The Lost And Damned DLC: Now With Extra Peen

[Vicarious]

"inevitable ejaculation of outrage" tons of LOLs. you guys are great.

 

[Alone Disciple]

While I enjoy Rockstar games and will still most likely buy the DLC anyway and beleive in free speech and all that....I just have to ask: "Why Rockstar? Why?"

What relevant point are they trying to make that the game can't be enjoyed by having said pixelated congressman be wearing a towel?

Yes, yes...I get the idea that it's rated 'M', and all the arguments about parents being tuned into what their kids are buying, but the fact being that 'M' titles bought in stores can at least be monitored by astute employees. With DLC, this falls way...way short. Any kid who has a MS points card (not M when purchased) can get the appropriate amount of points and download the game with no checks in place. Anyone with a balance of MS points can download, with no age check in place.

I can understand the 'hidden hot-coffee' code by an over-zealous programmer showing off and giggling behind closed doors, but this is purposely blatant and serves no gaming purpose or game function other than to stir up controversy. You can't tell me or convince me the story would be ruined one iota if the penis was covered by a towel for the few seconds on screen (especially a cut scene). This is sheerly for press coverage only.

I hate to say it, but I have no qualms about those that bring lawsuits against them in this instance. You can't tell me in all their testing, dev talks, layouts, programming, story writing, that no one at Rockstar may have raised an eye-brow at this. They pushed it through anyway.

Maybe a hefty lawsuit in which they lose may send a message to other developers. Should there be an 'X' rating beyond 'M'? And how do you control this in the DLC arena with point cards that are indiscriminate on how they are used.

Stupid. Stuoid. Stupid.

 

[Jumplion]

Rockstar obviously love to get off at controversy, their whole series practically feeds on controversy. It ranges from hookers, to murdering people, to sex scenes.

But.....seriously? I mean, even the sex scene wasn't publicly available.

If it's just, like, a second of a casual camera swoosh that "happens" to show the guys nuts, then fine. But if it's like, shoving them in your face or showing them in multiple scenes then it begs the question; what the hell are these guys thinking?

I don't really care much about dicks in games, but it really just seems that Cockstar Rockstar are just being dicks for no reason now (HAR HAR, irony and innuendo at the same time!) and they just want to shove their fists up the video-game-haters's asses.

While I applaud their bravery, seriously guys, the rebel attitude is getting old.

EDIT: Alone Disipline makes a very good point, this is DLC we're talking here. People lie about their ages online all the time, I do it myself (never put your real birthday, that's what my dad says). The fact is, anyone with the game, whether it's stolen or a parent bought it for them, can buy this stuff so it's free to everyone.

 

[Filtertip]

Its marketing. People whine about a dude meet showing and there you go GTA's new DLC is getting marketed in more places that normaly would'nt tuch it.

 

[Break]

EDIT: Alone Disipline makes a very good point, this is DLC we're talking here. People lie about their ages online all the time, I do it myself (never put your real birthday, that's what my dad says). The fact is, anyone with the game, whether it's stolen or a parent bought it for them, can buy this stuff so it's free to everyone.

Yes, yes...I get the idea that it's rated 'M', and all the arguments about parents being tuned into what their kids are buying, but the fact being that 'M' titles bought in stores can at least be monitored by astute employees. With DLC, this falls way...way short. Any kid who has a MS points card (not M when purchased) can get the appropriate amount of points and download the game with no checks in place. Anyone with a balance of MS points can download, with no age check in place.

The game is already rated M, as is the DLC. If an minor is already playing GTAIV, then the ratings system has already failed.

I'd care if a guy with lax attitudes towards nudity was the worst that's in the game, but it's an organised crime sim. What the hell. If they're using it to make a point about the character - which it almost sounds like they are - then kudos, really.

 

[Jumplion]

EDIT: Alone Disipline makes a very good point, this is DLC we're talking here. People lie about their ages online all the time, I do it myself (never put your real birthday, that's what my dad says). The fact is, anyone with the game, whether it's stolen or a parent bought it for them, can buy this stuff so it's free to everyone.

Yes, yes...I get the idea that it's rated 'M', and all the arguments about parents being tuned into what their kids are buying, but the fact being that 'M' titles bought in stores can at least be monitored by astute employees. With DLC, this falls way...way short. Any kid who has a MS points card (not M when purchased) can get the appropriate amount of points and download the game with no checks in place. Anyone with a balance of MS points can download, with no age check in place.

The game is already rated M, as is the DLC. If an minor is already playing GTAIV, then the ratings system has already failed.

