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Take-Two Confirms PSP Hack, Snubs Devs

Posted by Zonk on Fri Nov 02, 2007 09:34 AM
from the why-leave-off-the-devs dept.
Entertainment Games
Gamasutra reports that Take-Two Entertainment, Rockstar's publisher, has confirmed the existence of uncensored Manhunt 2 versions available online. They defend themselves, in their initial statement, by pointing out you need a modded PSP in order to play the purposefully-hidden content. Meanwhile, the game news site also notes that Take-Two/Rockstar hasn't done a very good job of giving credit where credit is due when it comes to the development of their ultra-violent title. "Jurie Horneman, who was one of the producers on the title before Rockstar Vienna was closed and development on the game was moved to Rockstar London, where it was completed, commented in a detailed weblog post that he '...intends to correct an inaccuracy in the game's credits, namely the over 55 missing Rockstar Vienna employees who worked on the game from January 2004 until the studio was closed down on May 11th 2006.'" Update: 11/02 19:52 GMT by Z :An ESRB investigation has cleared Rockstar of involvement with the hacked AO version of the game. IE: The AO content is not an element on the PSP disc. Title of post changed to reflect that.
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[+] Rockstar Vienna Closes Its Doors 88 comments
slashflood writes "Rockstar has unexpectedly closed its Rockstar Vienna development office, particularly known for its Grand Theft Auto Xbox conversion, laying off more than 100 employees. Confirmation has come in the form of a weblog post by Rockstar Vienna employee Jurie Horneman: 'This morning, as I came into work, I was greeted by security guards. It turned out Take-Two has closed their Rockstar Vienna office, effective immediately, 'due to the challenging environment facing the video game business and our Company during this platform transition'.'"
[+] Hackers Uncensor Manhunt 2 125 comments
Less than 24 hours after the release of Manhunt 2, you can already play the full and uncensored version thanks to some enterprising hackers. The news for Rockstar is just ... bad: "The game has been censored in the US in order for it to receive an M rating - and therefore a release - rather than the original AO rating it was given by the ESRB. The illegal exploit of the original PSP code indicates that the scenes that were cut in order to secure an M rating were not removed from the full game, rather disabled, much like the Hot Coffee mini-games in Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas." This is also exactly what prompted the re-rating of Oblivion and Halo 2 for the PC. We should expect to see an ESRB response to this very soon, then.
[+] Nice Game! No Credit For You, Though 58 comments
In an interview with GameDaily earlier this week, IGDA's Jason Della Rocca expressed his extreme frustration over Rockstar's handling of the credits on Manhunt 2. You may recall that the core group that initially made the game at Rockstar Vienna were completely left off of the final credits . One of the producers has taken the step of speaking out about the poor treatment he received from the company. Producer Jurie Horneman initially expressed his displeasure on his blog, but followed that up with comments made to the site Next Generation. "I get the impression that Rockstar New York tried to close the Vienna branch as quickly and quietly as possible. The offices were closed down during E3 2006, making it likely that the news would be buried ... As I recall there was never an official press release stating we were closed - it even took some time before it was officially acknowledged we'd been closed down."
[+] Take Two Settles Hot Coffee Suit For Millions 46 comments
Amidst the furor over the various Manhunt 2 controversies, Take Two has announced that it just dealt with its last big scandal, Hot Coffee. Kotaku has the release from the publisher, in which it states that the class action suit leveled against it some two years ago has ended in a settlement that may end up costing the company as much as $2.75 million dollars. "The lawsuit against Take-Two is still pending, but should the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York agree to the settlement, claims against the company will be dismissed 'without any admission of liability or wrongdoing by Take-Two or Rockstar.' The publisher says that it will pay out between $1.025 million and $2.75 million in settlement benefits, which range from an edited copy of GTA: San Andreas to a cash payment up to $35 for those who can provide proof of purchase of the game from before July 20, 2005."
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Take-Two Confirms PSP Hack, Snubs Devs 25 Comments More /

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  • Rockstar also admits most the pixles used in the game are imported from china and covered in lead paint. The game disk lable is also printed with lead based paint. Rockstar states that all children under 18 should lick the disk prior to playing for the game to have maximum effect on there youn minds.

    -FataL
  • Unacknowledged dev's use their inside knowledge to give their former employer a black eye. It's almost as good as the one where the developer actually releases it themselves to try to drum up publicity for a game that would probably fade quickly away otherwise.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by dintech (998802)
      I'm not sure Rockstar really care about how the Manhunt franchise stands to make money by itself. However, for building the reputation as a no holds barred, anti-establishment development house, it's a marketing execs wet dream. That's worth way more to them than the game could make on its own.
      • Yes, because every marketing exec's wet dream is to get such a reputation as an anti-establishment house that Best Buy and Wal-Mart decide to not carry any Rockstar produced titles.

        Get a grip. The major distributors have so much power in the market that keeping them happy is paramount, and none of them want to have trouble based on a game that is going to bring in a miniscule amount of revenue compared to their overall business.

