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"Grand Theft Auto" Given New 18+ Rating; Take-Two Lowers Outlook

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 21, 2005 - 9:03am.
New York -- In response to criticism over unlockable sexual content in the game from media watchdogs and lawmakers including Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Take-Two Interactive said the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) has changed the rating for its "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" video game from "M" (Mature 17+) to "AO" (Adults Only 18+) -- effectively banning its sale to minors under 18. "What was clear to us is the fact that fully rendered content existed on the disk that was not disclosed," ESRB president Patricia Vance, told Reuters. "The publisher took the risk that a hacker could find it and it clearly put the rating at risk." As a result, Take-Two also lowered its third quarter and full-year outlook, and said it set aside funds to cover returns of current inventory from retailers. Circuit City said Thursday that it is removing copies of the game from its store shelves and website; many retailers have similar policies of not stocking any titles with an 18+ rating. Take-Two said it has stopped production of the current PC version of the game, and in addition to releasing a new version impervious to the "Hot Coffee" modification, it will also offer a downloadable patch to block access to the sexual mini-game in the current version. "The editing and finalization of any game is a complicated task and it's not uncommon for unused and unfinished content to remain on the disc," Take-Two spokesman Jim Ankner told The Associated Press. The company added that the "Hot Coffee" downloadable key, which unlocks the hidden content in the game, is a violation of its "end user license agreement (EULA) and intellectual property rights," and that it is "exploring its legal options as it relates to companies that profited from creating and distributing tools for altering the content of 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.'"
tags: Take-Two | Grand Theft Auto | 18+ Rating | Lowers Outlook |