2K Games kicks its habit, drops Snow [update 1]
by Ross Miller 
{ Jun 6th 2006 at 2:55PM }
The content of the game, from glorified drug peddling to gang wars, was ripe with controversy; Take Two has enough controversy (Hot Coffee, Oblivion, and Bully) to deal with right now. Bully, in fact, has not been mentioned by Rockstar since December of 2005, yet has become a staple example of the "horrible games industry" by certain anti-game activists.
You can check out some screenshots and impressions of Snow over at GameSpot.
[Thanks, Joe and JC]
[update 1: it was cancelled only once -- typo fixed]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
J @ Jun 6th 2006 3:18PM
sad...
Fan @ Jun 6th 2006 3:22PM
How stupid is this?
I hope they make a game so incredebly bad taste it will make Jack Thompson cry. Postal does not cut it.
BPM? @ Jun 6th 2006 3:30PM
Well, can't say I'll miss it. A game about being a drug lord doesn't interest me at all.
I don't know what to say... On one hand, I don't think such tasteless games should come into existance in the first place.
But on the other hand, you see the same kind of content (and worse!) in movies, and noone cries out. And I just don't think it's right when companies make games aimed at adults, and people cry out about them.
I think I'll side with The Other Hand here...
Tom @ Jun 6th 2006 3:32PM
while I in no way would have bout such a game,what I really notice is how far we have to go as a comunity(gaming).movies have been dealing with this kind of subjuct matter for some time,blow,scareface and countless others,and yet simply because of the subject matter (most likly) a game is caned. Story telling trough gaming still has so very far to go.
Spoon @ Jun 6th 2006 3:36PM
I've never heard of this game untill now, but I'm still kinda dissapointed. My favorite part of the last GTA game was how you could take new blocks of land for your gang. After a while it makes you feel like you've actually accomplished something.
A strategy game like would have been awesome. Balls =(
slave_25637 @ Jun 6th 2006 3:39PM
"Take Two subsidiary 2K Games officially announced today that it has cancelled Snow, a drug-dealing strategy, has been cancelled."
lol.
crono141 @ Jun 6th 2006 3:41PM
"Take Two subsidiary 2K Games officially announced today that it has cancelled Snow, a drug-dealing strategy, has been cancelled."
Welcome to the Department of Redundancy Department!
I will probably never miss it (the game), anyway...
Joe @ Jun 6th 2006 3:52PM
yea i read this and was like where did Take Two's balls go?
As cartman said just have to get the espisode pulled and then there integrity is gone...
I mean something like this would only build buzz for these games, it not like it's some satan worshiping devil game...
it's dope wars with graphics.
Rare Hare @ Jun 6th 2006 3:58PM
that game looks amazing, and from the sound of it would probably be a really cool one to play.. i probably would have bought it. i hope this doesn 't mean Take2 is completely abandoning the game.. only putting it on hold.
i think it sucks when controversy starts leading to developers being forced to censor themselves and walk on eggshells. media is expression, and expression doesn't work if it's limited to what's politically correct.
Austin @ Jun 6th 2006 4:10PM
Someone has to come around and buy up the rights to this one, you just cant get great advertising like this.
Pixelantes Anonymous @ Jun 6th 2006 4:31PM
Nowhere does it say why the game was cancelled.
Given all the financial and quality problems Take Two is having it wouldn't surprise me at all if the reason was financial and/or the game sucked so bad it got scrapped before the development wasted any more money on a title that wasn't going to sell one bit.
Thumper is, of course, going to trumpet this as a resounding victory for the righteous, but I think the real reason is more to do with bean counting than backing down under pressure from blowhard hypocrites.
Lynette @ Jun 6th 2006 4:41PM
How pathetic a game. Their next game will be full of child abusers or rapists.
Z @ Jun 6th 2006 4:44PM
How far 2k sports has fallen... from making the most dominant innovative football game, ESPN NFL 2k5 (whole 2k series), to this.
Why oh why couldn't they have been bought by a decent company?!?
Pixelantes Anonymous @ Jun 6th 2006 4:59PM
Lynette, how do you know the game was pathetic? You haven't seen it, you haven't played it, you hardly even know what the game was about. A one sentence description of the game theme hardly says anything about what the game is like, especially when said description is written by CNN Money reporter, who probably knows next to nothing about games.
If it was rated appropriately, what exactly is the problem with the game?
You really think it'll be a good idea for the Content Police to approve all games to be released in the US?
Joe @ Jun 6th 2006 5:17PM
Take two problems are related to their stock value, since they gave up their private holding to play the stock game, they are subject to all the bs going along with it
IE your shareholders dont like Hot Coffe you have to eat it.
To Lynette:
if you dont like it dont buy it. just like you dont like a movie "the davincci code" pisses you off dont pay money to go see it. Dont like the game dont buy it.
dont want your kid to be exposed to violent Television be a parent and know what he's watching.
the problem isnt the game makers or the movie studio's
it the lack of parent giving a shit about there childrens lives, it makes me sick to my stomach to hear all these idiots blame everyone but themselves for there own genetic problems.
If you have a relationship with your child. he including you in what he's doing then you can explain to him what reality is and what a video game is. instead of turning the xbox on for little jimmy the 6 year and walking out of the room.
becasue a 11 year old isnt supposed to be playing Halo 2 let alone a 6 year old.
But if i want to bully kids or pretend to be a drug king pin what im doing is no different then reading a book and using your imagination to envision the same behavior. the only difference is some people can't see it that way.
Gonzo @ Jun 6th 2006 5:31PM
If Jack Thompson wasn't completely incompetant, I'd of thought he was behind the cancellation.
I for one am disappointed, I always liked the cell phone/pda game "dope dealer/wars." Although dry and text based, it was a good display of how monotonus but rewarding yet fleeting investment's can be.
That's what we need are games that show kids how to make money (like that "rich dad" game "Cashflow" but more marketable) because they sure aren't learning it in school. What would be better is a game that shows kids how to make money legally... well... as legally as most rich people get it.
GTG @ Jun 6th 2006 6:39PM
It actually sounds like it could have been a pretty cool game with some interesting visuals and packaging. I probably would have given it a shot.
...and no, I've never done drugs and I don't even drink. I don't believe in either, but it's a game. Somehow, people lost that distinction that (games != reality).
Though this reminds me that I still need to pick up a copy of The Warriors. I played it when it first came out and it was awesome.
Pixelbox @ Jun 6th 2006 9:56PM
I'm with Lynnette here. What a lame game. Good riddance.
neale @ Jun 7th 2006 1:50AM
no way, that picture sold me. cell shading is cool on its own, never mind drugs aswell.
all you gays "good riddance bla bla", i bet you dont mind your FPS's? whats worse between killing (read: murdering) poeple then say drug pushing? not much, because its MAKE BELIEVE/PRETEND/FANTASY/FICTION/most importantly: A GAME.
ill miss this game
it sucked @ Jun 7th 2006 2:43PM
I played it at E3. It's terrible. This is really no loss.
I would expect the poor quality and complete lack of direction/cohesion for the game is what killed it.