        • Yes, because every marketing exec's wet dream is to get such a reputation as an anti-establishment house that Best Buy and Wal-Mart decide to not carry any Rockstar produced titles. Get a grip.

          not a narrowminded's marketoid dream (or narrowminded person in general). they should just go PC and Steam. it will sell like fucking hotcakes. that should send a strong message of "fuck you and your conventional business model".

          while we're on the subject, who the shit buys their games at Wal-Mart? that's so sad I can barely type this sentence without cringing "I'll... uh... have a bucket of nails AND ONE ORANGE BOX, PLEASE!"

          • I have been to places where the closest to an electronics store is "radio shack" (that wouldn't know what a radio was unless it is in a cellphone) and "wallmart". There is quite a few corners of the US that have a wallmart but nothing else willing to stock new games within 30 miles or more. I would think that wallmart does a decent amount of game sales because of this and the fact that mom and dad don't mind going to wallmart.

            In fact, that is the entire idea behind wallmart. Dad goes to get a bucket of nail

  • Rockstar to World: (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Sneftel (15416) on Friday November 02 2007, @09:58AM (#21211011)
    "Oh gee oh what has happened! Did we accidentally prolong the current media frenzy, keeping Manhunt 2 in headlines for another week? The shame of it all!"

  • Rockstar - trainwreck? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by DrXym (126579) on Friday November 02 2007, @10:02AM (#21211077)
    A few years ago Rockstar could do no wrong. Now it seems to be one expensive fuck up after another. And Manhunt 2 is the biggest fuck up of all. They had better produce the goods for GTA IV or they're doomed.

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Steeltalon (734391)
      I would venture to say that they got caught up in their own Jack Thompson supplied publicity machine. The thing that got them on the map, and kept them there for so long, was Jack Thompson coming after them every time they released a violent video game. Enter Manhunt 2: The game that is incredibly violent but devoid of any of the other things that made the GTA games entertaining. I would say that, yeah, they're screwed if they don't get GTA IV in good form, but the sad thing is that you know that Jack Th

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by ThirdPrize (938147)
      I can't help thinking we are giving the game a bit more publicity than it really deserves.
    • To make those kind of predictions. Every Grand Theft Auto that has come out has massively altered the idea of what is even possible in a video game. I expect that to continue. But maybe it will suck. Just wait and see.
      • I own virtually every GTA game as well as Bully and I love most of them - the GTA series was getting pretty tired by the PSP versions.

        I just hope GTA IV rejuvenates the series and that Rockstar would get their act together, starting with firing whichever asshole greenlit Manhunt 2. It should have been obvious from the start that the game would attract a lot of unwelcome controversy, have a tough time getting a rating and would probably never turn a profit. There's being "controversial" and then there is f

    • They should put another warning on the box, under the rating, like the online play warning.

      ESRB Warning: Content may change if you change the fucking content yourself.

  • Not quite hot coffee 2 (Score:3, Insightful)

    by LordZardoz (155141) on Friday November 02 2007, @10:35AM (#21211549)
    Manhunt 2 will not generate nearly as much heat on this as the original hot coffee. First, hot coffee was about leaving sex content in a game known for violence. This is leaving excessive violence content in a game that is primarily about violence.

    Second, Hot Coffee was big news because the game was a huge seller. Unless Manhunt 2 can generate similar sales (which has not happened), it will not be as big a story.

    This is nothing more than an echo of the original hot coffee.

    END COMMUNICATION
  • If they want to put hidden content in their game, they can, its their game for crying out loud, i don't think they have to give into anyones demands on violence and nudity, look at Conan for the 360 (High def titties).
    • Actually, they do. They signed a contract with the ESRB saying, in effect, "we give in to your demands on violence and nudity". That's why they have the ESRB logo, and it's why you'll find the game in GameStop. (There's still a GameStop, right?) Five years ago I would have been right there with you on the righteous indignation, because at that point the retail outlets and the ESRB essentially controlled the morality of any game which wanted to be commercially successful; and I would have applauded Rockstar'

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by harryk (17509)
      Hell, for that matter.

      There are breasts all over in God of War for the PS2. Additionally, you earn red orbs for humping in an early part of the game. I was so surprised when I played the game recently (For the first time) and this was ALL after the hot coffer problems.

      I can't wait to play God of War 2 and see even higher def boobies. On a side note, I played the God of War - Chains for the PSP (Demo) and it was beautiful. What I mean to say is that while the PSP might be sub-par graphics to a ps3, the g
      • I can't wait to play God of War 2

        Why wait? [amazon.com]
        • I've already got the game disc. But like so many married gamers, I only get so many hours to play, read: My wife doesn't care for the game, I have to wait until she's in bed.

          But thanks.
  • Don't get me wrong, the PSP graphics are impressive for the size, but we're talking about the lowest quality version of this game.

    • This seems to be what their defense would be, to unlock the content you have to break the law, via DMCA, ergo it is not our(Rockstar's) fault.

      That absolutely should work. Pick one or the other -- either it's illegal to do this, and thus not Rockstar's fault, or it's legal to do this, and thus Ubuntu can include libdvdcss.

      Where does the line of responsibility end? Why do the content producers have to be responsible for everything the users do?

      Because OH NOES THINK OF THE CHILDREN!

      Really, at least the con

    • IANAL, but I think the doctrine of an attractive nuisance could be stretched to fit. That says that even though your pool is on your private property and kids have to trespass to swim in it, you are still required to take proactive steps to prevent that trespass from happening.

      Because you know, think of the children.

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