Author Topic: Who cares about game ratings? (Read 19136 times)

SushieBoy · « **on:** May 20, 2006, 08:31:04 AM »

do ya'll guys care about the ratings ESRB gives to games? me niether, I just play the games carelessly. What are ya'lls opinions about game ratings?

fuzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2006, 09:13:08 AM »

I don't really care about the ratings. Wait! I kind of do. I would never play a game that was rated C for early childhood. Nor would I play anything rated A for adult since I am for from being one. I hardly ever play M rated games, but I still play them because I think that I am mature enough not to go around shooting people for fun and think that I will not get caught!

TEM · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2006, 11:38:29 AM »

Who cares about game ratings? Parents should. I don't know if the majority of them even pay attention to them, or know what they mean (unless they are gamers themselves).

Vidgmchtr · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2006, 11:49:51 AM »

Parents should pay attention to them as well as their children. If they know their children are mature enough to play a game that has an M rating, I don't think there'd be much of a problem.

Personally, the only games I get have an E or T rating. This is just a coincidence, though, as I have played (as well as enjoyed) a number of games with an M rating.

That, and I can purchase games with an M rating as I am over the age suggestion. :P

BP · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2006, 12:42:46 PM »

I don't really care about the rating, but the game. See, I wouldn't play Care Bears Deluxe if it were rated T, would I? But if SSBB was rated M, I'd still buy it. I wouldn't be able to go buy it by myself for 4 years, but I'd still get it.
It's very rare that a game is rated eC (isn't it?), but when it is it's not a game that would come off of shelves very often, you know what I mean?

PaperLuigi · « **Reply #5 on:** May 20, 2006, 12:48:59 PM »

Yes, the game ratings are very important. For children, it gives them a chance to live out their childhood. For adults, it gives them a chance to pick a game without buying something like Grand Theft Elmo: Sesame Street.

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #6 on:** May 20, 2006, 01:12:11 PM »

The only thing I don't like is that the descriptors on the back are sometimes kind of like spoilers. I don't look at them anymore. Heck, I pretty much don't even look at the rating anymore.

Random fact: I think Diablo was the first M-rated game I ever got.

SushieBoy · « **Reply #7 on:** May 20, 2006, 01:39:15 PM »

I agree, I think ESRB should stop gaiving ratings to games because no one pays attention to them.

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #8 on:** May 20, 2006, 01:58:17 PM »

No way, the ESRB is what's managed to keep the government out of regulating game content (since the industry is doing it itself). Ratings are a Good Thing. I just don't pay any attention to them because I'm
A) 21 years old
B) Not a parent

SushieBoy · « **Reply #9 on:** May 20, 2006, 02:06:28 PM »

Pssst! The goverment, what have they done for us?!

Hirocon · « **Reply #10 on:** May 20, 2006, 02:42:47 PM »

I don't care about ratings when buying games for myself, but if I were to buy a game for a child I would care.

Mr. Wiggles · « **Reply #11 on:** May 20, 2006, 03:27:09 PM »

Who cares about game ratings?

Jack Thompson and crazed soccer moms, and it's not just limited to video games. TV, movies, music cd's, everything has a rating so companies don't have some irresponsible parent sending in angry letters because their kid heard some sex joke or toned down profanity. Because of all this, it pretty much ruins things for all of us.

rubberducky · « **Reply #12 on:** May 20, 2006, 07:08:29 PM »

we might not be able to play M rated games. because hillary clinton has returned from hell!

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #13 on:** May 20, 2006, 07:43:02 PM »

Game ratings haven't really "ruined anything" for me.

The Blue Toad · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2006, 08:19:49 PM »

Honestly, I don't even look at what the ratings are on my games. I know if I can handle something or not (or if I even want to).

Kuromatsu · « **Reply #15 on:** May 21, 2006, 10:55:58 AM »

I care, because my mom isn't going to let me play Halo until i'm 17

G-Dawg · « **Reply #16 on:** May 21, 2006, 02:11:41 PM »

lol Sorry to hear that. Here I'll make you feel better. HALO SUCKS!! That better.

Kuromatsu · « **Reply #17 on:** May 21, 2006, 02:20:55 PM »

:'( Whaaaaaaat??? '>o<' *Sobs*

I hate you G-Dawg.

