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Rockstar = whining pussies? GTA developer caused cuts to Simpsons Game parody
Jim Sterling10.04.08 - 4:00 PM 45 comments

Rockstar = whining pussies? GTA developer caused cuts to Simpsons Game parody screenshot

Yes, you read that right. Rockstar Games, makers of the Grand Theft Auto series -- a franchise famed for its merciless parodies and satire -- apparently complained to Electronic Arts about The Simpsons Game and its Grand Theft Scratchy level. Game designer Greg Rizzer said that elements of the level had to be removed because of Rockstar, as surprising as that sounds:

"I was always under the impression that when you do parody, it's a sign of respect... If we make fun of Grand Theft Auto, we're not going to hurt the sales of Grand Theft Auto... But yeah, we've definitely had some reactions - we've had to pull stuff from the game"

Who knew that the most controversial games developer in America could dish it out but couldn't take it? Perhaps it should tone down the amount of mockery in the GTA series if parody suddenly isn't cool anymore. Whether it actually was someone within the company or just a heartless lawyer, we're not sure, but at least Harmonix has a sense of humor:

"I don't know if you've seen Sitar Hero? We did Apu playing this 60-button controller and songs like Pour Some Curry On Me - we made this wonderful parody poster and the guys from Harmonix loved it and we sent them 20 copies of the poster. They just loved it so much."

Rockstar either needs to grow a set, or fire the whiny jerk who griped. Either way, it reflects very badly on Rockstar that the Manhunt and GTA creators stomped its feet over harmless parody. That developer, of all developers, knows what it's like to have to cut material from a title.



MORE IN OUR The Simpsons SECTION

Latest comment by MisterDanger |view all 45 comments
fuck you Rockstar. -1 GTA IV...



PSIq0ut's Avatar
PSIq0ut at 10/04/2007 16:09

Blah, how dissapointing. Grow up Rockstar.
linuxguy's Avatar
linuxguy at 10/04/2007 16:11

I'll whould have bought this if it was for real
El Fajitas's Avatar
El Fajitas at 10/04/2007 16:11

GAH!
You suck rockstar.
I'm not buyin' your cheap energy drinks anymore.
killatia's Avatar
killatia at 10/04/2007 16:13

talk about a joy kill.
MechaMonkey's Avatar
MechaMonkey at 10/04/2007 16:14

Parody falls under fair use of copyrighted material, and therefore is perfectly legal. Put it back in.
J03yyz's Avatar
J03yyz at 10/04/2007 16:16

my respect-o-meter just dropped like 30 points for Rockstar... thats totally lame... almost as lame as the last 8 seasons of the simpsons
Cheeburga's Avatar
Cheeburga at 10/04/2007 16:17

Suck it up cockstar.
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 10/04/2007 16:18

Thats... fucking ridiculous
JacksonDane's Avatar
JacksonDane at 10/04/2007 16:19

Wasn't FOX the one ruining projects all through the late 90s?

http://www.student.nada.kth.se/~nv91-gta/quake/
Zanch's Avatar
Zanch at 10/04/2007 16:22

What a bunch of crybaby douchebags. Apparently, no one at Rockstar understands the definition of irony.
Im OK's Avatar
Im OK at 10/04/2007 16:30

C'mon, Rockstar, don't you have more important things to do? Like maybe polishing that mission where you kill a lawyer who hates video games or something?
Kaikara's Avatar
Kaikara at 10/04/2007 16:30

I doubt this is Rockstar's fault, probably take two or too hasty lawyers (as what happened with Epic). They want to 'protect' their reputation after all the hot coffee debacle lol.
CreamyGoodness7's Avatar
CreamyGoodness7 at 10/04/2007 16:36

To think I actually felt a little respect for Rockstar but jesus christ take a joke you two faced pussies.
Fading_Star's Avatar
Fading_Star at 10/04/2007 16:41

I don't know the whole story, but this does look bad for the company. I hope that Rockstar isn't truly filled with hypocrites.
Yayoo's Avatar
Yayoo at 10/04/2007 16:52

Who knows what was pulled, maybe Rockstar had a real reason to do it but I think it's a bit harsh calling them pussy's when we don't even know what happened.
deiga-the-semivaliant's Avatar
deiga-the-semivaliant at 10/04/2007 16:57

Kaikara:

Yeah, I think I'm in denial, too.


