Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

crossfire · 08-15-2005, 08:52 AM

I think I'm right to assume that GTA:SA has been recalled for an AO rating. Does anyone know when that new GTA is being released?

Bullitt · 08-15-2005, 09:04 AM

I know that walmart, best-buy, and circuit city have all pulled it from the shelves. Local video rental stores are either removing it also, or not letting anyone under 18 rent it.

wolf · 08-15-2005, 09:59 AM

I got it for christmas so it's really a moot point.

Serves all those people right for waiting until the price dropped ...

Radar · 08-15-2005, 10:06 AM

It's stupid that it's even an issue.

Clodfobble · 08-15-2005, 10:53 AM

From here: Penny Arcade commentary on the matter

Quote:

The ESRB is suggesting that they may change the rating of the game to Adults Only, a category that by their own definition should see a great deal more use in a retail environment. This is great. Look at the descriptions for these.

MATURE Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and/or strong language.

Or, as the rest of our culture calls it, "Rated R." Check out AO.

ADULTS ONLY Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.

This can't seriously be their distinction. The scenes are longer? I played Resident Evil 4 nearly 26 hours, all told. I'm going to say that maybe nineteen hours of it was spent looking down the iron sights at humanoids. The reality is that once a person is 18, a violent videogame is fairly minor in the spectrum of "adult" content available to that person. Looking over my collection, if the duration of the violence is the distinguishing factor, I'm trying to figure out what purpose Mature serves other than to remove the stigma from otherwise "adult" content and grease the wheels at retail.

I don't like being strident or suggesting that the ESRB is fundamentally unserious about rating content in an effective way that our society recognizes - but they'd better have some fucking answers on-hand to deal with this shit. There's no question that the industry is beset by career opportunists and lazy people willing to outsource their responsibilities as parents, but the pronounced winking and looking the other way on the industry side of the equation won't fly with this level of scrutiny en route.

BigV · 08-15-2005, 11:34 AM

Clodfobble, that's a good quote. I read pennyarcade kinda regular, the comics are mostly funny and the commentary is pretty good too. I think the editorial in the post before yours highlights the difference in the M vs AO rating that the person you quoted missed. The magic word? Nudity.

I saw the video of "the scene" or a scene maybe. It's the onscreen equivalent of ken and barbie gettin jiggy. The girl form is without clothes and the guy form has them. Tittilating. Ooooo. Giggle. Hehehe [/beavis]. I think the distinction between M and AO is the color of the texture map, and the motions of the characters.

In the real world, it's ok to lie around on the sand, dripping sweat and baby oil, as long as you have the barest hint of modesty covering your parts. But if the breeze blows everywhere, you're in violation. And the motions? Have you been to a high school dance lately? You'd blush. I did. But with the clothes present, it's M even though the motions and intentions are pure AO.

There's something about skin.

Troubleshooter · 08-15-2005, 01:30 PM

No, there's just something about combining stupidity with religion.

Dogma free for 20 years now and loving it.

SteveDallas · 08-15-2005, 02:09 PM

OK, now it's time for me to ask a dumb question.

(What else is new?)

We have this GTA business.

We have Tomb Raider and its sequels.

We have Fear Effect: Retro Helix 2, which was advertised with the tagline "These ladies put the 'ass' in 'assassin'."

We have Dead or Alive, not to mention Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball.

We have, I'm sure, other examples that haven't flaunted themselves enough for me to notice.

We also have approximately 3,496,192,509 1/2 pornographic videos that, by all accounts, make up billions upon billions of dollars in sales.

Isn't there a disconnect there? Where are the out and out porno video games? Surely there's a market.

vsp · 08-15-2005, 02:22 PM

If you go to a Target, you'll see a little sign that says "Target is no longer carrying GTA:SA, as it has been rerated AO and Target does not carry AO games."

Right next to that on my last visit was God of War, with an "As Advertised!" banner underneath it. God of War contains female frontal nudity and a mini-game in which Our Hero climbs into bed with two women, at which point the camera shifts to a vase at bedside and you attempt to make the vase fall over and break via your vigorous activity. This mini-game is unlocked by default, not hidden away in the code. The game is rated M for Mature, with no hubbub whatsoever.

But that's because Hillary Clinton and Joe Lieberman have never heard of God of War, and God of War is not made by Rockstar Games.

crossfire · 08-15-2005, 03:02 PM

so no one knows when the new gta:sa is coming out?

Bullitt · 08-15-2005, 03:09 PM

I can figure it out when I get home from work tonight for ya if you'd like. If not, IGN.com and Gamespy.com are the two biggest and most reputable gaming sites on the net.

Elspode · 08-15-2005, 03:21 PM

All these game outlets are pandering to the "family" demographic, which, IMHO, either doesn't exist, or could really care less about what games their kids play.

I'm down with the stupidity of "violence is alright, but sex is bad". Pure and simple puritanical BS which would never fly in anything but a country teetering on the brink of theocracy. After all, you need people who are willing to kill to maintain a theocracy. Even kill themselves.

Now...for ten points and a new copy of the Quran, who can name another country which has similar attitudes regarding sex and violence?

vsp · 08-15-2005, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode

All these game outlets are pandering to the "family" demographic, which, IMHO, either doesn't exist, or could really care less about what games their kids play.

