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.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
4:00 PM on 10.04.2007
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You suck rockstar.
I'm not buyin' your cheap energy drinks anymore.
http://www.student.nada.kth.se/~nv91-gta/quake/
Yeah, I think I'm in denial, too.
Rockstar has GOT to have a bigger sense of humor than this.
Hopefully teh internets will respond appropriately with an obscene amount of unauthorized youtube and flash-based parodies.
oh, and pirating.
It just seems odd for Rockstar to do this. I guess they could just be a whiney bunch of pussies.
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.
Respect points gone down.
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.
-1 GTA IV
A cleverer parody e.g., "Grand Theft Scratchy: Mice City" with pictures of Itchy with a chainsaw and wearing a hawaiian shirt, and some mice dancing in a strip club I'm sure Rockstar would've allowed. They probably just don't like half-assed parody.