[From CNET]

Less than a week before its release, the wildly anticipated crime game has itself been stolen and republished on the Internet.
Less than a week after a pirated version of Halo 2 began appearing on the Web, another of the year's most sought after games has been stolen. Ironically, it also happens to be a game titled after a larcenous act itself. That's right. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has become the latest victim of piracy, with illegal copies of the game, its manual, and its cover appearing on various Web sites.

Late today, Rockstar issued a statement on this latest in a series of unfortunate events. "The proper authorities are investigating the theft and are continuing to investigate all possible leads to ensure there is no further dissemination of our creative content," read the statement. "Downloading, possession and distribution of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, including making the game available on the internet, is theft." Then came this warning from the company: "We take the theft of our intellectual property very seriously and we are and will continue to diligently and aggressively pursue this matter."

For those wishing to help track down the San Andreas thieves, Rockstar also offered the following advice: "If anyone finds information on websites with links to unauthorized downloads, information, scans or videos, please contact us at piracy@rockstargames.com."


What the hell is going on with these idiots?? Just buy the damned game so that Rockstar and others will keep making them. If you rob these companies of their profits, they'll just keep churning out the same mindless crap over and over and won't spend the time and energy to innovate like we all want them to do. So if you see websites offering the bootleg copy, scorn them.

Yes
Piracy is bad! Music I dont mind, but people should stick to buying at least with games and movies. Halo 2 and GTA San Andreas are 2 of the games I'm most looking forward to. And hearing these things bring sadness to my soul.

Wow game theft is becoming quite the trend!

[Another perspective from my friend Vaughn Smith at Cheat Code Central Platinum]

The headlines trumpet "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Leaked On Internet!"

Not two weeks has past since Microsoft and Bungie went through the same ordeal when the French version of Halo 2 was leaked. In case you are unsure of the way things work - this kind of thing happens ALL the time. These are just two very high profile games and the noise these companies can make will be heard around the world.

What do you say to a company that makes billions of dollars creating and selling games involving theft, extortion and murder, and then complains when someone steals their subject matter and puts it out on the Internet for downloading purposes? Does the person who smuggled it out of the manufacturing plant then say "Hey, I thought you'd be proud of me Rockstar? I was just doing what any of the guys in your games would do!"

How can you argue with that logic? Isn't it kind of true? Isn't the whole thing slightly ironic?

Somehow I think the irony is lost on Rockstar at this time.

Say whatever you want about the shnook who managed to yank a copy of the finished game - box, manual and all - but at least he wasn't a selfish thief who just wanted to play it before anyone else. He - and the person who software jacked Halo 2 - just wanted to share the wealth so to speak. He stole from the rich to give to the poor. Kind of like a couple of modern day Robin Hood's wouldn't you say? And we all grew up respecting Robin and his Merry Men, didn't we? What a great story to tell young impressionable children. Steal from those who have more than you. As long as you share it, you'll be considered a hero. There are a lot of Mr. Hoods sitting in prison cells right now who did just that. In fact wouldn't you say that Carl Johnson, San Andreas' anti-hero is doing just that....you know? Robbin' the hood?

The guys who yanked Halo 2 and San Andreas were just trying to be folk heroes too. Same methods, different scenario.

Now before you think I condone piracy and am in support of internet theft, let me say that I don't. I buy my games just like you guys. Some games are sent to us, because of our jobs, but for the most part, I'm just like you. I look for deals on games at my local video store when they blow out used copies and I always take advantage of price rollbacks when I see a game that I wanted to play but wasn't prepared to shell out full price for.

