San Andreas sex hack found in PS2 game, UK version not affected by controversy
by Conrad Quilty-Harper 
{ Jul 16th 2005 at 8:05AM }
Uh oh, it seems that Rockstar are right up that creek we know all too well about after blaming the San Andreas 'Hot Coffee' sex mod on external hackers. It has been found that GameShark and Action Replay Max cheat cartridges can open up the Hot Coffee sex scene without any injection of models or source code into the unmoddable San Andreas DVD. Naturally this means that the Rockstar guys created the code for the game; where you have to repeatedly mash your control stick in order to satisfy your virtual girlfriend. It'll only be a matter of time before the gaggle of American politicians that have jumped upon the bandwagon will use this news to justify their war on 'pornography in games'. What they're missing is that not once in the scene is there any sign of genitalia, both characters are (partially) clothed and it requires plenty of effort to even find a way of hacking the game.
Meanwhile, the British Board of Film Classification is sitting pretty, as they’ve stated that the game already falls under their ratings system. Indeed the UK already has provisions for charging sales assistants that sell these games to minors (including a maximum fine of £5,000) which the US is looking to implement. At the end of it all, the politicians really shouldn’t be using this kind of massive publicity to implement a law that should already be in place. One, place a $5,000 fine on all sales assistants that sell the game to minors. Two, make the game rated 18+ rather than mature. Three, don’t let your kids go buy the game unless they’re of the suitable age. Four, focus on something that matters. There are much more serious immoralities in the world than some crappy sex game that requires complex hacking and effort for 30 seconds of button mashing and cliched sayings! GRRRR!
[Thanks, Lee]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dr. Zoidberg @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
I have to admit, this does change my opinion about the whole thing. If it's in the PS2 game itself, then, unfortunitly, I have to agree with Senator Clinton (ugh... I feel dirty now...). Hidden Hack or not, it is in the game disk, thus they are responsible for including that when they submit their rating and such (and even a warning on the box).
When this was all about somebody releasing a Mod, I was completely against Clinton, because making a game open to Modding is what make a games replay value much better than just the game itself (I used to experiance this all the time with the Star Trek: Starfleet Command series). So, in that case, Rockstar would definatly NOT be responsible.
If this is true, however, then they are and should be held accountable (though I can say without doubt that Senator Clinton and I disagree on what amount of punishment should be....).
Phil @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Oh PLEASE, we knew it was in the Xbox and PC version, so it is clear that Rockstar did this on purpose. They had plenty of time to remove it from the ports but they didn't. They expected it to be found at some point, if not they are not very smart. Thanks again Rockstar for helping stupid politicians wage their war against video games!
Dmitri @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
I really do not understand why everyone has a problem with this. Its an M rated game, it is not intended for children. There is no law saying that 18+ year olds cannot watch porn. And in order to buy the game you must be 18 (well here atleast). Personally, if I found this hot coffee thing one day, I would be laughing my ass off with my friends. I wouldn't be calling Hillary Clinton saying "OMG! OMG! I FOUND SEX IN MY GAME! DO SOMETHING!". I hope r* wins if there is a trial, because this is such a stupid thing.
Dmitri @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
#2 this doesn't help them wage their war on video games. Politicians will always have something to b*tch about. First it was rock music, then it was smoking, then it was rap music, now it is video games. B*tching about things is the only thing they can do so they do not need to talk about the real issues. Like the Michael Jackson trial, that came at a perfect time, right when the war on iraq got to be a bigger issue to the public. I think all of the big news industries (CNN, MSNBC, etc) are going to blow this way out of proportion with their flashy headlines and their pounding music. And when it is over, you will see the politicians b*tching about something else.
Myria @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Like all political battles, the one over video games is purely one of perception. In war of perception there is no more egregious sin than being caught in a baldfaced lie. Showing a stunning degree of tactical idiocy, Rockstar has once again handed the anti-gaming crowd a huge cache of ammo and no amount of arguing about how difficult this is to activate or how pornographic it is or isn't will change that. Rockstar does not deserve the sad defense this post offers, it deserves all of the condemnation it will and has received. If the gaming industry and press is wise it will join in that condemnation whilst pointing out that Rockstar does not represent the entirety of gaming.
Unfortunately, wisdom is most assuredly not gaming's defining characteristic.
chill @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Its nothing you cant see in a R-rated movie...Its not porn, you dont see any dongs or coochie, and you really got to put in a lot of effort to access it. The M rating was the proper rating.
Robert @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
This just goes to show how much people out there still think video games are "for kids". Chill is right, even though it's tacky and senseless, it's doesn't appear to be any worse than what you might see in an R-rated movie. It's nothing to get worked up about.
But it's still kind of shady that Rockstar hid this within the game. I mean, easter eggs are fun, but when your game is already under scrutiny, I wouldn't recommend including some potentially industry-damaging content. And of course then they had to go lie about it.
