Take-Two settles Hot Coffee lawsuits; $35 for the "offended and upset"
by Christopher Grant 
{ Nov 8th 2007 at 5:27PM }
Freshly brewed news, straight out of Take-Two's corporate maw: the mega-publisher, parent company of Rockstar Games, has announced the settlement of all consumer class action lawsuits pending in the United States" related to the infamous GTA: San Andreas "Hot Coffee" mod. Take-Two has committed at least $1.025 million on the settlement, and their costs are capped at no more than $2.75 million. In short, if you swear that you bought a copy of GTA: SA before July 20, '05, further swear that you were "offended and upset" by the existence of the Hot Coffee mod, further further swear that you wouldn't have bought the game if you did know about it, and further further further swear that you would have returned that vile piece of entertainment software if you "thought this possible," you may be entitled to exchange your icky disc for a brand new, shiny disc devoid of any such hot beverage action.
Not interested in a new disc? You want to know, "how ta get paid"? Well, if you submit detailed proofs of purchase, you may be entitled to a $35 cash payment which you can put towards that $90 GTA IV collector's edition (whenever that comes out).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
AirIntake @ Nov 8th 2007 5:30PM
I have one of the evil dirty copies. But I'd be lying if I said the Hot Coffee part offended me.
ssuk @ Nov 8th 2007 5:49PM
It offended me! How dare they take it out! =P
Preston Parrish @ Nov 8th 2007 5:34PM
Pansies. I'd pay $35 just to teabag the people who were "offended".
creid @ Nov 8th 2007 5:36PM
$35? I knew I should've acted more offended.
Grant @ Nov 8th 2007 7:38PM
psht,
i shoulda kept the receipt.
Dr. Tobias Funke @ Nov 8th 2007 5:37PM
It's going to be ridiculously hard to get a proof of purchase for it to even get paid
Trev @ Nov 8th 2007 5:46PM
This is more of a slap in the face to the people that were complaining than any sort of solution.
Which is perfect thing to do.
Fuck them for going out of their way to see something that offends them, or for complaining about the nefarious plot to sell people inaccessible polygonal porn. Don't like it, don't jump through hoops to see it.
Sam406 @ Nov 8th 2007 5:48PM
Jesus! it's getting "settled" now?
I thought people had forgotten about this when the oh so violent Manhunt 2 came out!
The sad thing is I actually cared about the GTA controversy because it was a great franchise I didn't want to see die because of bad press...
...But Manhunt 2...?
I'm probably stating the ovious here, but if a game is not good, no amount of violence or sex scenes will make gamers care.
ssuk @ Nov 8th 2007 5:50PM
Just 'cause it slipped out of the public's eye doesn't mean those lawsuits will magically disappear.
Sam406 @ Nov 8th 2007 6:08PM
Come to think of it, it was this the game that gave certain unmentionable* lawyer the ammo he needed to make a name for himself.
Gosh... Remember back there when we thought he was a threat to the gaming industry?
Now, two years later...well...
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/jack-thompson-submits-gay-porn-to-court-judge-not-amused/
Sam406 @ Nov 8th 2007 6:11PM
* And no, I'm not talking about Voldemort
dvnt @ Nov 8th 2007 5:51PM
I wonder how many people will cash in on this. It's so retardedly ludicrous.
"Here's you $35 dollars sir/mam, and we'll take your dignity in exchange."
arrrgh @ Nov 8th 2007 5:53PM
sad for their lawyers that they couldn't even defend the game even though the content wasn't unlockable with out haxxxxxx
Jon @ Nov 8th 2007 5:54PM
Great for people who were planning to off load their copy anyway but couldn't get a good used price for it. $35 is still better than nothing.
fester @ Nov 8th 2007 6:03PM
Was it McDonalds coffee? Yea, I remember that one.......wow!
BananaBoat @ Nov 8th 2007 6:15PM
So the 10 people that kept their receipt are going to get 35 bucks. If I had my receipt, I would take their 35 dollars, and call it a refund for Liberty City Stories (Gahhhhhhhhhhhh it sucksssssssss)
This doesn't make any sense really, and they probably won't have to pay out very much at all. Why? Who in their right mind is going to want a disc without the content that they had to freaking hack the original disc to get at anyway. Angry parents wanted money, and it seems like they might get it (if they kept proof of purchase), but why would they want a copy of the game that their kids could then go and play (with all of the sexual innuendo, and violence still in it anyway).
Three cheers for idiocy
Edge @ Nov 8th 2007 6:16PM
I know it goes without saying... but, because of clueless idiots, too many important points should have been said anyway.
If you take advantage of this JT-flavored payday, you make these kinds of frivolous lawsuits that much more lucrative. Let this money go back into the industry where is will actually do some good inste.....
...SWEET I found my receipt! See you suckers later!
LeonSKennedy @ Nov 8th 2007 9:17PM
Good thing I'm a pack-rat. I too have mine, and will be collecting every cent I can get out of this joke of a legal system (frivolous or not).
In fact, it's the least Take Two can do for tricking me into buying a PS3 during the PS3 "fire-sale" (60 GB model price reduction) simply to buy GTA 4. By the time it comes out, I'll be like "who cares"!
jmood88 @ Nov 8th 2007 7:01PM
I need to find one of the old copies for xbox. I rented the game before they recalled all of the discs and the newer discs never recognized my saves so I have to start all over if I ever want to play it again.
ALH @ Nov 8th 2007 6:45PM
35 bux? That doesnt cover the cost of buying it at launch ( £55 :|) and is more than enough for what yopu can get it for now brand new (£5)
Singapura @ Nov 8th 2007 6:51PM
Why is it that the words "morally offended" and "monetary compensation" are always in the same sentence?
Grizzly @ Nov 8th 2007 7:00PM
I wasn't offended and upset just mildly aroused. What can I get for that?
Geist @ Nov 8th 2007 7:27PM
I was not aware that Manhunt 2 had killing in it, and I am deeply offended. I require ludicrous amounts of money to satiate my offended sentiments.
Falth @ Nov 8th 2007 7:27PM
You have to actively hack your game to enable those scenes, which countermands the idea that you wouldn't have bought the game had you known the scenes were in it since you have to go out of your way to do so. BS all over it. They should sue everyone who takes part in the lawsuit under fault of perjury.
Geist @ Nov 8th 2007 7:31PM
Yes but that would imply intelligence in everybody involved, and considering that involves Congress, good luck with that.
Pasha @ Nov 8th 2007 10:47PM
I have the game. I didn't actually like it a whole lot, and would return it just because it wasn't as enjoyable as GTA III and Vice City were. I could probably come up with a proof of purchase too. But, out of principle, i will not be turning this game in. The whole fiasco was just stupid. Rockstar is not guilty of anything here.