I'd care if a guy with lax attitudes towards nudity was the worst that's in the game, but it's an organised crime sim. What the hell. If they're using it to make a point about the character - which it almost sounds like they are - then kudos, really.

I have GTA4. My dad believes that I am old enough and mature enough to tell the difference between simulation and reality.

Like I said, people lie about their age online all the time. Whenever those age restrictions things on videos pop up, I always put 12/12/1980. My dad had put his birthday in when signing me up for PSN, and he trusts me to use it wisely and pay him when I spend money in the store.

This is DLC we're talking about here. Forget that minors get their hands on the game, that doesn't matter right now, but this is DLC. This is available to everyone with no easy way to actually check if the person is actually an adult or a minor using his parents credit card.

And seriously, you cannot say that this isn't Cockstar ROCKSTAR being complete dicks and trying to feast on the imminent controversy that this could boil up. Is the penis really necessary? Sure, if it's two seconds of wankage, fine, but if it's a bunch of close ups and multiple orgasms scenes with the penis flopping around everywhere, then it's just pure stupidity on Rockstar's account.

There's being a rebel, and being a stupid rebel.

 

[Yog Sothoth]

While I enjoy Rockstar games and will still most likely buy the DLC anyway and beleive in free speech and all that....I just have to ask: "Why Rockstar? Why?"

What relevant point are they trying to make that the game can't be enjoyed by having said pixelated congressman be wearing a towel?

Yes, yes...I get the idea that it's rated 'M', and all the arguments about parents being tuned into what their kids are buying, but the fact being that 'M' titles bought in stores can at least be monitored by astute employees. With DLC, this falls way...way short. Any kid who has a MS points card (not M when purchased) can get the appropriate amount of points and download the game with no checks in place. Anyone with a balance of MS points can download, with no age check in place.

I can understand the 'hidden hot-coffee' code by an over-zealous programmer showing off and giggling behind closed doors, but this is purposely blatant and serves no gaming purpose or game function other than to stir up controversy. You can't tell me or convince me the story would be ruined one iota if the penis was covered by a towel for the few seconds on screen (especially a cut scene). This is sheerly for press coverage only.

I hate to say it, but I have no qualms about those that bring lawsuits against them in this instance. You can't tell me in all their testing, dev talks, layouts, programming, story writing, that no one at Rockstar may have raised an eye-brow at this. They pushed it through anyway.

Maybe a hefty lawsuit in which they lose may send a message to other developers. Should there be an 'X' rating beyond 'M'? And how do you control this in the DLC arena with point cards that are indiscriminate on how they are used.

Stupid. Stuoid. Stupid.

Your assertion that there isn't any protection or guards in place to prevent minors from obtaining this content is false. The 360 has parental controls that prevent users who are minors from downloading and playing M rated games and content. I see posts on the official Xbox forums daily asking how to bypass these locks. The answer is always the same: You can't. Your only recourse is to actually wait until you're 18. That's it.

If you're a parent and you're not using these tools, then you fail as a parent or guardian, simple as that. If you're not closely monitoring your children's media consumption, again you fail. It is not the responsibility of developers to ensure that your kids aren't being exposed to adult content. A child can just as easily order adult movies though pay-per-view service if it's not password protected and monitored.

This is a simple First Amendment rights issue, and should be clear cut. Take responsibility for your kids and their media consumption. Don't try to pass the buck, it's a cop out and it's irresponsible.

The answer is not litigation. The answer is personal responsibility.

EDIT: And what the hell are you doing if you're letting your kid play GTA IV in the first place? If that's going on, then you've already lost the battle....

EDIT 2: And yes, there is already a rating above M, it's Adults Only or "AO" but almost no retailers will carry a game if it has this rating.

 

[Hunde Des Krieg]

Wait, so there's going to be an actual visible penis in this game?


Um...Why?

Yeah... Why?

 

[Madshaw]

Wow...The Simpsons movie was pretty bad, imagine how over the top people are going to get about a game. Not only that, a game that comes under fire at least once a month.

Jeez, I still wonder why they even did that in the Simpsons. Game still seems sweet though.

I don't care why they did that in the simpsons movie, i would still laugh a lot no matter their sick twisted reasoning

 

[Jumplion]

EDIT: And what the hell are you doing if you're letting your kid play GTA IV in the first place? If that's going on, then you've already lost the battle....

EDIT 2: And yes, there is already a rating above M, it's Adults Only or "AO" but almost no retailers will carry a game if it has this rating.