Insane Steve · « **Reply #18 on:** May 21, 2006, 02:23:16 PM »

Quote from: rubberducky on May 20, 2006, 07:08:29 PM

we might not be able to play M rated games. because hillary clinton has returned from hell!

While I agree that Hillary Clinton was forged in the depths of Hell, I don't see what that has to do with the ESRB.

I think the ESRB is a good thing, personally. For one, its establishment can partially nullify the Thompsonian belief that video games cause violence... because any GOOD parents can look at a game with an "M" rating and decide if their children are mature enough to play them or not. Thus, the blame for violence can be shifted to bad parenting or bad genes... which is the REAL reason violence happens, in my mind.

G-Dawg · « **Reply #19 on:** May 21, 2006, 02:24:20 PM »

M_S_M: I was kidding...just trying to make you feel better about not playing the awesomeness of Halo. Sorry.

Kuromatsu · « **Reply #20 on:** May 21, 2006, 02:27:25 PM »

oh.... I guess I can change my sig back.

PaperLuigi · « **Reply #21 on:** May 21, 2006, 04:17:40 PM »

Quote from: Lizard Dude on May 20, 2006, 01:12:11 PM

Random fact: I think Diablo was the first M-rated game I ever got.

Random Fact: Metal Gear Solid was my first.

G-Dawg · « **Reply #22 on:** May 21, 2006, 04:33:34 PM »

Random: first one ever owned: Socom III Navy Seals

TEM · « **Reply #23 on:** May 21, 2006, 05:20:31 PM »

Random: Popkorn

G-Dawg · « **Reply #24 on:** May 21, 2006, 05:23:51 PM »

Serious: So what's up with people not caring about game ratings again?

CrzyFlmngMnkyHead · « **Reply #25 on:** May 21, 2006, 05:25:54 PM »

Nobody pays attention to the rating, they just pay attention to how much fun the game is. Oh, and sometimes the rating is in an area that nobody would look at. Also,

Quote from: G-Dawg on May 21, 2006, 02:11:41 PM

lol Sorry to hear that. Here I'll make you feel better. HALO SUCKS!! That better.

It's true, Halo's just a copy of Metroid that has swears. Insted of getting Halo 3, Get Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.

Kuromatsu · « **Reply #26 on:** May 21, 2006, 06:35:33 PM »

Metriod Prime was a good game, but I really hated that auto targeting. It really kind of took the challenge away. And it lacked weapons. only four weapons. you never ran out of ammo either. Thats where the DS version of Metriod fixed it. But then there was nothing to drive. it was just get to a certain point, beat boss, and get upgrade. When you see the same place over and over again it gets rather boring.

Meh... All Halo had was loads of weapons, tanks, banshees, warthogs, Wraiths, Spectres, ghosts, turrets, a decent story line, A cool looking starring charicter, actual attitudes, people, incredible graphics, wonderful enemy AI, multiplayer, Co-op play, online play, the fact that your not the only person fighting, sniper rifles, no bosses, and just enough levels to keep you occupied for years. Yea... Halo dosen't seem too great anymore...

Halo Release date: November 2001
Metrio Prime release date: November 2002

smfan1085 · « **Reply #27 on:** May 21, 2006, 07:38:09 PM »

I must be the one of the only people here who DOES care about the ESRB ratings. They have flaws in their rating system, but just having a rating system period is decidedly a good thing. It's good to be able to be warned about what's in a game. I would NEVER buy a game with dirty sexual content in it; games like that sicken me beyond belief. I mean, people take sex, which is a beautiful thing in its proper place, and they pervert it and then put it in a video game meant for entertainment. I would also never buy a game with gratuitous violence, blood, and gore in it; not only is that an exceedingly poor form of entertainment - I can't even fathom what's in the minds of people who enjoy seeing images of people getting ripped apart on a screen - but I wouldn't even be able to bear to look at it anyway. I'm grateful that there's something there to tell me about bad content in video games so that I don't have to accidentally find it.

SushieBoy · « **Reply #28 on:** May 21, 2006, 09:02:45 PM »

bravo! Great speech! smfan! I agree with you!

Ultima Shadow · « **Reply #29 on:** May 22, 2006, 04:35:01 AM »

Off-topic: My first M game was Goldeneye 007.
On-topic: That was an excellent speech, smfan1085. A rating system is a good thing, but it is the generalisation and petty labelling that is the system's main weakness.

DeadAwake · « **Reply #30 on:** May 22, 2006, 04:57:44 AM »

Goldeneye was rated T.

