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Take-Two Confirms PSP Hack, Snubs Devs

Posted by Zonk on from the they're-just-trying-to-be-jerks-now dept.

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.

25 of 35 comments (clear)

  1. In further news.. by FataL187 · · Score: 1, Funny

    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

  2. Good conspiracy fodder by faloi · · Score: 1

    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.

    --
    "It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." -Albert Einstein
    1. Re:Good conspiracy fodder by dintech · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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.

    2. Re:Good conspiracy fodder by clodney · · Score: 1

      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.

    3. Re:Good conspiracy fodder by kv9 · · Score: 1

      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!"

      --
      Stop Computers/Cars Analogies on S
    4. Re:Good conspiracy fodder by sumdumass · · Score: 1

      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 nails and some paint, Mom buys groceries and cleaning supplies, little johny get his games and little sally picks out some new shoes. And thanks to foreign slave labor combined with brutal marketing power, they are able to afford it at minimum wage incomes.

      for some reason something doesn't seem right about the above paragraph. Maybe you can substitute any of the roles to make it less offensive to the politically correct crowd.

  3. Rockstar to World: by Sneftel · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "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!"

    --
    The opinions stated herein do not necessarily represent those of anybody at all. Deal with it.
  4. Rockstar - trainwreck? by DrXym · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.

    1. Re:Rockstar - trainwreck? by Steeltalon · · Score: 2, Interesting

      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 Thompson, Katie Couric, and everyone else who's gone out of their way to "highlight" games like Manhunt 2 will probably take credit for their downfall.

      --
      Regards, Ian
    2. Re:Rockstar - trainwreck? by ThirdPrize · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I can't help thinking we are giving the game a bit more publicity than it really deserves.

      --
      I have excellent Karma and I am not afraid to Troll it.
    3. Re:Rockstar - trainwreck? by Mongoose+Disciple · · Score: 3, Funny

      On that note, today's Penny Arcade (yes, this is on-topic):

      http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic

      (Probably the link will be something like this: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/11/02 after Monday).

    4. Re:Rockstar - trainwreck? by DrXym · · Score: 1

      Publicity doesn't necessarily equate to sales. I would be surprised if MH2 recoups even half the money spent on producing it.

    5. Re:Rockstar - trainwreck? by The+Warlock · · Score: 1

      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.

      --
      I've upped my standards, so up yours.
  5. Not quite hot coffee 2 by LordZardoz · · Score: 2, Insightful

    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

  6. ITs their game by shlepp · · Score: 1

    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).

    1. Re:ITs their game by Sneftel · · Score: 1

      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's flouting of the rules. Now that digital distribution is a fact of life, though, that excuse is gone gone gone.

      Remember that contract Rockstar signed? Along with it, they handed the ESRB a big wad of cash. Decrying the ESRB while simultaneously supporting the ESRB's business model is just hypocritical.

      --
      The opinions stated herein do not necessarily represent those of anybody at all. Deal with it.
    2. Re:ITs their game by harryk · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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 graphics are still very impressive.

      my 2 cents, go buy some gum with it.

      --
      think before you write, it'll save me moderator points.
    3. Re:ITs their game by ymgve · · Score: 1

      I can't wait to play God of War 2

      Why wait?

    4. Re:ITs their game by harryk · · Score: 1

      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.

      --
      think before you write, it'll save me moderator points.
  7. More Gore... But on a PSP's Last Gen Graphics by illectro · · Score: 1

    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.

  8. One way or teh other. by SanityInAnarchy · · Score: 1

    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 content was here, this time. Compare it to, say, the Oblivion re-rating, where a completely third-party mod -- not an "unlocking", but an actual downloading of new content -- included nudity. (Think it was only breasts, anyway. OH THE HUMANITY.) Roughly equivalent to Firefox getting an NC-17 rating because you COULD be looking at goat porn.

    But hey, in an era where the PSP gets nicknamed the "Playstation Pornable" by the press simply because it includes a web browser and wireless access...

    I'll say no more. Or maybe... Yes! There's more!

    --
    Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
  9. Re:Illegal Mod by clodney · · Score: 1

    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.

  10. Too Early.... by crhylove · · Score: 1

    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 hold very few opinions. I hold information based on observation and fact. If you wish to disagree, please use facts.
    1. Re:Too Early.... by DrXym · · Score: 1
      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 financial suicide. It seems like they're confusing the two at the moment.

  11. Move on already by ScotchForBreakfast · · Score: 1

    PA said it best: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/11/02