(Column) - Here's another case that leaves me bewildered. Some bloke, who probably had nothing much to do besides play Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and sit in an Olympian judgment over what a game can or cannot contain, thinks that kids playing this game would be grossly affected by the questionable material hidden inside. You know what, that makes about as much sense as Schwarzenegger in a skirt. Absolutely ridiculous.

Let me explain why I say this and make this apparent rant logical. First off, we are assuming that the kids playing this are mostly young and very impressionable. If the kids are so young, they are obviously not purchasing the games themselves. Whos buying it and giving it to them? Their parents and relatives. In other words sensible adults. If you ask me, no sensible adult will purchase and give GTA: San Andreas to a child that young. Hot Coffee or no Hot Coffee. The thing is, no matter what kind of restrictions you put, if they want to, kids will get their hands on the game and the patch one way or another. Therefore, we really should stop being such pious hypocrites.

Secondly, if the kids know enough to understand the Hot Coffee patch, they have, in all probability, seen such stuff elsewhere, which was not animated in all likelihood.

Thirdly, as I understand (and please correct me if Im wrong) the rating on the box is for the game in its default form. If you do a standard install, you will not have access to adult-only content. Also, I dont recall Rockstar officially availing the Hot Coffee mod. It was a third party revelation. Is GTA really responsible for unauthorized modifications done to its game once its in the hands of skilled programming public? An interesting thing that comes to mind is what if a game gets a third party hack (or mod), is there any legal stipulation saying that the game rating needs to change? Do we have ratings for patches as well? So far, I havent seen or heard of any. Maybe a lawyer should take that as the main issue in Rockstar's defense.

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