Ultima Shadow · « **Reply #31 on:** May 22, 2006, 05:16:11 AM »

Whoops, it wasn't Goldeneye at all. I remember having Doom beforehand.

Insane Steve · « **Reply #32 on:** May 22, 2006, 10:30:25 AM »

Random: I have never purchased an M rated game. Mainly because the genres of games that receive M ratings just don't interest me.

smfan1085 · « **Reply #33 on:** May 22, 2006, 11:30:59 AM »

Hmm... well, thanks, SushieBoy and Ultima Shadow. To tell you the truth I rather expected a bunch of people to be angrily contesting what I said, so the fact that you think my opinion sensible is a pleasant surprise.

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #34 on:** May 22, 2006, 03:41:09 PM »

The Typing of the Dead is the best M-rated edutainment I've ever played.

Hirocon · « **Reply #35 on:** May 22, 2006, 04:06:32 PM »

I have no problem with playing games with sex or violence in them, if they're fun games. I consider myself mature enough to handle that sort of content. Nevertheless, I wouldn't buy a game like that for my twelve-year-old son (hypothetically; I don't actually have a son). So I like the ESRB rating system. I don't know why polticians always criticize the ESRB. I think their ratings are fair and far more detailed that the movie ratings system (I remember seeing specific content warnings on video games before seeing them on movies).

I find it strange that there is such a controversy over game ratings when there is almost no controversy over movie ratings. It is my understanding that in most states, there are no actual laws against letting minors into R-rated movies. Most theaters voluntarily refuse to sell tickets for R-rated movies to minors, because of public relations. It is also my understanding that game retailers are not so consistent in refusing to sell M-rated games to minors; this is why so many states are trying to pass laws restricting the sale of video games with mature content to minors. My question is, why the discrepancy? Why do movie theaters voluntarily try to protect minors, when video game retailers do not? I don't have an answer, but I think any discussion of game ratings should consider the issue.

smfan1085 · « **Reply #36 on:** May 22, 2006, 05:12:08 PM »

I'm against R-rated movies too, generally speaking. There are exceptions, such as The Passion of the Christ, but I loathe movies that are rated R for sexual content or gratuitous violence and gore.

The Chef · « **Reply #37 on:** May 22, 2006, 07:54:23 PM »

Something tells me that by the time retailers actually volunteer to protect minor from video game content, ther will be another form of entertainment with the same problem.

Makes me wonder if books ever had a problem like this.

TEM · « **Reply #38 on:** May 22, 2006, 08:35:26 PM »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banned_books

smfan1085 · « **Reply #39 on:** May 22, 2006, 08:54:11 PM »

Quote from: TEM on May 22, 2006, 08:35:26 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banned_books

[offtopic]

"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll was banned in China in 1931 because the animals used the human language."

What is this retardedness? XD

"Black Beauty by Anna Sewell was banned in South Africa due to the use of the word 'black' in the title."

I almost laughed at this one. I suppose anything called "black" should be banned now. ::)

Anybody who calls me a racist (unlikely, but you never know) shall die.

[/offtopic]

Sry.

Ultima Shadow · « **Reply #40 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:49:08 AM »

Blackboards in Australia are now chalk boards because they may offend darker-skinned people.

Fairy penguins in Australia have been renamed 'Little penguins' so it does not offend the gay community.

100% true.

btw, game ratings are necessary to prevent kids from getting the wrong ideas. Sure, kids should be smart enough to know that killing is wrong, but younger children might not know this.

SushieBoy · « **Reply #41 on:** May 23, 2006, 01:17:55 PM »

Well yeah but it's up to there parents to help the younger kids from not playing those violent games. I always ask myself this: Who introduced violence and nudidty to Video Games? Video games where supposed to be bland fun that doesn't hurt anybody, then who knows who comes with all there violence and puts it in OUR video games! Movies are supposed to be violent, not video games!! Who agrees?

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #42 on:** May 23, 2006, 01:38:41 PM »

I don't want my videogames to be bland fun.

CreamCat · « **Reply #43 on:** May 23, 2006, 07:07:06 PM »

Quote from: SushieBoy on May 23, 2006, 01:17:55 PM

Well yeah but it's up to there parents to help the younger kids from not playing those violent games. I always ask myself this: Who introduced violence and nudidty to Video Games? Video games where supposed to be bland fun that doesn't hurt anybody, then who knows who comes with all there violence and puts it in OUR video games! Movies are supposed to be violent, not video games!! Who agrees?