Rockstar has GOT to have a bigger sense of humor than this.
B-Radicate's Avatar
B-Radicate at 10/04/2007 17:02

I agree that maybe something just hit too close to home. We may never know, so whatever. Still won't play the Simpson's game anyway.
flaakmonkey's Avatar
flaakmonkey at 10/04/2007 17:03

For Rockstar to be gay at someone who has not been gay to them is well...GAY!
grrza's Avatar
grrza at 10/04/2007 17:08

What a bunch of bitches.
Hopefully teh internets will respond appropriately with an obscene amount of unauthorized youtube and flash-based parodies.
oh, and pirating.
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 10/04/2007 17:14

Didn't see this coming. Stupid move on Rockstar's part.
Ryuhanta's Avatar
Ryuhanta at 10/04/2007 17:14

Comeone ya winy whore, Rockstar! If you can create games like Red Dead revolver and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, surely ya can take a joke pussies!
SubOrbital's Avatar
SubOrbital at 10/04/2007 17:15

Wow, this really makes me lose a lot of respect for Rockstar. They can give it, but they can't take it. Pussies. Grow a set indeed.
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 10/04/2007 17:21

Respect level -17
Hoss's Avatar
Hoss at 10/04/2007 17:28

thats very contradictory however im also dissapointed that its not Grand Theft Walrus instead
Putthebottledown's Avatar
Putthebottledown at 10/04/2007 17:58

stupid...
rosalindaveue's Avatar
rosalindaveue at 10/04/2007 18:29

So wait-- a game that is a parody, based on parodies of action movies, 80s movies (Scarface and Miami Vice); with a soundtrack of parody songs, busts the chops of a parody? Pussies indeed.
Snoopy's Avatar
Snoopy at 10/04/2007 18:47

rockstar is just upset that they had to delay their game, and now they are going to take it out on whoever
parrothead's Avatar
parrothead at 10/04/2007 19:07

wankers
Boolean's Avatar
Boolean at 10/04/2007 19:14

My guess? The simpsons game parodys some sections of the GTA IV that nobody is supposed to know about yet, hence the wording "elements of the level had to be removed", not "remove the entire level". Perhaps the simpsons game treads too close to what they actually plan to do in GTA IV. Shit I dunno.

It just seems odd for Rockstar to do this. I guess they could just be a whiney bunch of pussies.
Outer Heaven's Avatar
Outer Heaven at 10/04/2007 19:20

Hmm, I think the source was a little bit misleading. Rizzer doesn't actually say that they had to remove GTA references specifically. The only thing he mentions is having to take down the Grand Theft Scratchy poster at Leipzig, something he attributed to the actions of "some lawyer".

In any case, it's probably a mistake to lump the motivations of the game's creative team in with the bloodsucking corporate legal team. Lawyers, as everyone knows, lack anything resembling a sense of humor. It's a biological fact.
bobthecat23's Avatar
bobthecat23 at 10/04/2007 20:06

what a fucking bitch i hope they get there ass banned from the ratings board
AngelsDontBurn's Avatar
AngelsDontBurn at 10/04/2007 21:19

I have lost respect in those bastards.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 10/04/2007 21:24

I was gonna make a comment regarding the lowered amount of respect I now have for Rockstar, but I forgot all about it because I’m pissing myself laughing about “Pour Some Curry On Me”. Sitar Hero FTW!
vexed alex's Avatar
vexed alex at 10/04/2007 21:35

Walking, talking, vaginas!

Respect points gone down.
JonDarkwood's Avatar
JonDarkwood at 10/04/2007 21:59

Two-faced cry babies.
ZMTToxics's Avatar
ZMTToxics at 10/04/2007 23:32

They need to get a hold of Total Overdose. That is a parody for sure if not a blatant rip off.
gamerzworld's Avatar
gamerzworld at 10/05/2007 00:06

Most likely a lawyer...or the EA dev is just saying crap.
Acefowl's Avatar
Acefowl at 10/05/2007 00:44

With luck, it'll still be hidden in the disk, which can be unlocked with the help of a "Hot Donut Mod".
Aurain's Avatar
Aurain at 10/05/2007 00:52

This is a perfectly reasonable reaction. The Simpsons is pure garbage, and i wouldn't want my brand name associated with that trashed either.
Blue Collar Heresy's Avatar
Blue Collar Heresy at 10/05/2007 06:53

Funny, many people say the same thing about GTA...

If something is legally defined as parody, as The Simpsons no doubt is, they don't need permission from Rock Star to begin with. The fact that they've chosen to complain about this makes them look pathetic and hypocritical.
Justice's Avatar
Justice at 10/05/2007 11:14

Idiots.
The Grudge's Avatar
The Grudge at 10/05/2007 16:51

This is pretty lame. More than likely it was the blood-drinking baby-eating lawyers that put this in motion, or at least I hope it was, if it came from Rockstar's execs I think this would show some major douchiness. Douchiness is a new word I created, just now. With no assistance. I know, it's cool.
MisterDanger's Avatar
MisterDanger at 10/05/2007 23:05

fuck you Rockstar.
-1 GTA IV

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