ESRB Demands U.S. Game Publisher Audits For Hidden Game Content

In the wake of the hot-coffee controversy, the Entertainment Software Rating Board is demanding that US publishers complete a comprehensive audit of all titles released over the past year in a bid to crack down on hidden in-game content.

Sources: Gamasutra | GameIndustry.biz | The Register | Ferrago

New York Investigation:

• Take-Two Receives Subpoenas Over Hot Coffee (June 26, 2006)

LA Civil Suit:

• Yet Another Take-Two/GTA Lawsuit (January 26, 2006)

FTC Investigation Related Posts:

• Take-Two/Rockstar Settle with FTC over Hot Coffee Mod (June 8, 2006)
• Hot Coffee FTC Inquiry Given Go Ahead (July 26, 2005)

Stanhouse Class Action Suit:

• Stanhouse GTA San Andreas Class-Action Suit Moved to Federal Court (October 7, 2005)
• Another GTA San Andreas Class-Action Suit Filed (Stanhouse) (September 21, 2005)

Cohen Class Action Suit:

• Grandma Cohen’s GTA Class Action Suit Against Take-Two to Proceed (October 27, 2006)
• Outraged Granny Sues Over grand Theft Auto (Cohen) (July 27, 2005)

Other Hot Coffee Related Posts:

• Hot Coffee’s Effects on the Mod Scene (October 27, 2006)
• ESRB Demands U.S. Game Publisher Audits for Hidden Game Content (September 12, 2005)
• ESRB Re-Rates Oblivion to Mature Following 3rd Party Mods (May 3, 2006)
• Take-Two Filing Reveals Multiple Lawsuits (February 1, 2006)
• Hot Coffee Spills into Australia as GTA:San Andreas is Banned (August 1, 2005)
• GTA San Andreas Rerated AO, Take-Two Suspends Production (July 20, 2005)
• Confirmed: ‘Hot Coffee’ Sex Minigame in PS2 GTA: San Andreas (July 15, 2005)

• French Mod-chip Maker Divineo Ordered to Pay $9 Million in Fines for Violating DMCA
• Mid-Way Sued over Psi-Ops
• PS3 vs. Xbox 360 Head to Head, PS3 Reviews and other Miscellanea
• Game Development Outsourcing Firm Babel Media Doubles Montreal Facility
• Mark Bragg File’s Virtual Property Complaint Against Linden Labs

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