I completely disagree with you! I mean, I can understand you being angry about people calling non-violent video games kiddy, but come on here! Violent video games aren't the freaking spawn of Satan!

SushieBoy · « **Reply #44 on:** May 23, 2006, 07:38:37 PM »

hrrrrrmm, well, maybe just MAYBE I didn't word that right.

Ultima Shadow · « **Reply #45 on:** May 24, 2006, 01:35:37 AM »

Video games are meant to keep the gamers hooked/excited/having fun.

Movies are meant to keep the moviergoers hooked/excited/having fun.

Books are meant to keep the readers hooked/excited/having fun.

I don't think video games, books and movies are that different, personally.

Glorb · « **Reply #46 on:** May 25, 2006, 09:17:18 AM »

My criteria is:

Must be cheap
Must contain at least one of the following elements: Robots, ninjas, pirates, crajackings, zombies, airplanes or Mario

I have high standards.

smfan1085 · « **Reply #47 on:** May 25, 2006, 08:11:18 PM »

My views are as follows:

Games that are violent to a reasonable degree like the Lord of the Rings games are okay.

Games that are excessively and gratuitously violent, showing blood and gore mostly just for the sake of showing blood and gore, are BAD. Maybe not quite the "spawn of Satan", but not all that far off from it in my view. The same goes for movies.

Games with sexual content in them = always bad (as far as I know).

Disagree with me if you will, but that's how I'm going to continue to think.

Oh, and Lizard Dude: I don't think SushieBoy really meant "bland fun". I suspect his choice of words was just a little off.

Hirocon · « **Reply #48 on:** May 25, 2006, 08:26:53 PM »

Have you ever played The Sims or The Sims 2? In Sims 2 characters can engage in "WooHoo" (which is basically sex, though nothing graphic is shown) but if the player chooses they can refrain from WooHoo except between a married couple for procreation.

smfan1085 · « **Reply #49 on:** May 25, 2006, 08:30:39 PM »

I still think they shouldn't show it, even non-graphically. I just don't consider it appropriate for a video game.

I also don't like too much the way that, since there's an option for simulated sex in the first place, it's possible to engage in sex other than sex between a married couple for procreation.

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #50 on:** May 26, 2006, 01:35:15 AM »

Killing someone if shown in a reasonable degree is okay

while

married couples having WooHoo is not appropriate for a video game about simulating a life?

YOU ARE MESSED UP

Ultima Shadow · « **Reply #51 on:** May 26, 2006, 06:26:32 AM »

Pwnt.

Anyway, video games were never really a kiddy thing. There were adult themed video games even in the Atari days, and just now people are getting angry about it?!?!?

MaxVance · « **Reply #52 on:** May 26, 2006, 07:44:28 AM »

In those days, the adult games couldn't show much detail. But now...

Let's just say that I hope there aren't any adult games on the Wii.

SushieBoy · « **Reply #53 on:** May 26, 2006, 03:18:15 PM »

Sorry folks, what I ment to say when I said "Bland Fun" was just fun that didn't include any violence or obsene scenes. Hey! that rymed!

Vidgmchtr · « **Reply #54 on:** May 26, 2006, 10:21:41 PM »

Quote from: Lizard Dude on May 26, 2006, 01:35:15 AM

Killing someone if shown in a reasonable degree is okay

while

married couples having WooHoo is not appropriate for a video game about simulating a life?

YOU ARE MESSED UP

Seconded.

nensondubois · « **Reply #55 on:** June 16, 2006, 05:25:48 PM »

why"Ya'll" you make a poll out of this?

The Chef · « **Reply #56 on:** June 16, 2006, 05:41:58 PM »

Because it's a topic worth discussing.

nensondubois · « **Reply #57 on:** June 16, 2006, 05:45:42 PM »

{Sarcasm} sorry Bout' my southern grammer {Sarcasm} What i meant to say was why did you not make a poll out of this to begin with?

fuzzy · « **Reply #58 on:** June 16, 2006, 05:54:36 PM »

That statement failed to make any sense at all. Game ratings can be very important to some people.

coolkid · « **Reply #59 on:** June 22, 2006, 01:09:45 PM »

Is ESRB as important When a Mario Game or such is rated i.e. Super Smash Bros. Melee Rated T in ESRB Rules because in Japan the CERO rated it ALL Ages

Pt_Peach · « **Reply #60 on:** June 23, 2006, 12:30:40 AM »

I think that the ESRB ratings are important to some games. But I don't think that parents should have to worry about Mario games, rated E or Teen.

