Violence, strong language and sexual themes are common in video games and seem to be growing in popularity. While some games with mature ratings have suggested sexual themes, none of them actually cross the line into anything explicit.
That was until news filtered through that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the massively popular follow up to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, has a modification on it that shows explicit sex scenes.
Apparently this can only be used with an internet download called "hot coffee", and the incident is sure to change the way video games are rated.
Video game makers always leave in extra bits for players to find, either through codes or in completing certain levels of the game.
In this case the producers say the modification has been unauthorised.
With GTA, already a controversial game, the producers have been quick to clamp down on the internet modification.
Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. announced this week that the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) (we have the Film and Publications Board) has changed the rating of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on all platforms from "Mature 17+" (M) to "Adults Only 18+" (AO) because of the so-called "hot coffee mod", an unauthorised third party modification that alters the retail version of the game.
Take-Two cooperated fully with the ESRB's investigation. Rockstar Games will also cease manufacture of the current version of the title and offer a downloadable patch to prevent modification of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for the PC.
They have also begun working on a version of the game with enhanced security to prevent the "hot coffee" modifications.
This version will retain the original ESRB M-rating.
This is what the producers and manufacturers have to say: "Take-Two and Rockstar Games have always worked to keep mature-themed video game content out of the hands of children and we will continue to work closely with the ESRB and community leaders to improve and better promote a reliable rating system to help consumers make informed choices about which video games are appropriate for each individual," said Paul Eibeler, Take-Two's President and Chief Executive Officer.
"The ESRB's decision to re-rate a game based on an unauthorised third party modification presents a new challenge for parents, the interactive entertainment industry and anyone who distributes or consumes digital content.
Rockstar Games is pleased that the investigation is now settled and they look forward to returning their focus to making innovative and groundbreaking video games for a mature audience."
The scenes depicted in the "hot coffee" modification are not playable in the retail version of the game unless the user downloads and/or installs unauthorised software that alters the content of the original retail version of the title, representing a violation of Take-Two and Rockstar's end user license agreement (EULA) and intellectual property rights.
"We are deeply concerned that the publicity surrounding these unauthorised modifications has caused the game to be misrepresented to the public and has detracted from the creative merits of this award winning product," said Eibeler.
Take-Two is exploring its legal options as it relates to companies that profited from creating and distributing tools for altering the content of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Rockstar Games will be making available shortly a downloadable software patch to render Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for PC impervious to the "hot coffee" modification.