The Simpsons Developers Fire Back at Rockstar

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
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The Simpsons Developers Fire Back at Rockstar


Developers behind the upcoming videogame Grand Theft Auto [http://www.ea.com/simpsons/]-inspired elements in the game.

At the complained [http://www.gc-germany.com/]about a "Grand Theft Scratchy" poster being used to advertise The Simpsons game that parodied the Grand Theft Auto box art. As a result, said Greg Rizzer, The Simpsons Lead Designer, "We've definitely had some reactions - we've had to pull stuff from the game," although he did not offer details about what was removed.

Speaking on the Game Head [http://www.gametrailers.com/player/27147.html]program, The Simpsons Executive Producer Matt Selman pursued the issue somewhat more aggressively, saying, "The game begins with Bart wanting to play a game called Grand Theft Scratchy. Of course this is a parody of Grand Theft Auto. And Marge immediately takes it away from him. She tries to clean up the town and stop the game from being distributed in Springfield because Marge is against videogame violence. She uses horrific violence to stop video game violence ... in a videogame. That's called irony. The people who make Grand Theft Auto, they spazzed out like little babies."

"That's not a big Rockstar [http://www.rockstargames.com]move, to be afraid of The Simpsons making fun of their game," added Senior Producer Matt Warburton.

Selman went on to say that as a result of the controversy, "EA lawyers are afraid to use the name Grand Theft Scratchy in promoting the game." He was not entirely critical of Rockstar, however. "Their games are amazing," he said. "Trust me, I'll be the first person in line to play Grand Theft Auto 4 [http://rockstargames.com/IV/] ... in five years when it comes out."



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The Tingler

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Oct 3, 2007
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Yeah, it does really make me wonder. Rockstar spoof trademarks all the time in the GTA games, but even The Simpsons can't spoof them?
 

AK-00

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Oct 30, 2007
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Keep in mind that the legal department almost certainly isn't controlled by the guys who actually make the games. This is just a bunch of blank-eyed suits making a clumsy attempt to protect their investment.
 

Arbre

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Jan 13, 2007
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AK-00 said:
Keep in mind that the legal department almost certainly isn't controlled by the guys who actually make the games. This is just a bunch of blank-eyed suits making a clumsy attempt to protect their investment.
But they're only lawyers, you mean. What matters is who controls the franchise. The lawyers are just the pets.
 

AK-00

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Oct 30, 2007
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Arbre said:
But they're only lawyers, you mean. What matters is who controls the franchise. The lawyers are just the pets.
Exactly. The people who made GTA what it is are just wage slaves, like the lawyers. They all take their orders from someone higher up, from whom we have no reason to expect anything better.
 

Redfeather

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Sep 18, 2007
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AK-00 said:
Arbre said:
But they're only lawyers, you mean. What matters is who controls the franchise. The lawyers are just the pets.
Exactly. The people who made GTA what it is are just wage slaves, like the lawyers. They all take their orders from someone higher up, from whom we have no reason to expect anything better.
Someone like, say, ...Mr. Burns.