If you're a gamer, you are probably sick already of the whole 'Hot Coffee' controversy. However, allow me to give my two cents.
First of all, Rockstar, as Greg Costikyan put it, needs to be slapped. I don't care if the mini-game in question was part of the original design, (if it was, what possible value did it add?) the content should have been removed. This is a the fault of the producer.
Anyway, the real villian here isn't the producer, or even the artists/programmers that created the mini-game (note: those who would think it was one guy who did this on his own in secret know nothing about game development). It's Rockstar upper management. They keep blaming everyone else for their mistake. The arrow I take most offense with is the accusation that it's the users fault. "How dare they modify our game!" It would be one thing if that mini-game did not exist in the orignal game, but it was merely 'unlocked'. Shame on you, Rockstar, for making your customers out to be saboteurs.
What I hope doesn't happen (and I don't think it will), is that publishers will tighten up EULAs and disallow mods completely. Modding is practically an industry unto itself, and there's a lot of talent out there that wouldn't have as easy an outlet if that were to happen. But as I said, I believe it's unlikely.
The other big gripe I have about this whole thing is it gives Mr. 'I hate games and gamers' Jack Thompson more ammo. This guy's motivation is two-fold: 1. Fame/Publicity, 2. He's just a jerk. Anyway, he's now after the Sims 2, and he's spewing more uninformed and blatantly false bile to the media. Of course the gaming press is all too familiar with his diatribes, but the mainstream press has taken up the stories and is casting a very negative light on the gaming industry. Ugh.
What this really boils down to is the public at large has to realize that games aren't just for kids. Games (like movies) have ratings for a reason. Censorship and legislation is not the answer. Knowledge and personal responsibility are.
Posted by mix at July 25, 2005 10:54 AM