Rockstar in trouble? Caught in a lie?

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Quoted article from Gamestop.com:


Confirmed: Sex minigame in PS2 San Andreas
Cheat unlocks preexisting code in controversy-rocked Grand Theft Auto game, undermining Rockstar Games' claims of hacker mischief.

This week saw a Grand Theft Auto game once again at the center of a nationwide controversy. The point of contention this time was the so-called "Hot Coffee" mod for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which had everyone from anti-game crusader Jack Thompson to US Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) percolating with outrage and/or calls for federal game regulation.

The Hot Coffee mod first surfaced last month, when the PC version of San Andreas was released. The mod, which is available on numerous Web sites, adds a bonus sex minigame as a reward for the numerous "girlfriend" missions in San Andreas.

Previously, when game hero Carl "CJ" Johnson successfully wined and dined one of several girlfriends a certain number of times, she would ask him into her house for "coffee." After entering, the game shows an external shot of the house with muffled sounds of a couple emitting moans in flagrante delicto. PC versions of San Andreas with the "Hot Coffee" mod installed show what goes on inside the house, treating players to a sexually graphic minigame of CJ fornicating with his girlfriend.

According to its creators, the Hot Coffee mod merely unlocks hidden, preexisting code inside San Andreas. The game's publisher, Rockstar Games, appeared to vehemently--but carefully--deny that charge in a statement earlier this week. "So far we have learned that the 'Hot Coffee' modification is the work of a determined group of hackers who have gone to significant trouble to alter scenes in the official version of the game," the company said. "In violation of the software user agreement, hackers created the 'Hot Coffee' modification by disassembling and then combining, recompiling and altering the game's source code."

Rockstar's statement also claimed that the mod was the product of complex technical tampering. "Since the 'Hot Coffee' scenes cannot be created without intentional and significant technical modifications and reverse-engineering of the game's source code, we are currently investigating ways that we can increase the security protection of the source code and prevent the game from being altered by the 'Hot Coffee' modification," read the statement.

However, Rockstar Games' argument has been undermined by an increasing number of reports that claimed the sex minigame is in the PlayStation 2 version of San Andreas. Since the PS2 version comes on an unmoddable DVD, it cannot have any content added to it, although cheat codes--created either by the publisher or third parties--can unlock preexisting code on the disc. While devices such as GameShark and Action Replay Max can tweak preexisting variables in system memory with cheats, they cannot inject new models, animations, and/or code into a game.

To prove or disprove rumors that the PS2 San Andreas contains a sexually graphic minigame, GameSpot decided to test the cheat codes circulating around the Web on a sealed, first-edition copy of San Andreas. After acquiring the "Uncensored Hot Coffee" codes from the respected tech-blog Kotaku, we entered them into an easily obtainable Action Replay Max cheat device. After entering the "Enable all Girlfriends" cheat, we began the game and then gave CJ maximum sex appeal, via a cheat from GameFAQs that requires no external code.

After saving, our test editor had Carl visit the house of his nearest girlfriend, Denise in Los Santos. Carl then took Denise on a series of dates to the nearest bar. After a few complications--including being busted for two-timing by another of CJ's girlfriends--we completed a fourth date with Denise, after which she invited us into her house for "coffee."

The next screen proved that the PlayStation 2 edition of the game does indeed include a sexually graphic minigame, which plays almost exactly the same as the Hot Coffee mod. It begins inside a bedroom with Denise, wearing only a pink thong and a cutoff T-shirt bearing the Rockstar logo, performing simulated fellatio on CJ, who is fully clothed in jeans and a "wife beater"-style tank top.

After a few seconds, the minigame proceeds to semi-explicit simulated copulation. Although players can change the camera angle with the circle button, as well as cycle though three sexual positions with the square button, no genitalia are ever seen. To win, players must maintain a steady rhythm with the left analog stick to build up an "excitement meter" on the right of the screen. Fill the meter and Denise becomes very excited, telling CJ he is "the man" before the game congratulates you with the words "Nice guys finish last!" Let the meter drop to empty and the game admonishes you with "Failure to satisfy a woman is a CRIME!"

Given that the minigame is about as raunchy as an episode of Sex and the City, cannot be accessed without entering a long string of cheat codes, and takes several hours of effort to access, charges that San Andreas is "pornographic" may seem extreme to some. However, its existence does appear to contradict Rockstar Games' carefully worded statement blaming hacker mischief for the existence of the Hot Coffee mod.
By Tor Thorsen
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It's only old to the PC community, the fact that is now open to PS2 users is new, though the topic as a whole has been around for a while.

I think it's stupid, obviously parents don't have problems with all of the other violence, so complaints against this are all but unjust to me.
 
Every single GTA game that was ever made always had something contriversal in it. Just look back at the release of every single one. This never effects anything. GTA games will keep getting produced hopefully forever and always sell massive copies. :) 👍
I remember when the first one came out and everyone said. "This game is going to be banned!" Here we are how many years later... :sly:
 
But I knew of it being in the PS2 version a while back. I remember watching G4's sex in games special that aired a few months ago about Rockstar lying about the content in the PS2 version.
 
