing ... or is this an extreme 'cheat,' rather than a 'mod?' ...
By the way, that same program featured an interview with a Entertainment Software Rating Board representative, who applauded Rock Star's moves to address the situation, and hinted that - as you noted in your post - the company was the victim ... I'll be interested in hearing more about how much each party knew, whether there was deception involved, the extent of that deception, etc.
Posted by: Jeff at July 22, 2005 07:24 AM...who applauded Rock Star's moves to address the situation, and hinted that - as you noted in your post - the company was the victim
Jeff, I'm just cynical enough to suspect that the ESRB's vaguely empathetic statement is the result of a negotiated deal with the game company. The latter agreed to come clean with how the porn got on the game disks to begin with, to submit to the more restrictive rating for current versions, and to produce a new version without the [more] offensive material. In exchange, the ESRB would appear to side with Rockstar in blaming nefarious "third parties."
But, as I say, I'm cynical like that.
As far as whether deception was involved, that was proven as soon as the game maker admitted that it put the material on the disk, after initially claiming it was all done via third party downloads. They shot their credibility with that initial lie.
Posted by: Eric at July 22, 2005 08:05 AMEven the timing on it smells. The hack has been open all this time, and this guy manages to stumble onto it riiiight about the time that interest is waning in San Andreas? I can't think of anything better that could happen to Rockstar than this. The company sells controversy. That is what they do. I think they just found a way to put another six months of life into this product.
Posted by: Phelps at July 22, 2005 11:42 AMThe company sells controversy. That is what they do.
I won't argue that point in the least, but I'm wondering if they really anticipated the financial backlash. A publicly traded company doesn't issue a revenue and earnings warning lightly, and they're going to have to find a way to quickly monetize the publicity to make up for the lost sales.
Posted by: Eric at July 22, 2005 12:45 PMAbout the publisher
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It's even worse than you think, Eric.
Even if Take-Two and Rockstar release a "clean" version of GTA: SA, all that will do is drive the price up on the unedited versions, especially when stores start taking them off the shelves.
There's nothing like the words "banned" and "OOP" to drive the price up during an eBay auction. Tie that in with the promise of some sleazy "forbidden sëx" and it's a winning combination! The moment something gets yanked off the shelves, curiosity and hype start driving the price more than the actual content.
Some 20 years ago, Kenner released a (somewhat) accurate 12" (1:6 scale) version of H.R. Giger's "Alien". It was too much for some kids and definitely too much for some parents. The stores pulled them. A NIB original just sold for around $895 on eBay. Are there better statues? Of course. But the Kenner model is still the one "so scary it got banned".
Back in the 70's the worst parents had to worry about were yucky movie monster toys. These days, it's a whole different game and GTA is becoming a reflection of everything wrong with our culture's moral compass.
Posted by: Mr. Freen at July 21, 2005 11:08 PM