I'll reiterate what I said, my dad thinks I'm mature enough to tell the difference between simulation and reality (his motto is "As long as you don't take it too seriously, you can play whatever you want.") Please do not assume that because a 13/14/15/16 year old is playing GTA makes the parents a failure (though there is a limit obviously), it all depends on the context of what the parent thinks of them playing. Some are misinformed, some don't care, some are a mix of not caring and making sure they understand, but I don't see why minors can't play an M game as long as the parents are genuinely okay with it.

And again, people lie about their ages all the time online. That's especially true when your dad makes you paranoid about giving any information online (god damn paranoia!).

 

[Yog Sothoth]

EDIT: And what the hell are you doing if you're letting your kid play GTA IV in the first place? If that's going on, then you've already lost the battle....

EDIT 2: And yes, there is already a rating above M, it's Adults Only or "AO" but almost no retailers will carry a game if it has this rating.

I'll reiterate what I said, my dad thinks I'm mature enough to tell the difference between simulation and reality (his motto is "As long as you don't take it too seriously, you can play whatever you want.") Please do not assume that because a 13/14/15/16 year old is playing GTA makes the parents a failure (though there is a limit obviously), it all depends on the context of what the parent thinks of them playing. Some are misinformed, some don't care, some are a mix of not caring and making sure they understand, but I don't see why minors can't play an M game as long as the parents are genuinely okay with it.

And again, people lie about their ages all the time online. That's especially true when your dad makes you paranoid about giving any information online (god damn paranoia!).

Well, allowing you to play that game is your father's choice. He has chosen to monitor what you're playing, and decided that you're mature enough for that. I did not mean that as a blanket statement.

I should have been more clear. If you don't want your kids playing M rated games, there are tools in place to help you as a parent prevent that. But it is ultimately up to parents to monitor their children's behavior.

And yes, you can lie about your age when you make your profile. But if your kids are using that method to access adult content against your wishes, then yeah, you failed in that instance as a parent.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

Someone has to say it.

Rockstar Games LOVES the cock! BAWWWNNNNGGGG!

 

[Jumplion]

EDIT: And what the hell are you doing if you're letting your kid play GTA IV in the first place? If that's going on, then you've already lost the battle....

EDIT 2: And yes, there is already a rating above M, it's Adults Only or "AO" but almost no retailers will carry a game if it has this rating.

I'll reiterate what I said, my dad thinks I'm mature enough to tell the difference between simulation and reality (his motto is "As long as you don't take it too seriously, you can play whatever you want.") Please do not assume that because a 13/14/15/16 year old is playing GTA makes the parents a failure (though there is a limit obviously), it all depends on the context of what the parent thinks of them playing. Some are misinformed, some don't care, some are a mix of not caring and making sure they understand, but I don't see why minors can't play an M game as long as the parents are genuinely okay with it.

And again, people lie about their ages all the time online. That's especially true when your dad makes you paranoid about giving any information online (god damn paranoia!).

Well, allowing you to play that game is your father's choice. He has chosen to monitor what you're playing, and decided that you're mature enough for that. I did not mean that as a blanket statement.

I should have been more clear. If you don't want your kids playing M rated games, there are tools in place to help you as a parent prevent that. But it is ultimately up to parents to monitor their children's behavior.

And yes, you can lie about your age when you make your profile. But if your kids are using that method to access adult content against your wishes, then yeah, you failed in that instance as a parent.

I'll agree to that. Though my dad had let me put his birthday when he was setting up my PSN account, his slight paranoia of giving away personal information has brushed off to me and given me mildly harsh paranoia.

 

[kickin wiing]

I find it funny how you can show all the boobs you want in a video game and people don't seem to mind, but if you have one cut scene with a penis in it their brains explode.

Newsflash : People have genitals!

 

[Alone Disciple]

While I enjoy Rockstar games and will still most likely buy the DLC anyway and beleive in free speech and all that....I just have to ask: "Why Rockstar? Why?"

What relevant point are they trying to make that the game can't be enjoyed by having said pixelated congressman be wearing a towel?

Yes, yes...I get the idea that it's rated 'M', and all the arguments about parents being tuned into what their kids are buying, but the fact being that 'M' titles bought in stores can at least be monitored by astute employees. With DLC, this falls way...way short. Any kid who has a MS points card (not M when purchased) can get the appropriate amount of points and download the game with no checks in place. Anyone with a balance of MS points can download, with no age check in place.

I can understand the 'hidden hot-coffee' code by an over-zealous programmer showing off and giggling behind closed doors, but this is purposely blatant and serves no gaming purpose or game function other than to stir up controversy. You can't tell me or convince me the story would be ruined one iota if the penis was covered by a towel for the few seconds on screen (especially a cut scene). This is sheerly for press coverage only.