LaBounti
But I knew of it being in the PS2 version a while back. I remember watching G4's sex in games special that aired a few months ago about Rockstar lying about the content in the PS2 version.
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Me too. Why would R* go through all the trouble of re-releasing ps2 and xbox versions if this "Hot Coffee" wasnt in there? I guess we cant say Pako is posting old news, its apparently Gamespot.

gamespot
However, its existence does appear to contradict Rockstar Games' carefully worded statement blaming hacker mischief for the existence of the Hot Coffee mod.
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I dont know about the truth in that statement as R* already fixed the problem, so how is that not some sort of admission of guilt?
 
LaBounti
But I knew of it being in the PS2 version a while back. I remember watching G4's sex in games special that aired a few months ago about Rockstar lying about the content in the PS2 version.
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I knew this was 'out' among the gaming community, however, only ONE post in the GTA forum mentioned the word "coffee" and it only made a vague reference to it. In light of this, I felt it worthy enough to post, to let others, beside yourself, the chance to hear about it. This thread was not an attempt to reveal a "secret code" that no one knew about, but rather to exploit the fact Easter eggs of this kind of content will undoubtedly cause our Federal Government to intervene. I see this as future cause for delays in game releases as well as affecting the quality of game development as a result of not being able to spend as much time on the game development process. Imagine how long it will take a regulatory agency to go through ALL the code of each game to 'censor' hidden code within each game.
 
The fact that you should be 18 to play the game in the first place kind of makes it a moot argument imo. Since you can go and buy a hardcore porn movie at that age, which is worse.
 
True, I forgot it was for "Mature" audiences. Growing in the "pong" and "brakeout" generation, I forget at times that games are being developed that NOT suitable for ALL audiences.
 
LaBounti
Our government doesnt want to point the finger at parents.
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NO.. Same here... God FORBID the parents should be blamed for anything - let alone being responsible parents...

:sigh:
 
uh... what about the company Rockstar??? :odd: They know what they are getting into but they don't give a **** they want the money more because they know this will sell easily.
 
VIPFREAK
uh... what about the company Rockstar??? :odd: They know what they are getting into but they don't give a **** they want the money more because they know this will sell easily.
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Yearh well... Same old argument...

Why aren't producers of p0rn movies getting into trouble ?.. The stuff you can buy as an 18 year old.. The Coffee mod doesn't even show genitals FFS...

And please... (Not you, the government) - Why is engaging in a mutual sexual act, in a computergame bad - when in the same game, you can pick up a prostitute, have her perform "stuff" on you, pay her.. The immediatly afterwards. Club her to death and take the money back ?......

If I wasn't such an internet n00b I'd put a million question marks after the last Q...
 
Flerbizky
Yearh well... Same old argument...

Why aren't producers of p0rn movies getting into trouble ?.. The stuff you can buy as an 18 year old.. The Coffee mod doesn't even show genitals FFS...

And please... (Not you, the government) - Why is engaging in a mutual sexual act, in a computergame bad - when in the same game, you can pick up a prostitute, have her perform "stuff" on you, pay her.. The immediatly afterwards. Club her to death and take the money back ?......

If I wasn't such an internet n00b I'd put a million question marks after the last Q...
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I was following more along the lines that... these guys are producing a game that may be for adults only but they fully know that adults arn't going to be the majority nor will the parents know what's going on. The Majority will obviously be kids. The reason why we have prostitutes and all that crap is it is definitely for adults no question ( At least I'd hope so :sick: ). I do think somethings should be withheald from kids but I have a feeling this is not valid these days and kids have lost their "innocents" a lot earlier than I did. :scared: That's a shame too.
 
VIPFREAK
I was following more along the lines that... these guys are producing a game that may be for adults only but they fully know that adults arn't going to be the majority nor will the parents know what's going on. The Majority will obviously be kids. The reason why we have prostitutes and all that crap is it is definitely for adults no question ( At least I'd hope so :sick: ). I do think somethings should be withheald from kids but I have a feeling this is not valid these days and kids have lost their "innocents" a lot earlier than I did. :scared: That's a shame too.
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You don't know the half of it...... I have a little sister, 12 years younger than me... The stuff I get to hear, and have heard (at least she has finally reached a (sorta) machure age of 20+ and has sorta settled in) - I mean DAMN... Kids today.. Damn...

And I don't think it's getting better btw......
 
VIPFREAK
Oh I know it ain't and that's scary... I'm so glad I'm not a kid and I feel bad for them. It's gonna get ugly as time goes by. :scared:
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I'm so glad I'm in the "should be reproducing age" - and don't have any...
 
Flerbizky
I'm so glad I'm in the "should be reproducing age" - and don't have any...
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yeahhh.... that too. Some family and friends have or will be doing that and well I ain't for both mine and the kids sake. :scared: I'm fine with being an uncle though. :D
 
the fact its available on PS2 is not new news-- which is why it was pulled several months back--- it was more likely a lazy programer/game developer didn't remove the code that contained hot coffee and the company officers assumed it was removed not just hidden...

Most retailers are pretty good about not selling to people under 17 anyway... this is an issue of parents not looking at what they are buying for their kids... a video game is not for kids just because its a video game....

that being said... here is more recent and related info concerning this story.

http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=249368&&

of course the US govt has to save us from ourselves.....should pass easily....
 

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