Simpsons game angers Rockstar

360 News | ...with parody?

According to an interview with designer Greg Rizzer at CVG, the upcoming The Simpsons Game from EA is already causing offense.

As with the television series, the game is built on parody - but some in the industry don't see the funny side. At the recent Games Convention in Leipzig, an unnamed employee of Rockstar Games requested that a poster for 'Grand Theft Scratchy', a level in the game, be taken down. An amused Rizzer commented, "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... But yeah, we've definitely had some reactions - we've had to pull stuff from the game."

The reaction has not been all negative, however. Rizzer revealed that Harmonix, the developer behind Guitar Hero, were so amused by The Simpsons Game's 'Sitar Hero' (featuring Apu, of course) that they took 20 copies of the promotional poster.

Check out our Media Panel for more parodies of popular video game franchises.

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15 Comments

DancesInUnderwear

5 years ago

I find it hard to believe Rockstar, of all developers, were angered by a parody. But if they were, poor form.

Gutsman Heavy

5 years ago

oh come on, harden the f*** up rockstar.

Puddingfork

5 years ago

Yeah I don't believe it, or atleast don't take one persons opinion as the opinion of the whole company if it is true
I mean they have parodied every game out there in their games

Karai Pantsu

5 years ago

I imagine that it was just one staff member with a bug up his arse, hardly representative of the whole company - who, as has been said, parody all kinds of other games/media in the GTA titles.

Poor form none-the-less though, very poor form.

Jim Dash

5 years ago

Let other developers say what they want, but to the point where they've had to pull stuff from the game?

If the game actually turns out good, how disappointing that will be.

admeister

5 years ago

Jim Dash wrote

If the game actually turns out good, how disappointing that will be.

Well, I just played the demo off the U.S PSN store, and I think it's pretty darn good!

I really dig the look that they've gone for, and the gameplay is quite entertaining. My main complaint would be the camera.

Pretty pathetic to hear about this though, I wonder what sorts of things they've had to pull from the game? But as has been said, I don't think this is representative of Rockstar, it's just an individual making a big deal out of it.

el_rezzo

5 years ago

That is really funny since GTA contains so many pop culture parodies throughout the entire series. Really stupid for them to want them to change something so similar.

Jin66

5 years ago

Wait...did they say they had to pull stuff from the game??? I think rockstar just did it for the hell of it since they are always on the receiving end, but if they actually took offence thats just sad.

Tom101007

5 years ago

they didnt say they had to pull stuff because of rockstar though, he never said which company wanted stuff pulled

Infested Jibbs

5 years ago

Yeah, man up rockstar, gta has been full of parodies and tongue in cheek jokes from day 1, like the porno director in vice city who bears an uncanny resemblance to Steven Spielberg.

I guess they need to 'protect' their investment in the gta series, as without it, they(rockstar) aren't worth shit.

Capoeira

5 years ago

Hmm, could this be a ploy by Rockstar to hype their own game by causing a stir within another? It seems highly unlikely that the guys over their have a genuine concern.

They did set up that whole Manhunt 2 thing... Compared to that, this is child's play. Those limey devils...

DancesInUnderwear

5 years ago

Capoeira wrote

Actually if there was any conspiracy going on wouldn't it be on EA's behalf? Since its drawing attention to the Simpsons game in this time of all the big games.

Capoeira

5 years ago

^ But it's Rockstar that kicked up the dust. Unless... they're in it together! Oh the intrigue! It is delicious...

Btw, my original post wasn't entirely serious.

Maybe the guys Rockstar really are just a bunch of hypocritical asshats. No way, I can't believe that. The GTA games a rife with parody! They can't get uptight about their influence showing up in a Simpsons game which, I might add, happens to be another IP that is well known for it's use of satire.

Their reaction to this is utterly bizarre.

ps3_gamer

5 years ago

probaly some rockstar employee who did something wrong or something like that.

Fetidchimp

5 years ago

I don't recall anything in the GTA series being directly named in a parody, as this does. Seems some game company has grown very large boots however.

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The Simpsons Game

Pre-order or buy:
PALGN recommends: www.Play-Asia.com

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

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