‘Grand Theft’ maker’s court case
Take-Two Interactive Software, the maker of Grand Theft Auto video games, one of which inspired two brutal murders in California, says a deputy DA, may face civil action for alleged accounting violations.
The company also makes a game that’s banned in New Zealand. Called Manhunt, it boasts, "You get to meet – and brutally kill – some very interesting people". Its ‘hero’ is a psychopath who gets players to make "his own personal snuff film" for him.
"New York-based Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. said Thursday its chairman, Ryan A. Brant, an unnamed employee and two former officers also received notices from SEC ( Securities and Exchange Commission) staff", says an Associated Press report here.
"The company said the allegations stemmed from a previously announced SEC investigation. The SEC ordered an inquiry into Take-Two in 2002 after the company restated its results for 2000 and most of 2001. In the restatement, Take-Two cut its sales figures by $15.4 million in 2000 and $6.7 million in the first nine months of 2001."
The latest installment in the series, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, "has been targeted in particular because of dialogue that encourages players to ‘kill all Haitians’ and ‘kill the Cubans’," adds the story. "Last week, after a series of protests, Take-Two said it would remove the offensive dialogue from the game."
The game has already sold some 11 million copies.