I hate to say it, but I have no qualms about those that bring lawsuits against them in this instance. You can't tell me in all their testing, dev talks, layouts, programming, story writing, that no one at Rockstar may have raised an eye-brow at this. They pushed it through anyway.

Maybe a hefty lawsuit in which they lose may send a message to other developers. Should there be an 'X' rating beyond 'M'? And how do you control this in the DLC arena with point cards that are indiscriminate on how they are used.

Stupid. Stuoid. Stupid.

Your assertion that there isn't any protection or guards in place to prevent minors from obtaining this content is false. The 360 has parental controls that prevent users who are minors from downloading and playing M rated games and content. I see posts on the official Xbox forums daily asking how to bypass these locks. The answer is always the same: You can't. Your only recourse is to actually wait until you're 18. That's it.

If you're a parent and you're not using these tools, then you fail as a parent or guardian, simple as that. If you're not closely monitoring your children's media consumption, again you fail. It is not the responsibility of developers to ensure that your kids aren't being exposed to adult content. A child can just as easily order adult movies though pay-per-view service if it's not password protected and monitored.

This is a simple First Amendment rights issue, and should be clear cut. Take responsibility for your kids and their media consumption. Don't try to pass the buck, it's a cop out and it's irresponsible.

The answer is not litigation. The answer is personal responsibility.

EDIT: And what the hell are you doing if you're letting your kid play GTA IV in the first place? If that's going on, then you've already lost the battle....

EDIT 2: And yes, there is already a rating above M, it's Adults Only or "AO" but almost no retailers will carry a game if it has this rating.

Okay, for technicality sake I guess you can argue (rightly so) that there are 'safe guards' in place. But that's a technicality. In 'reality' and in day-to-day 'practice' I dare say most parents don't even have a clue on how to turn on parental controls, let alone find it on the Xbox and again maybe knowing it even exists.

I'd wager it's common sense taht if asked most parents would indeed say "Yeah, I think my 'kids' machine probably has parental controls, but do they use it? Most TV's and cable boxes have a V-chip also installed, but I garner the vast majority of people don't mess with their TV settings to make sure their kid isn't watching Nip/Tuck or something else.

I absolutely agree with you 100% that is is personal responsibility, but unless you are living in an alternate earth, you know darn well most are clueless.

I also beleive in the first amendment, but I also can recognize when companies are pushing the envelope further and further for no particular gain other than to be controversial. As many people have already pointed out, "Why do we need a penis in a cutscene?"

Yes, I know it's a crime sim. I play it myself. I know it's a M title, and I play it along with other M titles as well, but Rockstar in this instant is being gratuitious for controverys sake only. This isn't a game enhancement. This isn't a story enhancement. This isn't a dirty easter egg or mod.

The fact being that my son or daughter buys a MS card and if I didn't set the parental controls, they can easily download it....no questions asked. Yes, there are employee's at GameStop or other stores that should monitor,.....some do, some don't, but at least there is a minor catch here in hoping an employee is following through. In the DLC world, it's free reign.

Am I saying Rockstar should stop making games? Nope, not at all. Maybe they should opt for an 'X' rating instead of 'M'. Maybe MS should more safe guards in place on Marketplace to make sure age is verifiable (not sure how you do it)....or maybe you just cover the wang with at towel. Somehow I doubt this is a pivitol moment in the game, so it's content is questionable other than for peer shock vale and to get us talking. Bad press indeed makes for good press afterall...marketing 101.

I also don't think litigation is the answer either, we are too much a litigious society as it is. In this case, I make a personal exception, they knew well ahead of time this may cause a little 'ire' amongst people, and given the cahnce they could have taken the conservative route, but they chose not to. But if someone (as wrong as you and I both may think it is) won a sizeable judgement, enough where it actually made developers re-think some of their decisions lest it cost them, wacky publicity stunts like this would go away.

And in the end, good game or not, free speech or not....this is just a 'controversial' stunt for 'stunt' sake.

 

[Zac_Dai]

They should of gone all the way and made it an erect penis.

Would have multiplied controversy by a 1000!

 

[Flap Jack452]

Who cares? Just cover your eyes if you that grossed out by a bunch of pixels in the shape of a cock

 

[Talendra]

I agree with Kickin, and actually find it refreshing. Of course rckstar did expect everyones head to explode, so they are still trying to generate controversy. However I find it more controversial that I can only get the DLC if I own the game on xbox 360 *grumbles*. oh well hehe, lucky xbox users.

 

[SomeBritishDude]

I find it funny how you can show all the boobs you want in a video game and people don't seem to mind, but if you have one cut scene with a penis in it their brains explode.

Newsflash : People have genitals!

Yer, This is a good point. Why are people getting in a fit about it?