San Andreas sex scandal spreads down under

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jul 12th 2005 at 2:30PM }

San Andreas

Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification has opened its own investigation into allegations of explicit mini-games hidden in the PC code for San Andreas—accessible via the "Hot Coffee" mod. Rockstar is sticking to their claim that all "Adults Only" content is generated solely from 3rd-party mods. But Australia could choose to ban the game if Rockstar's claim doesn't hold up.

Meanwhile, on US shores, the ESRB are continuing their investigation, and while they won't ban San Andreas, they may choose to fine Take Two (the publisher) and demand that an "AO" rating be slapped on the box.

[via Pro-G]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

fgdfg @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

You made a report about this a couple days ago. Hmmm......

Sithlord @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

Just plain stupid. It's like sticking a rating of AO to The SIMS because there's a nude patch for it. It allows you to see freaking naked kids! wtf.

Jason @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

The game is called Grand Theft Auto.

We have known for years of what type of content was in the game.

It carries a "Mature" ESRB rating, meaning it's made for mature adults.

Senetors should be in an uproar over the fact that people who shouldn't be parents are raising children.

Someday people will take responsibility for themselves.

Jason
http://www.xboxsoftmods.com/main/

calibur @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

I completely agree with you all. They say there are mods but mods like the sims you mentioned have been out forever with video games. And mods are unoffical for the most part and user made. They cant stop someone or rather everyone from modding their software. Its just ignorance and their lack of knowledge and understanding, sad really. Take care all

l0tus @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

it's like parents taking their kids to see an NC-17 rated movie, then blaming the actors for what their kids saw...

jc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

Part of me thinks Rockstar want to see how far they can push their games... I wouldn't be too surprised if they hid this in their code.

Finished.Law.School @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

Fuck a fine for Rockstar - force those fuckers to release an update patch for all of hiccups in the PC version.

Adam @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

I saw the news last night and this was on. I thought it was pathetic because personally I think this whole thing is fake... just a mod someone made and is saying was "included" but anyway, that's not my point.

At the end the news said something to the effect of "if this content wasn't originally included in the game, that may be even scarier, because if people can change games like this you will never know what your children are playing." Seriously, are they stupid? Game mods have been around as long as games were around "Dude I made my pong faster! check this out!" and modding is one of my favorite aspects of games. I hate the news.

Ryuukuro @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

One thing that bugs me about all of this: Why is it that murder and violence is acceptable for an M rating but sex, the act of creating life, is so wicked that it deserves an AO?

I know this comes up all the time but it has to be said: we have a warped value system if sex is more offensive than violence. It's like saying hate is preferable to love.

benhc911 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

to Ryuukuro

one of the best post I have viewed in a long time. I totally agree with you, except, that people are more dessensitized towards violence. It is in our TV shows, our news even our politics. It wil be a while before we are that dessensitized towards making babies. If it was more openly shown, then it would be more openly accepted... but that would take an original stand for acceptance. Not to mention the naked tango is considered sacred, not saying that violence doesnt break just about every religion, but sex is supposed to be private, atleast that is what they teach.

Duncan Riley @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

Beautiful, the Australian censors have gotten their hands on this, it will definiately be banned then, after all here in Australia Prude is always spelt with a capital P when it comes to the censorship board, and every day I prey that we'll get out act together and put a free press amendment into the constitution so we dont have to keep putting up with this rubbish from our Government censors.

ill trooper @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

I do think people need to take responsibility for their own game playing and for that of their children, but apparently this was hidden and therefore even if a parent wanted to avoid content like this, being 'responsible and in control' as many of you are asking for, it wasn't mentioned on the packaging - this circumvents the industry's rating system which allows for defensibly releasing games that might be considered 'offensive' by some.

If what is being alledged is true, Rockstar blew it, and puts the industry one small step closer to more regulation.

Michael Shepherd @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

This is what the radicals wanted. They wanted something to come out to get there way. I can't stand how the government tries to run things. Its really up to the parents. I mean if the kid is gonna be subjected to the violence and sex sounds already in the game, it shouldn't matter about the codes that unlocks this. The parents should be paying more attention to there kids and what they play then instead of just going out and buying it for them. By now the parents of the kids that own this game should know about this code and could prevent there kids from using it. I will be very upset if there is anything done to Rockstar, because gaming stepped up big time since that came to the picture. What about Leisure Suit Larry?? Theres a code out there to get rid of the censors. So what! If the kid really wanted to see something they would probably just search the net behind the parents back anyway. There a lot more crap on here than any game could be allowed to make. Someone needs to make a petition to stop this nonsense once and for all.

Michael Shepherd @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

Also I would like to add, for those people that say that it doesn't say on the package. It specificly says STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT. How plan can you put that this game is gonna have sex in it of some sorts.

Vlad Tepish @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

I'll just say that I'm surprised that Rockstar is taking the, "deny deny deny" stance. The fact is that the adult content IS in the game. And it was written by Rockstar. Rockstar is trying to get off on a technicality. What I mean is that after careful study and reading and testing on my part, basically what it is is that in it's "virgin" form, the content exists only Carl is fully dressed and the girlfriend is wearing sexy lingerie. However the sex acts ARE performed. That content is unlocked via a tool called "sacensor.exe", which basically sets a cesorship flag embedded in Rockstar's software to "yes" or "no". When set to "no", the sex acts are availabe.

As far as "third party modding" goes, the only claim to fame modders have is that they edited a file called "script.img", which basically contains textures for the in-game models. Basically, within that file they removed all clothing from the girlfriends, so no lingerie, just straight nude. BUT, the acutal sexual content and sex acts/sex minigames ARE written and distributed by Rockstar and Take Two Interactive. Why Rockstar denies that they wrote the code is mind boggling.

Luke @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

So when did the physical joining of man and woman become far more revolting and offensive compared to murder? The game, rated for 17 year olds or older, encourages the player to take to the streets and commit acts of theft and murder, drug trafficking, and more. But when someone gets naked, it’s an outrage. These 17 year old ‘children’ are not mature enough to understand the social mechanics behind sexual intercourse. Murder, certainly, but not sex! They must be a mature 18 year old for this, because that one year makes all the difference doesn’t it.

No sarcasm at all, I swear to god. None at all.

DarkWeb @ Dec 18th 2005 9:59PM

Ok, whats the big fucking deal here??
Ive been playing since the begining of gaming, & let me say this. As long as they make games there will be hackers making mods or nude patches for them.
Shit, i have all the tomb raiders & i got nude patches and sex sceens for it. No one ever bitched about it!
Shit, my 10 year old girl playes the GTA series. She knows it's all fake but allso knows this stuff exsists in real life, sex- murder-rape-drugs-gangs & she dosent care because it's just a god dam game.
If parents would teach there kids instead of hiding the truth like it was some dind of bad secret this planet would be better of!
One day your kid will grow up & see the world is like gtand theft auto, & not be prepared for the hars reality of it.
Stop fucking whining about a stupid mod it's a good game and deserves your respect!I would rather teach my little girls the truth about life than hide it from there eyes.
Get over it losers."AKA The rating system"