I think that's what the public is worried about. What else will developers start hiding in games?
Rare Hare @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
i don't care, i think it's funny.
nod @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Like I said: If they put the assets on the disc, Rockstar is busted.
Dmitri @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Busted for what? It's an M rated game. Your allowed to buy porn if your 18, just like you can buy a game that is Mature rated if your 18. If a kid see's a crappy version of intercourse in a game, its the parents fault. They knew it was M rated and they knew what to expect.
~J~ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
I don't see what the fuss is over! Yet more politicians and parents who are shite at their skills using something else to put the blame on to.
I mean for gods sake, it's a collection of pixels (that aren't that very good really, after all how DOES get off on a square penis or flat nipples?).
It has a 18 certificate (here in the UK), so again, it's down to the shop keepers common sense if they sell it to underage, and even if they do, it's then down to the parents to monitor what their children play.
I'm 34 myself, I'm confident that my parents brought me up right, and like 99.9% of my friends of a similar age, none of us play San Andreas then feel the urge to go out and screw some chick, shoot some guy in da hood, steal a car or the like.
Bottom line is simple, it's diabolical parenting skills, parents not being able to discipline their children and thus they don't give a damn what they do and some poor company who produces some cracking games gets the bullet.
It sucks big time!
vakerorokero @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Funny, how this is another key selling point for this game now. They added this and release it as a hack, by unknown people (probably the rockstar people themselves). They nice thing is that a big giant tide is coming and probably even Nintendo is going to fall for it. Big cersorship, nasty regulations and even less originality. Remember Janet's nipple? expect some bigger than that. Thanks a lot Rockstar. Too bad you are probably going to get skinned for silly crap like that, that wasn't even worth all the trouble its going to put you in.
.bob @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
So let me get this right. The crazy American polititians think it's OK to play a game full of violence, drug dealing and God knows wha other criminal activities, provided it has an "M" rating. If said game contains sex which between concenting adults (however degrading it might be) it must have a *higher* rating? Is the natural act of sexual intercause more offensive/disturbing/morally wrong than blowing someone's head off (which I think even in America is illegal to do in real life, and of course they haven't banned sex, yet.)
Rare Hare @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Robert (#7):
how is it shady at all? it's an m-rated game, and all it is is an easter egg. it's no shadier than any other easter egg.
and just because the game is under scrutiny, do you honestly think they should calm it down? after all, the GTA series (at least the current incarnations) was created on the basis of being edgy and border-crossing. it wouldn't make sense for them to back down because they're getting yelled at for it.
in fact, if rockstar released a more family friendly version of GTA, i'd lose respect for them.
Finished.Law.School @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
maybe there is an easter egg to remedy all of the glitches in the game...
Greg O. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Whether or not you think the material doesn't change the rating is irrelevant. Rockstar, by law, must present all material that could show up in a game to the folks over at the ESRB (or whatever the company is), and they willfully hid the material that they knew would eventually be unlocked by modding/hacking/whatever.
And just to argue the other point, there are 'AO' rated games, and have you ever seen any other M rated game show material like this scene?? It's not about your opinion of what is appropriate, it's about precedent.
Sienar @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
First off, it's already an M rated game, meaning no child should be playing it. Besides, God of War had a sex mini-game and it was rated M as well.
Really, there are 2 possibilities..
1-R* either planed on having this in the game, then removed it. After all, it's not accesible in normal gameplay and extra code is left in games like this all the time.
2-Some programmer at R* thought it would be funny to put in this mini-game without anyone knowing. Not likely, but it could pass undetected and make it to the retail version.
web user @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Here is the problem. Rockstar is denying they had anything to do with the sexual materials in GTA (which is technically correct). If Rockstar can get away with this, what is preventing them from making GTA 4 without all the MATURE rated materials (violence, gore, sex) and having ESRB rate them an "E"? They can just secretly release the mods/passwords later on for the HARDCORE PORN/VIOLENCE/BLOOD. IF ESRB and the public gets upset, they can just say "Oh, that was not intended in the original disc and blame hackers."
This is exactly what Rockstar is saying to the public. Who knows, maybe the dutch moddler who made "hot coffee" secretly works for rockstar but they didnt expect the public to react the way they did. This is why I think the current ESRB system is flawed.
In my opinion Mature video game was meant for 17+ audiences. Everyone (including developers) is not disputing this fact. So what is the problem if they just make it a law stating that you need to show ID before purchasing? This will get the damn politician off the industry's backs.
Dmitri @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
#17... Uhh... They obviously lied that hot coffee wasn't made by them. It was found in the PS2 and Xbox versions... So how is it technically correct for them to say they didn't do it. I don't really care if they did or not, I am just interested in how you know your information to be fact and not faulty.
chill @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Greg O. Rockstar, by law, must present all material that could show up in a game to the folks over at the ESRB.
