EA claim that Rockstar 'spazzed out like little babies'

360 News | Not happy about having to change The Simpsons Game...

CVG have reported some interesting comments from EA developers regarding the recent problem with Rockstar, where EA were forced to rename a Grand Theft Auto parody featured in the upcoming Simpons Game to something completely different. Originally titled 'Grand Theft Scratchy', the level has since been renamed to 'Mob Rules'.

Simpsons executive producer Matt Selman explained how it all started: "The game begins with Bart wanting to play a game called Grand Theft Scratchy. Of course this is a parody of Grand Theft Auto. And Marge immediately takes it away from him. She tries to clean up the town and stop the game from being distributed in Springfield because Marge is against video game violence. She uses horrific violence to stop video game violence... in a video game."

He continued; "That's called irony. The people who make Grand Theft Auto - they spazzed out like little babies."

Rockstar are known for doing some tongue-in-cheek parodies of their own, so when they made an issue over The Simpsons Game, it came as a surprise to pretty much everyone. In a recent interview with CVG, lead designer Greg Rizzer said "I was always under the impression that when you do parody, it's a sign of respect... If we make fun of Grand Theft Auto, we're not going to hurt the sales of Grand Theft Auto..."

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21 Comments

rankodour

4 years ago

Hilarious.

Karai Pantsu

4 years ago

Rockstar just got told, so I believe an 'oh snap!' is in order.

Heh, never would have thought I'd be taking sides with EA in an issue against Rockstar...

Cerebral

4 years ago

Surely there has to be two sides to the coin here. It's almost inconcievable that a company like Rockstar can't take what they so freely dish out.

Karai Pantsu

4 years ago

I still think that it was just a case of one person over-stepping their bounds at the show and having a whinge, rather than an actual complaint filed by Rockstar, that led to this. Still, it happened and the content has been changed, so I think a little retaliatory fire is justified.

A13x

4 years ago

But will any of this effect sales in the slightest?

I don't think that any of this is too great a deal, a bit of a dispute over things coming a bit too close in terms of intellectual property, a company stepping up and resulting in its removal from rival company's game despite the parodic nature of their own titles, and company B's childish reaction.

That said, I anticipate Rockstar's counter-reaction.

Infested Jibbs

4 years ago

Heh, rockstar by name rockstar by nature.

Spanca

4 years ago

Quote

EA claim that Rockstar 'spazzed out

DrTim

4 years ago

Even if this word was from official RS people that truly represented the companies feelings (which I personally doubt), it didn't really change all that much. Only the name of the section. The part itself is still the same. So who really cares either way, this game will still be awesome.

Gamesta

4 years ago

Karai Pantsu wrote

I hope so, otherwise I have lost some respect for R*.

Dracusis

4 years ago

Rockstar going all mum on EA playing hookie?

I can't deal with this.

I'm going back to sleep in the hope that when I wake, I'll be back in my own reality. Some evil temporal ninja warlocks have obviously altered this reality in cruel and twisted ways.

RhysDeschain

4 years ago

From the looks of GTAIV, in which R* is abandoning all the cartoonish, tongue-in-cheek, over the top action in favour of a more realistic gaming experience, I'd say this is R* trying to distance themselves from anything of that nature.
Even tho I think its a little stupid for R* to have done this, there's no way I would ever side with EA over anything, let alone against one of my favourite developers.

coco_bagel

4 years ago

R* have coped a of of flack over GTA and having a household name like the Simpson's making out that GTA is "Evil" it's understandable R* got angry over it.

"spazzed out like babies" yeah very professional EA i see you tools have truck loads of respect for your peers

Karai Pantsu

4 years ago

coco_bagel wrote

R* have coped a of of flack over GTA and having a household name like the Simpson's making out that GTA is "Evil" it's understandable R* got angry over it.

Missed the point, much? EA are (were?) parodying GTA and the way that certain parties speak out against it for violent and 'anti-social' gameplay/themes - what they are not doing is saying that GTA is in the wrong (they're actually poking fun at those who are doing that).

Giggs

4 years ago

Im sure neither R* or EA are upset by this free media coverage of their up and coming game titles...

Lord Haart

4 years ago

Quote

He continued; "That's called irony. The people who make Grand Theft Auto - they spazzed out like little babies."

Bravo!

Yep, funny that EA are actually in the right for a change... But better not get my hopes up.

El Taco

4 years ago

EA Respect 1+

The fact that it's so unprofessinal makes it better.

admeister

4 years ago

Regardless of babies and their supposed spazzing, this game is still going to be awesome. If you've played the demo or watched some footage, I'm sure you know what I mean.

Jaws

4 years ago

I would love to hear Rockstar's reaction to this. All we've heard thus far, is EA and their take on the story. Without a counterbalance towards this incident, it's all hearsay as far as im concerned.

Im keen to hear the other half of this story..

Windburn

4 years ago

There is no other half to the story. None of it surprises me really, it's typical of any company looking after its own interests. Regardless of the fact they reaped the affection of many for their 'down-to-earth' attitude, when the shoe's on the other foot, they end up eating it. I guess none of these guys have heard of the age-old expression, do unto others...

Anyway, it's great marketing for EA and The Simpsons- the game that raises Rockstar's hackles!

Jaws

4 years ago

All I am merely stating is that it isnt a good idea to be quick to believe a story when only half has been revealed (unless I am missing something and Rockstar have responded to EA's statement).

It's like myself accusing you of something and then everyone jumping to that same conclusion without you even having a chance of defending yourself?

Even so, at this stage I think ragging out the competition really reduces your level or respectability. Not that I had any for EA to begin with, but having a whinge about someone having a whinge is an irony unto itself. Why not just professionally state that there was a disagreement and move on?

I know the answer is getting the title out there by cutting through mediocrity with the use of extreme statements, but do EA really need to stoop to those tactics to sell more product?

Ah crap.. another rhetorical question.

brad_sickness

4 years ago

Ever since the debacle that Manhunt 2 has become, they've taken the ball tearing out of the game and put it into the heart of their company.

They're just drunk on attention... and beer.

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The Simpsons Game

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Australian Release Date:
  1/11/2007 (Confirmed)
Standard Retail Price:
  $99.95 AU
Publisher:
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Genre:
  Action
Year Made:
  2007

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