5. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
2004 Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto remains the number one video game series synonymous with controversy. So much so that its almost impossible to pinpoint a single entry. Every game in the series has been subject to media condemnation of some sort - from
Vice Citys depiction of Hispanic gangs to
GTA IVs drink driving mini-game. The series has also been used frequently as either a scapegoat, being blamed for real-life murder and theft - cited in a number or trials and court cases, as well as tabloid headlines. But while every entry of GTA is controversial for its core gameplay,
GTA San Andreas is perhaps the most controversial entry due to the Hot Coffee scandal. Hidden within the games code,
hot coffee had been developed as a sex mini-game, with Rockstar having removed the content through fear of outrage. That turned out to be a very good call, but it wasnt hidden well enough. Tech savvy gamers soon managed to dig out the mini-game and make it playable through the download of a simple mod. Discovery of the mini-game led to outrage, with many declaring Rockstars game as pornographic and even encouraging rape. It was soon pulled from shelves, with the ESRB changing the games rating from Mature (M) to Adults Only (AO) - a rating usually reserved for seedy porno titles like
Lula 3D and
All Nude Nickki. The scandal led to the industry taking particular care with hidden assets in future games. http://youtu.be/cSYWPw1UWRQ