ESRB Strikes Back at Yee & Rockstar
Investigation of Mod Launched
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The ESRB has answered Democratic Assemblyman Leland Yee's call for a review of Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. Earlier today we posted a story about Mr. Lee's comments regarding the Mature rating that the ESRB gave GTA:SA. Lee caught wind of the "Hot Coffee" mod that enabled PC players to unlock x-rated mini games that was supposedly buried in the games code and claimed that the ESRB had "failed our parents" by not rating the game higher.
In light of the accusation the ESRB has decided to re-review its rating for GTA:SA, possibly raising the game to their highest rating, "Adults Only." If the mini game is indeed found in the underlying game's code then Rockstar Games maybe in a bit of trouble for breaking the ESRB's regulations which demand "full disclosure of pertinent content."
ESRB president Patricia Vance had the following to say in regards to the allegations against Rockstar. "The integrity of the ESRB rating system is founded on the trust of consumers who increasingly depend on it to provide complete and accurate information about what's in a game. If after a thorough and objective investigation of all the relevant facts surrounding this modification, we determine a violation of our rules has occurred, we will take appropriate action."
The president of the ESRB then went on to address Yee directly, "Assemblyman Yee has been on a crusade for years to undermine the integrity of the ESRB, and in so doing, generate support for his legislative agenda. His latest attempt to win political points is to claim, without any legitimate basis, that a game rated for ages 17 and older with explicit content descriptors prominently displayed on every box has been inappropriately rated."
Source: Gamespot Article
In light of the accusation the ESRB has decided to re-review its rating for GTA:SA, possibly raising the game to their highest rating, "Adults Only." If the mini game is indeed found in the underlying game's code then Rockstar Games maybe in a bit of trouble for breaking the ESRB's regulations which demand "full disclosure of pertinent content."
ESRB president Patricia Vance had the following to say in regards to the allegations against Rockstar. "The integrity of the ESRB rating system is founded on the trust of consumers who increasingly depend on it to provide complete and accurate information about what's in a game. If after a thorough and objective investigation of all the relevant facts surrounding this modification, we determine a violation of our rules has occurred, we will take appropriate action."
The president of the ESRB then went on to address Yee directly, "Assemblyman Yee has been on a crusade for years to undermine the integrity of the ESRB, and in so doing, generate support for his legislative agenda. His latest attempt to win political points is to claim, without any legitimate basis, that a game rated for ages 17 and older with explicit content descriptors prominently displayed on every box has been inappropriately rated."
Source: Gamespot Article
