On October 15, 2004 we reported that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas had gone
gold without notification from Take-Two or Rockstar. Our source was one "Steve Dotolli" (actually, Stephen Dottoli) of
Inside Gamer Online. Mr. Dottoli had assured the gaming public that San Andreas would be released soon,
backing up his claim with pictures of the game's packaging, manual, and other production materials. One Joystiq
commenter didn't buy it, writing, "And who the hell is Steve Dotolli of Inside Gamer Online. I havent heard anything
from rockstar yet.."Well, as it turns out, Mr. Dottoli did have the inside scoop. Working for a compact-disc pressing plant, Dottoli
scored a couple copies of San Andreas hot of the press, literally. He then posted pictures of the game on his
site, Inside Gamer Online. Now Stephen Dottoli is paying the price. He was sentenced in
federal court in Camden, NJ yesterday to two years' probation, including six months
on home confinement and a $2,500 fine. Ouch!
Dottoli was previously ruled out as a suspect in the Internet leak of the game's code.
[Thanks, Wintrode]