In the case of chains like Electronics Boutique, GameStop, etc., where are the vast majority of their stores? In shopping malls, in strip malls, and in other public shopping centers that the chains themselves do not own. In many cases, there are zoning restrictions and/or lease conditions prohibiting the sale of adults-only content. Musicians faced the same hurdle back in the Tipper-PMRC era.

The demographic that moral crusaders aim for is the one that knows nothing about these games except what they hear on the news, which is usually at least partially inaccurate. Politicians like to grandstand about how They Are Doing Something To Protect Your Children when elections are approaching.

BigV · 08-15-2005, 03:53 PM

You reinforce my point, vsp. The "money shot" in Gods of War is of a vase. Not skin. That's the fig leaf they're able to hide behind. Intention--AO, presentation--it's only a vase, after all.

Clodfobble · 08-15-2005, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

You reinforce my point, vsp. The "money shot" in Gods of War is of a vase. Not skin. That's the fig leaf they're able to hide behind. Intention--AO, presentation--it's only a vase, after all.

Yes. But this movie contains an astonishing amount of nudity, both male and female--it's practically soft-core porn--and it's rated R.

The problem is that the "M" rating is supposed to be loosely equal to the "R" rating in terms of content, but game companies like to pretend it's not and won't reinforce the meaning of the ratings system because it means far fewer M-rated titles would get accidentally bought by grandparents who don't know any better.

08-15-2005, 08:52 AM	#1
crossfire The White Rapper Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 233	Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas I think I'm right to assume that GTA:SA has been recalled for an AO rating. Does anyone know when that new GTA is being released?

08-15-2005, 09:04 AM	#2
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,324	I know that walmart, best-buy, and circuit city have all pulled it from the shelves. Local video rental stores are either removing it also, or not letting anyone under 18 rent it. __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass.

08-15-2005, 09:59 AM	#3
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I got it for christmas so it's really a moot point. Serves all those people right for waiting until the price dropped ... __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

08-15-2005, 10:06 AM	#4
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	It's stupid that it's even an issue. Attached Images __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

08-15-2005, 11:34 AM	#6
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Clodfobble, that's a good quote. I read pennyarcade kinda regular, the comics are mostly funny and the commentary is pretty good too. I think the editorial in the post before yours highlights the difference in the M vs AO rating that the person you quoted missed. The magic word? Nudity. I saw the video of "the scene" or a scene maybe. It's the onscreen equivalent of ken and barbie gettin jiggy. The girl form is without clothes and the guy form has them. Tittilating. Ooooo. Giggle. Hehehe [/beavis]. I think the distinction between M and AO is the color of the texture map, and the motions of the characters. In the real world, it's ok to lie around on the sand, dripping sweat and baby oil, as long as you have the barest hint of modesty covering your parts. But if the breeze blows everywhere, you're in violation. And the motions? Have you been to a high school dance lately? You'd blush. I did. But with the clothes present, it's M even though the motions and intentions are pure AO. There's something about skin. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

08-15-2005, 01:30 PM	#7
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	No, there's just something about combining stupidity with religion. Dogma free for 20 years now and loving it. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

08-15-2005, 02:09 PM	#8
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	OK, now it's time for me to ask a dumb question. (What else is new?) We have this GTA business. We have Tomb Raider and its sequels. We have Fear Effect: Retro Helix 2, which was advertised with the tagline "These ladies put the 'ass' in 'assassin'." We have Dead or Alive, not to mention Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball. We have, I'm sure, other examples that haven't flaunted themselves enough for me to notice. We also have approximately 3,496,192,509 1/2 pornographic videos that, by all accounts, make up billions upon billions of dollars in sales. Isn't there a disconnect there? Where are the out and out porno video games? Surely there's a market.

08-15-2005, 02:22 PM	#9
vsp Syndrome of a Down Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: West Chester Posts: 1,367	If you go to a Target, you'll see a little sign that says "Target is no longer carrying GTA:SA, as it has been rerated AO and Target does not carry AO games." Right next to that on my last visit was God of War, with an "As Advertised!" banner underneath it. God of War contains female frontal nudity and a mini-game in which Our Hero climbs into bed with two women, at which point the camera shifts to a vase at bedside and you attempt to make the vase fall over and break via your vigorous activity. This mini-game is unlocked by default, not hidden away in the code. The game is rated M for Mature, with no hubbub whatsoever. But that's because Hillary Clinton and Joe Lieberman have never heard of God of War, and God of War is not made by Rockstar Games.

08-15-2005, 03:02 PM	#10
crossfire The White Rapper Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 233	so no one knows when the new gta:sa is coming out?

08-15-2005, 03:09 PM	#11
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,324	I can figure it out when I get home from work tonight for ya if you'd like. If not, IGN.com and Gamespy.com are the two biggest and most reputable gaming sites on the net. __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass.

08-15-2005, 03:21 PM	#12
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	All these game outlets are pandering to the "family" demographic, which, IMHO, either doesn't exist, or could really care less about what games their kids play. I'm down with the stupidity of "violence is alright, but sex is bad". Pure and simple puritanical BS which would never fly in anything but a country teetering on the brink of theocracy. After all, you need people who are willing to kill to maintain a theocracy. Even kill themselves. Now...for ten points and a new copy of the Quran, who can name another country which has similar attitudes regarding sex and violence? __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

08-15-2005, 03:53 PM	#14
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	You reinforce my point, vsp. The "money shot" in Gods of War is of a vase. Not skin. That's the fig leaf they're able to hide behind. Intention--AO, presentation--it's only a vase, after all. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

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