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DATABASE: News and notes July 12, 2005
Surprise in game probed
Who's behind the graphic sexual content that reportedly has been found
in the popular video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas"?
The sexual content, which fills in what publisher Rockstar Games left
to the imagination in the versions sold in stores, was either unlocked
by game enthusiasts who discovered it in Rockstar's code or introduced
by inventive third-party hackers.
The scene in "GTA 3" allegedly was unleashed by a game enthusiast from the Netherlands.
After downloading and installing a software patch, a new world opens up
in which "the girlfriends will now be completely nude," according to a
short text document included with the patch.
Screen shots of the new content show a male character and a female
character engaged in various graphic sexual positions in a nondescript
room.
Rockstar Games issued a statement Friday confirming the regulatory
Entertainment Software Ratings Board was investigating the alleged sex
hack.
When asked directly whether Rockstar was responsible for the illicit content, company spokesman Rodney Walker refused to answer.
Game designers have long tucked away hidden elements in their works,
some meant to be found and others not. Several magazines routinely post
codes that can be entered during play that allow the player to jump to
various levels, maintain endless amounts of ammo in
first-person-shooter games or go into "God mode," in which the main
character becomes invincible.
One of the more curious hidden gems came in a game called "SimCopter."
A nefarious programmer designed some extra code in the game that
allowed a player to tap a sequence of buttons to reveal scantily clad
men kissing each other.
Associated Press
GOODS & GEAR
Camera has tiny problem
Gadgets have been getting smaller as they get better, and such is
certainly the case with video cameras, whose heft has dropped
dramatically over the years. But there's such a thing as too small.
Consider the powerful but pint-sized Everio GZ-MC500 from JVC. This
palm-snuggling unit, retailing for $1,799, performed admirably as a
video camera but a little less so as a digital still camera.
The most convenient resting place for a user's thumb turned out to be
the LCD screen, located smack in the rear of the camera. The unit is so
small that there's nowhere else to put the LCD, yet all that pressure
and skin oil can't be good for the precious screen in the long run.
The video was amazingly sharp. The unit also boasts a respectable and
buttery-smooth 10x optical zoom. Handheld operation can get shaky, but
JVC's onboard digital image stabilization worked well to steady the
footage.
However, photos taken in automatic and manual modes weren't as good as
hundreds of photos taken with a trusty Canon S400 4-megapixel camera.
That said, the top-notch video technology combined with flash memory
storage in this small form should not be overlooked if you're in the
market for something that captures brilliant, vivid video footage.
Associated Press
PICKS & CLICKS
THE DEEP THROAT STORY: Bob Woodward will discuss
"The Secret Man," his new book about his relationship with Deep Throat
-- Mark Felt, who was recently revealed as the Watergate
whistle-blower. 3 p.m., www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/07/08/DI2005070801357.html
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