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Aussies can't handle Hot Coffee

by: John -
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The Australians has revoked the rating for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas so it can't be sold now there. This hot coffee fiasco has really been blown out of proportion in my opinion.
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Announces that Australian Rating Board Revokes Classification for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 29, 2005--Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) said today that Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC), the Australian entity responsible for rating films and video games, has revoked the classification of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. As a result of this decision, the game is now unclassified in Australia, and cannot be sold, advertised or distributed in that country.

The Company stated that the OFLC decision had been expected and the financial impact will not alter the Company's recently announced guidance.

In announcing its decision, the OFLC stated that, "the content unlocked by a third party 'hot coffee' modification contained material that could not be accommodated at the (prior) MA15+ classification."

Take-Two added that the European ratings will not be affected by this decision or the recent ESRB re-rating in the U.S. The Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) has stated of the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) rating, "The application of the so-called 'hot coffee mod' to the game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas does not change the 18+ rating this title has been granted by the PEGI administrator."