In a move that is sure to spark controversy, the upcoming Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for Nintendo's handheld DS will feature a drug-dealing mini-game.
Although many grownups use the DS, it is widely regarded as a kid-friendly system. Citing a print story in Edge magazine, CVG reports:
Here's some news that's surely going to send mainstream newspapers (and Nintendo's PR department) mental. It's emerged that for DS features a full-on drug-dealing mini-game.
Revealed in the latest Edge magazine, the drug-dealing feature lets you flog heroine, cocaine, weed, ecstasy, acid and downers. Selling the six type of drugs makes you a ton of in-game cash and help you gain experience of market conditions, says the mag.
Rockstar exec Dan Houser is also quoted:
We wanted to have a drug-dealing minigame in lots of the GTA games. We played with it a little in Vice City Stories, because it worked really well juxtaposed with the main story. It works well with what GTA is, with driving around the map, and it gives you another thing to think about - another layer or piece of the puzzle to keep you motivated. It does intersect with the main story, and things you learn from it work with the story, but it mostly runs on its own.
GP: In the video at left (sorry for the poor sound quality) Nintendo exec Cammie Dunaway announces GTA Chinatown Wars at this year's E3.
Comments
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
I do remember a game that was out in the 90's called drug dealer your job was to buy low sell high, it may as well have been played in DOS. Then another where you got to grow pot and had to take care of it or it died. No one said anything about those games it's not like people ended up in rehab programs because of them I just got better at investing.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
So it have a drug dealing mini game... so how is this more controversial as the drug dealing in the previous games? Little Jacob anyone?
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
dident scarface had something liket this in the game i cant rember but it was still fun
Thanks Zaruka
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
the main point of the scarface game was to sell drugs (that was the only way you made money)
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Am I the only one who was probably going to buy GTA:DS regardless of the content? What kind of person says, "well, I wasn't going to get it before, but now that I know it's got a drug-selling minigame, I'm in!" If this is really a media grab on the part of Rockstar, it's a millimetre blip against the yardstick of their total advertising budget.
---
The Mammon Industry
Fangamer
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
I would believe this is more than just a "blip" just in the fact that once this becomes "news" it will make it's way to a lot of media outlets, which is basically "free advertising", especially to stations which wouldn't normally allow GTA advertising.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Rockstar is just TRYING to bring the moral guardians down on them this time. There's no other logical explanation for this.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Any kind of press, good or bad, will get people interested in the game. And free press is the best kind of press.
Hmmm...
I'd be okay with this if it served an actual point and wasn't just to stir up shit. I figure, if it's okay to portray other criminal acts, why not drug dealing? 'Cept they're more than likely only doing this to feed sales.
I wonder how they're gonna work the controls?
-Remember kids, personal responsibility is for losers! For information on games and psychology, look up: Jonathan Freedman(2002)Block & Crain(2007) Just to name a few...
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
This is an outrage, I demand rockstar gives us the ability to trade meth and shrooms as well. Why must they discriminate against meth and shroom dealers? And how about perscription drug smugglers?
6 drugs is not enough.
Ok I'll stop.
I can't believe though that soon I won't be able to brag to DS owners that I can play GTA on the go (PSP owner). Oh well it's about time Nintendo got some GTA flavor.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
You know maybe the media won't pick up on this. I haven't heard anyone in the media complain about the radio ads or all the sexual innuendo in the grand theft auto series and lord knows that would give them something to crow about.
Oh well one step closer to rockstar finally putting children in grand theft auto games. Tis a good thing.
At least now when pundits say the game lets you deal drugs we won't have to roll our eyes at that statement.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Maybe if they put a catchy jingle to it, like the mercenary game, no one will notice!
"Oh no you didn't!"
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Maybe this game will actually have that non-existant point system that those people keep saying these games have.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
I agree with many of the other comments. This is just a stupid idea intended to sell games by raising negative press.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Sad fact is, it will work too.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
The NDS?
A kid-friendly system?
Heh. These guys obviously have not touched anything remotely Japanese. Witch touching.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Tentacles strangely come to mind...
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
I agree that there needs to be more freedoms in the gaming industry and that decisions for purchases should be left up to the parent, if the gamer is a minor. However, wtf is Nintendo thinking? The majority of DS owners are children. This is lame in my opinion and an attempt at using negative press to sell a game that won't be "all that". Keep GTA on 360 and PS3 where it belongs. Poor decision on multiple peoples parts.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
The majority of DS owners are children.