BP · « **Reply #61 on:** June 23, 2006, 12:37:07 AM »

Quote from: coolkid on June 22, 2006, 01:09:45 PM

Is ESRB as important When a Mario Game or such is rated i.e. Super Smash Bros. Melee Rated T in ESRB Rules because in Japan the CERO rated it ALL Ages

Oh my gosh it's dezzer who likes to talk really fast without stopping and ha ha ha ha ha ha ha here we go now I will press this shiny red button!
I don't know if SSBM really should've been a T game. I mean... ReDeads scare everyone for some reason (except for me) but there's no blood or real violence in it.

Kojinka · « **Reply #62 on:** June 23, 2006, 07:56:08 AM »

There was no 'E10' rating back in 2001, and ESRB must've thought 'E' would've been pushing it. But I agree with BP. 'T' was a bit high for SSBM. I see nothing in it that I don't think a child would be able to handle.

coolkid · « **Reply #63 on:** June 23, 2006, 09:34:46 PM »

There's fake blood(Pause while attacking)but still...................................................................

Kojinka · « **Reply #64 on:** June 23, 2006, 10:15:47 PM »

That 'blood' is depicted as red flashes. I think even my two-year-old niece would be able to tell the difference between realistic blood and fancy red flashes.

Pt_Peach · « **Reply #65 on:** June 24, 2006, 12:39:24 AM »

Nope, there was really no reason that SSBM need a teen rating. There was nothing a kid 10- wouldn't have understood. There wasn't even any blood. Just flashes, as Kojinka poins out.

The Chef · « **Reply #66 on:** June 24, 2006, 08:11:00 AM »

Yeah, it's actually pretty funny to punch another character in the face and see multicolored bursts of light appear out of nowhere.

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #67 on:** June 24, 2006, 12:16:46 PM »

And that's why it's rated T. Now you think it's funny to punch other characters in the face.

The Chef · « **Reply #68 on:** June 24, 2006, 12:50:27 PM »

That isn't what I meant. The part that I thought was funny was the multicolored bursts of light, not the actual punching.

coolkid · « **Reply #69 on:** June 24, 2006, 05:42:16 PM »

Oh OK!Ahh You'r Right!

SushieBoy · « **Reply #70 on:** June 25, 2006, 12:08:38 AM »

speshaly all those sound affects.

coolkid · « **Reply #71 on:** June 25, 2006, 02:14:33 PM »

The sound effects sound like punches in Cartoons!

Kojinka · « **Reply #72 on:** June 26, 2006, 09:19:36 AM »

I like the sound affects from the N64 one a bit more.

The Chef · « **Reply #73 on:** June 26, 2006, 10:02:18 AM »

Unecessary Fact:

The sound effects from Melee previously appeared in the Japan version of SSB64. They were changed for USA release for being too violent.

Kojinka · « **Reply #74 on:** June 26, 2006, 11:11:46 AM »

Too violent? *rolls eyes*

SushieBoy · « **Reply #75 on:** June 26, 2006, 09:07:46 PM »

there's nothing voilent in SSBM!

Ultima Shadow · « **Reply #76 on:** June 26, 2006, 09:35:05 PM »

Apart from punching, kicking, swords, flames, people being hit by cars, acid, and other things. :)

booo95 · « **Reply #77 on:** June 28, 2006, 03:28:59 PM »

When you think about it, SSBM should of been rated E. It's the same thing as SSB but with more characters and stages. But the ESRB is a good thing. If it wasn't formed then videogames wouldn't be around today.

SushieBoy · « **Reply #78 on:** June 28, 2006, 04:27:42 PM »

i agree boo,SSBM was just more graphic....

Kojinka · « **Reply #79 on:** June 28, 2006, 08:36:20 PM »

It also has more features. Like Adventure, All Star, and special Melees and tournaments in Vs Mode.

Mr. Melee · « **Reply #80 on:** June 29, 2006, 06:36:02 AM »

Su.B.= You mean more graphic, as in, character, level, etc. designs?

This reminds me of one of my first posts in a SSBM topic= Come on? T? Someone had too much butter beer.