I'm one of those particular gamers who likes the whole experience. Y'know, the box, manual, disc. I'm always disappointed when I buy a used game and there isn't a manual with it, even if I never intend to read it. You don't get those benefits when you're downloading software. Besides I believe if it's worth playing, it's worth paying. A lot of blood, sweat and tears goes into the making of your favorite games and these people deserve compensation whether that numbers into the millions or billions. If they're smart enough to create a worldwide videogame phenomena, then they deserve the spoils. It's like the whole Bill Gates hatred thing. Many people hate him because he's a billionaire. I say, let him be a billionaire. He brought something to the table that we all use and benefit from so why shouldn't he have a ton of cash? At the very least, he should have more money than I do and the last time I checked, he was winning.

The latest GTA game allows carjackings, vehicular homicide, driveby shootings, home invasions, robbery and murder to name a few. The only thing missing from that list just happens to be software piracy! I guess that's because the game is set in the 90's when Internet piracy wasn't a big issue. Will Rockstar include this activity in their next incarnation of the GTA series if it's set in the 00's? Wouldn't that be something? How could they possibly ignore it?

There have been a few real world incidents modelled after the Grand Theft Auto videogames which involved carjacking, sniper shootings, vehicular homicide and the murder of innocent random people - most carried out by bored teens and in one particular case a group of young adults who were looking to emulate the games. If all Rockstar endured was software jacking, I guess they could consider themselves fortunate

A recent poll suggested that the favorite game played by 8-11 year olds just happened to be the GTA series. Either there are a lot of parents not fulfilling their parental duties or there are a lot of young kids who want to appear "more mature" than they are and site the GTA series when asked what their favorite game to play is, even if that game actually happens to be closer to the Mario variety. Personally I think it's a bit of both, but it's the former that scares me. Parents need to get their heads out of their newspapers or their asses and pay attention to what their kids are doing.

In any event these latest piracy incidents are not going to have any major repercussions on the sales of the games because those who are downloading them to play today, would have been downloading them for free when the game came out anyway. No loss of cash there.

The real reason there is an outcry from the public and the companies involved is because San Andreas and Halo 2 just happen to be the most anticipated games of the year. In the case of Halo 2, make that the most anticipated game of all time. Yeah, it's that popular.

So what will the law do when they track down these Robin Hoods of the internet? Throw the book at them? Make examples of them? I think you can bet on that. However if others accused of violent acts can invoke the excuse that they were just doing what the videogame taught them, the dude who stole Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas should not only be let off without punishment but should be made President of Rockstar. Hey, this Robin Hood can walk the walk.

I don't really agree with Smith. What Rockstar produces is a product regardless of what is on the product, they should get compensation. You can't just say,"Since the game is violent and somewhat similar to stealing it is ironic." These are no Robin Hoods they are thiefs. Although me and about everybody else in America have burned cd's it is not the same as stealing a video game. I know this sounds like a double-standard but it has to be like that. A cd cost 10 bucks and only about ten cents of that actually goes to the musician, games cost 50 bucks big difference.

me neitherr

Mike is wrong. If someone pirates a music CD or movie, it's exactly the same thing as pirating a video game. The video game just costs more. Still the same principle. I download pirated movies and music that I don't pay for and if I could, I'd download pirated games too. Although, I am getting the GTA IV special edition for $89.99 so take my money Rockstar.
Just being honest. :]

I also enjoyed Vaughn Smith's article. Smith makes some very good points. Even though Smith may not agree with some of the things he's putting forth, it's interesting to take a step back and see the irony.

"Yes
Piracy is bad! Music I dont mind, but people should stick to buying at least with games and movies. Halo 2 and GTA San Andreas are 2 of the games I'm most looking forward to. And hearing these things bring sadness to my soul."

What soul? Why is it okay to pirate music but not video games and movies? Thats messed up.

They put their lives into movies and music but not video games. Thats a job to them. They get payed to make video games. They don't invest their lives into it. I pretty sure video games are just paperwork and coding. Not to much soul there.

I enjoy playing video games but they are a far cry from art. Its so contrived. Now I know there are some musicians that are just as terrible but I think they should be ignored instead of pirated.

yer your very right musics ok but not games

It depends on it.

It's wrong I have to agree, but now it's in an economic downfall, so...