False.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
No company has any sort of obligation to create products ONLY for a single audience. What, are you going to say that Viva Pinata should be a Wii exclusive? People can create what they damn well please.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Almost 90% of the DS's we sell in our store are to adults. Me and my wife both have one, almost every adult friend that I have has one, and a good bit of the ones I see are owned and operated by adults. That's like trying to say an iPod is only for kids and shouldn't allow music that isn't for kids.
Zen a.k.a. Jeremy Powers
Zen@Zenspath.com
Zen aka Jeremy Powers
Editor and Host of the Zenspath Podcast (now on iTunes)
www.ZensPath.com
XBL: "PsychoticZen" PSN: "Zenspath"
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Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
My guess is that they were too busy touching witches.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doki_Doki_Majo_Shinpan
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
I'm on a non 'nerdy" university campus, and I see DS's everywhere.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
I wonder how this will be played out??? Maybe like SR1's drug dealing game or maybe more of a haggling type.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Big whoop. As others have pointed out, there have been other drug dealing games before; Scarface and Saints Row were already mentioned. Also add to the list the remake of NARC. Few people got up in arms about those, GTA label on it or no. Hell there's a even a drug dealing game on Facebook called "Dope Wars" that one of my friends on there has. So it's not like anything new.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
I'm all over it. Jack Thompson
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Of course you are. Too bad it won't do any good.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Shut the hell up.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
No, thanks. I shan't shut up. I'm quite vocal these days. Deal with it. Jack Thompson
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
err... shan't?
United we Stand, Divided we fall.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
"These days"? You never shut up. Ever. I'll bet you talk your sleep.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
I guess you won't be as vocal here, since GP now requires registration to post
HA! HA!
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Vocal, but saying nothing of any value or intelligence.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Nightwng2000 has also updated his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
And about to lose your job too. Deal with that.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
"I'm quite vocal these days."
Too bad you have nothing to show for it.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
There are limits to the First Amendment, Mr. Thompson. I suggest you go back to Vanderbilt for any ten years and learn them.
David "DavCube" Gagnon, Non-abuser of Speech, and You're Not.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
That would be #5, 8 and 9, Jack.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
1. Behavior or a fantasy of grandiosity, a lack of empathy and a need to be admired by others. As indicated by at least five of the following:
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
If not JT: Please at least TRY. (90% sure this is fake)
If JT: You're all over SOMETHING, but i'm pretty sure that something is something that would get a game labled AO.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
His name would get a game rated AO?
E. Zachary Knight
http://www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
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E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
I think he means the whole 'gay porn filing' thing ... (Or it could be the 'bunny porn' thing, LOL.)
Either way those things would certainly guarantee an AO rating.
-- "Jack and listen are two words that don't go together...just like Jack and sanity, Jack and truth, Jack and proof, Jack and win..." -- sortableturnip | http://www.orangeloungeradio.com/
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Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
I was going more along the lines of how he gets off to school shootings so much.
Figuratively, of course. *wink, fingers crossed*
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
"I'm all over"
Fix'd.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
"I'm on something"
Double Fixed!
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Nope you are not, remember your settlement with Take Two?
LOL, No you are not all over it you idiot. Go back to law school, you are obviously uneducated.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Apparently you're not as familiar with my "settlement" with Take-Two as I am. I'm all over it, and you don't even know what "it" is. How sad. Jack thompson
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Well, you're not known for understanding anything nearly as well as we gamers, who are supposed to be borderline retarded, so how sad is that?
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Another double-post? I swear, if and when that "report spam" function is up and running again....
------------------------------------
Modified Sarge quote: "My favorite part is the part where you failed. Encore! Bravo."
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Yeah, just like you're familiar with that "sanction." Everything negative about you doesn't exist, right Mr. Thompson? All the failures, all the disciplinary actions, it's all a part of some conspiracy by the gay vampires running the 'game industry' and the 'Florida Gay Bar,' right?
Take your 'The End Is Nigh' sign and stand out on the street corner with the rest of the crazy people.
David "DavCube" Gagnon, Mature Human Being, and You're Not.
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
You're all over it? Sounds like some sort of sick, perverted, sexual addiction problem. Go seek mental health help more quietly.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Nightwng2000 has also updated his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl
Re: Report: Grand Theft Auto DS to Have Drug Dealing Mini-game
Well, this is the man that sent porn to a judge, so, it wouldn't be to surprising honestly.