But I do agree that SSBM is overrated. Compare SSBM to some of the other games that are rated T that are all for PS2 and X-BOX/360. Also look at Super Mario Strikers. People in that game are getting fried by electrical fences, tackled, smashed by goalies in midair, and hit by other players with the ball if they are in the way. And that game is an E. I would believe that SSBM would at least be 10+, including SMStr.

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #81 on:** June 29, 2006, 06:14:29 PM »

Browsing through this topic, I find:

Quote from: smfan1085 on May 25, 2006, 08:11:18 PM

Games that are violent to a reasonable degree like the Lord of the Rings games are okay.

Games that are excessively and gratuitously violent, showing blood and gore mostly just for the sake of showing blood and gore, are BAD. Maybe not quite the "spawn of Satan", but not all that far off from it in my view. The same goes for movies.

Games with sexual content in them = always bad (as far as I know).

I'm a bit late in commenting on this, but if a game has either of those elements in it, and is justified in doing so (i.e. not only for the sake of containing said elements) then it is perfectly acceptable and not "bad".

fuzzy · « **Reply #82 on:** June 29, 2006, 08:30:23 PM »

This reminds me of a funny story. Once upon a time, I was in a game store buying a neat Nintendo game like a always do when I overheard a mother looking for a game for her young child. I can't remember the exact age but he was younger than me, and I was 13 at the time. Apparantly this child owned a Playstation and wanted a certain game that I personally think caused many problems for immature people. (naturally because you have to be mature to play this game since it was rated M.) Anyway the mother told the clerk that she wanted Grand Theft Auto for her boy. At this point the clerk told the mother that it had a lot of violence in it, but the mother still considered buying it. They stood there for about ten minutes practicly arguing until the mother finially made up her mind at which point I had left the store never to hear the end of the story. I just can't believe that she sill considered buying that kind of game for her young child after the clerk told her who violent the game was. I mean it was rated M in the first place and the name itself tells you something. She was so dumb she probably didn't know that games had ratings.

PaperLuigi · « **Reply #83 on:** June 29, 2006, 08:32:44 PM »

It's AO if you found the............Cup of Joe that's kind of warm.

The Chef · « **Reply #84 on:** June 29, 2006, 08:47:22 PM »

Wasn't that just a mod?

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #85 on:** June 30, 2006, 02:16:47 PM »

No, it was a hack that exposed code in the game that wasn't supposed to be found.

The Chef · « **Reply #86 on:** June 30, 2006, 05:07:32 PM »

How come it's always refered to as a "mod"? Everywhere I've seen it mentioned, it was called "The Hot Coffee Mod". What's up with that?

Ultima Shadow · « **Reply #87 on:** June 30, 2006, 08:25:24 PM »

It's inaccessable in normal gameplay, and, to access it, you must use a mod that enables it, or so I have heard.

Kojinka · « **Reply #88 on:** June 30, 2006, 09:14:45 PM »

So why would they raise the rating if "Hot Coffee Mod" is inaccessable in normal gameplay. I would think that if the person is capable of accessing it, then they oughta be old enough to understand it.

MEGAß¥TE · « **Reply #89 on:** July 01, 2006, 12:04:58 AM »

Short answer: politics sucks.

Vidgmchtr · « **Reply #90 on:** July 01, 2006, 12:05:56 AM »

Um, because children can have access to devices that can allow them to play that Hot Coffee thing.

I'm quite sure it's not AO anymore. They re-released it with that removed and it was set back to M, IIRC. I said this here before.

Lizard Dude · « **Reply #91 on:** July 01, 2006, 04:18:05 AM »

The ratings, I guess, apply to everything on the disc. And since the Hot Coffee minigame was on the disc, even though inaccessible through normal means, it still got the higher rating.

And yes, all of those were pulled and the Second Edition was released without the contested code. That's the version I have. It hurt Rockstar financially quite a bit (relative to had it not happened).

SolidShroom · « **Reply #92 on:** July 01, 2006, 05:31:32 AM »

Yeah it hurt rockstar a lot. However, the publicity it received is probably the reason that it continued to sell after the rerelease. If it wasn't for that...the damage would have been even worse, irreversable maybe...

Markio · « **Reply #93 on:** July 02, 2006, 09:21:04 AM »

I care about how I rate a game, because I often agree with myself about whether a game is worth playing or not.