WHAT LAW? BECAUSE IN THE US ITS A VOLUNTEER RATINGS SYSTEM...IM NOT SURE ABOUT OUTSIDE THE US.
Dmitri @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Yea I am not sure I have ever heard of that law either... I mean, it would just take too long.
Rare Hare @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
i think it's stupid that this is even an issue.
the bottom line is that the only people who should have a problem with this is parents, and if they have a such a problem with it they should monitor their children's gaming more closely.
Dougie Thomson @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
for fucks sake its a game . things like this piss off there is fannys crashes planes into buildings ,cunts blowing there self up in trainstations little babies being abused,millions of people starving, goerge bush is presidentand the american goverment are complaining about a stupid fucking sex scene in a game A FUCKING GAME get a grip, you need to get your priorities right,if you agree with me start a petition to stick it to the MAN
juggalo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
The sex minigame is very similar to the sex in Playboy: The Mansion, and believe it or not, They both mention Sex and Nudity in the descriptors on the back of the box.
Rare Hare @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
lol, you sure feel strongly about it.
why don't YOU start a petition? if you do i'll gladly sign my name right up top, but i have a feeling you won't be..
Arrekusuof93 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Okay... who the hell cares? I can understand politicians being p*ssed if this is right out in the open. But if this is an easter egg which is relatively hard to access, then they shouldn't get all riled up over it. They didn't grow up with this sh*t thats too bad. Sex, drugs, and violence is all over the place, mainly in video games and TV. Illinois has taken action, you can be fined for purchasing games that are out of your age level. No one really cares, that means it doesn't f*ckin' matter. Politicians and angry parents aren't going to change the fact that this kind of stuff will always be accessible to younger kids. There must be more important issues for the politicians to waste their power on. And besides, I have faith in Rockstar. They have been making good quality violent video games for a long time. They have always withstood the complaints and lawsuits of these type of people. This will blow off soon, and I'm not expecting to see this on the news any time soon.
Alex @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
A.) This is clearly implemented directly in the game, but is not normally accessible. The published "code" is actually a set of patches to the game. Dead code and assets are often left in software.
B.) There isn't anything happening here that doesn't happen in Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude. (Or apparently Playboy: The Mansion, but I haven't played that one.) Both games carry an M rating as well. AFAIK, there has never been an AO title published in the U.S. as none of the major platforms will license such titles.
C.) There is nothing happening here that isn't regularly depicted on cable television and in movies. That is, this doesn't look X-rated.
ICETREY @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
HOW DO I PLAY THE HOT COFFEE MINI-GAME I JUST HEARD ABOUT IT AND WOULD LIKE TO FIGURE IT OUT
SO PLEASE,
HELP ME
kirky365 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
omfg this is so fucked up #16 i was thinkin about god of war too when i read this. ok in god of war there is a sex mini-game that ISNT HIDDEN and throughout the game there are scenes where you see topless women. so why dont they moan about somethin else nobody cares about like the prices of soap or somethin like that
btw if you want to send hate mail to jack thompson for attacking san andreas jackpeace@comcast.net
balerno @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Dear Hilary, let' recap... This game promotes mugging (cool) random shooting (fine) robbery (no problem) drugs, drugs, drugs (ok) and, if you really look hard and employ a degree of code skill and intent a degree of heterosexual intercourse between consenting adults who do not show their genitals... sorry, what? thats bad? really? is it so bad??? how do you know, my dear? you are out of touch - this is ok ehaviour... ASK YER FUCKIN HUSBAND - HE REMEMBERS :-)
Vladdangel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
Okay guys, this is all fine and dandy, you all raise good points and all so it's needless, I feel, to say which side I'm on in all of this; -But- the fact still remains that nomatter what we say here, nomatter who we pull over to 'our' or "the right" side it still leaves the people that matter in the decision-making level out of touch (unless they do a search and find this way out discussion forum and read it). What we need is somebody to stand tall, not just in this issue but all issues of the like. Nobody likes these things, that's why we make this little page like we did right here and the hundreds like them; why we stand by the water-cooler at work and complain, but where's the guy to raise a little noise? The one to actually risk a little bit of this "bitching" from polititions we already know we -don't- like but can't hurt us? Is there nobody out there that can honestly say they would like the knowledge - no - pride of everybody knowing his/her face and saying "That's the one who we can trust, the one who knows where we're coming from, the one we will go to with our needs because he/she has spoken in our favor against the idiots of the world"
Monk @ Dec 18th 2005 9:41PM
I'd just like to reiterate Kirky365's suggestion to send unwelcome messages to Jack Thompson.
That address again is
***JackPeace@Comcast.net***
For me, this isn't just about San Andreas, but the way that american politicians ceaselessly pass the buck when trying to find a cause and a reason for all the hell that mommy and daddy's "little angels" are raising. Try tightening up those gun laws Jack- if you idiots weren't so relaxed about the easy availability of firearms, Columbine, along with countless other homicides, wouldn't have happened.