ESRB: San Andreas getting the big "Adults Only" stamp

GavelWell, it's official: the ESRB is changing their rating of GTA: San Andreas from M (Mature) to AO (Adults Only).  In response, Rockstar games has ceased manufacturing the game and has sent out little "AO" stickers to the retailers who want to keep the game in stock.  Rockstar will start manufacturing the game again once it finds a way to prevent the Hot Coffee mod from being accessed.  According to a spokesperson for Rockstar, the mod was never finished and therefore never considered to be part of the actual game (must be why CJ wears pants throughout the whole mod).  Furthermore, they are no plans to sue the modders (why would there be in the first place?) who sparked the Hot Coffee controversy, and that Rockstar must now lower its fiscal project 6 %, from a hefty $170 million to a now paltry $160 million.

For the ESRB, they have decided to change their rules of submission: companies must now submit explicitly every bit of information that may affect a game's rating, including things not intended for access.  It is also stressing that companies take extra care to protect their games from third party modifications.

Let's take a quick moment to reflect on this whole issue.  I know this will not be the last we hear about the case, as Washington is still pushing for legislation on the matter, but maybe this is a sign that the whole debacle will start to gently slide into history, and San Andreas articles will now be downgraded to only every other topic of discussion.  Okay, maybe not, but it's a thought.


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