Outrage at paedo GTA site

The Sun newsaper has reported that a parody of a padeophile website appears in Rockstar’s GTA IV.

Under the headline ‘Video game has spoof perv site’, the newspaper reports that the ‘cheat’ allows the main character to ‘achieve’ a five-star wanted rating.

It quotes an outraged fan of the series who says he will never play the title again.

However, nine paragrpahs in – and in italics – the newspaper admits: ‘There is no suggestion that any missions in the game allow players to act out the role of a paedophile.’

According to The Sun:

‘The fake site – little lacysurprisepageant.com – displays a message from virtual authorities saying it has been closed down. It warns that anyone caught looking at it will be investigated and features the warning: We see it all, we know it all.”

Using the cheat makes the game harder and leads to thrilling car chases and shootouts. But it has outraged fans.

Jason Deschoolmeester, 23, of South Wales, said: I was looking on the internet for cheats and the name of this caught my eye as my daughter is called Lacey. This crosses the line. The makers have obviously sat around and discussed putting this in, and it’s not on. What will they do next?

It’s disgusting. It could lead people to indulge in things like that. It is totally sick. I won’t play it again.”

‘The domain name address is just one of dozens of fake sites in GTA IV that result in cheats to the storyline. Typing it into a real internet browser take users to the official website for the game.

‘There is no suggestion that any missions in the game allow players to act out the role of a paedophile.

‘The 18-rated title, which has sold more than a million copies in Britain, has caused controversy by including themes of gangland killing, drug dealing, stealing cars and prostitution.

‘A spokesman for makers Rockstar Games declined to comment.’