Kotaku
Interesting story out of New Zealand. Modder Stacy O'Callaghan, "sick of all this American rubbish" in the GTA franchise, set about modding his PC version (doesn't say which) to include official New Zealand police insignia on the cops and the cop cars.
Now here's a familiar story, modder cooks up something and gets in legal trouble, although it's usually from the software publisher. In this case, "unauthorised use of a police uniform" is an offense under New Zealand's Police Act. And even though it's unclear whether this really fits the definition of that offense, the cops are looking at their options. A cop spokesman said the police are looking into the matter.
Honestly, what the fuck is it with Australasia and Grand Theft Auto? I'll just leave it at that. I've never been to either Australia or New Zealand, but crikey, their collective pants-wetting over American video games, this series in particular, makes them look like the schoolmarms of western democracy.
Gamer's Real Brush with the Law [stuff.co.nz.] [pic by Robert Kitchin, The Dominion Post]
Comments
Being a whiny bitch is conduct unbecoming of an officer, in my opinion.
@Moonshadow101: agreed
Nice first step cops, but maybe you should be arresting the entire internet. You know, where he probably got the digital copy of the logo.
Fuck cops. Yea, I said it. Fuck em. This is ridiculous.
Eh, worst that could happen is that he gets arrested, loses his guns and some cash, and respawns in a different section of New Zealand.
If they don't want to become a joke they should just send out a cease and desist. It could have been quick easy, and not on the internet.
That's a real shame... The modding community of GTA:SA is what keeps me playing again and again. There's some real quality stuff out there because of people like this.
But this is ridiculous... From the article:
"I am not doing this in any way to make money or sell this modification; it was originally for me because I got sick of all this American rubbish and wanted it to be more realistic."
They're getting bent out of shape toward this?
Considering the amount of work he's done, I think I'm going to check it out. Sounds pretty detailed.
Hooray for him.
"sick of all this American rubbish"
Now thats Irony right there.
so that how you spell crikey
Thanks
So,
Let me get this right.
We have murderers, rapists and lawyers out there. All needing to be dealt with urgently.
Yet, they are wasting their time on this?
People wonder why things are going downhill in the world?
What an epic waste of police time this is. I am lost for words. Even catching speeders is more important than this...
Hey Owen, Way to make friends.
Who's to argue with decendants from a long line of British criminals lol!
They know crime best! :P
"sick of all this American rubbish" in the GTA franchise
Isn't Rockstar North (developers of GTA) in Scotland? Anyhow, Grand Theft Auto New Zealand doesn't sound so exciting. Do we want to jacking humvee's then run over dingo's and kangaroo's? Then collect the pelts to sell to a poacher?
hey, those new zealand police officers work hard.
it's not like the kittens get themselves out of the trees.
@Edmon: /agree
i guess they just have nothing better to do!
@Brianemone: It's the internets. I'm sure he doesn't need anymore than he already has. :)
@Edmon: Totally agreed.
@ShaggE: Hey if he's got enough cash left he can buy all his guns back anyway then maybe, borrow, a cop car to get some vigilante justice of his own that even everything out
Coloring pixels = 25 to Life
This Owen guy is starting to grow on me.
hmmm, instead of hot coffee, I wonder if there'll be "hot sheepy"
Bah, i'm going to work
Seems to me there aer better uses of police resources than this.
That's silly, Austrailians don't hate video games, they hate everything!
I'll be the first to criticize Alabama. Our liquor laws are terribly outdated, our governors (both former and current) are inept, and the weather sucks.
But making asinine comparisons like the one in this article is nothing short of being a prick. Because clearly, everyone from Alabama is a gun toting, Bible thumping hick. Just like everyone from California is a pot smoking, PETA supporting hippie; or everyone from New England is an impatient jerk with a yacht. Oh wait, those are stereotypes.
But that's just American journalism, right?
@DigitalHero: Yeah, I'm pretty certain Rockstar North is a Scottish company...
I do kind of agree with the modder though, another 'GTA: London' would be pretty awesome.
@Parrothead617: Russellville has nice weather but I don't get American spelling. Look how many double letters are in the city's name? FOUR L's and TWO S's. WTF Why so many?
I think it would sound the same if you just spell out like this Ruselvil.
Misuse of a police uniform is a civie putting on a police uniform and passing themselves off as a cop.
Bugger off.
I don't know if you're being particually fair to fair to either Austrailia/New Zealand or Alabama in that comment...
"American video games, this series in particular" was made in that quaint little American town of Scotland!
Come on now.
@Parrothead617:
Next, Owen will be telling us that the people in Alabama are bitter so they cling to their guns and their religion.
Not like their betters in Seattle who work in the press.
I hope everyone here is smart enough to know that the actual cops aren't the ones who are doing anything. It's the city lawyers who are investigating this. So the people who are saying the cops are wasting their time need to think more clearly, and understand the legal system better.
@Schoolimangooli: Both "Russell" and "ville" are French.
Hopefully they'll drop this as soon as they realize that it's fairly ridiculous. The saddest thing is when they don't, and some random person gets in way more trouble than they deserve.
@Parrothead617: "Because clearly, everyone from Alabama is a gun toting, Bible thumping hick. "
As an ex-Alabamian, this is an accurate statement.
@ShaggE: Oh, Well you learn something new everyday I guess.:P
Thanks for the insight.
@Schoolimangooli: Heh, to be honest, I had to google that. I was thinking "There's no way in hell "-ville" OR "Russell" have English etymology."... :P
@baysideSxoc and DigitalHero: I think you are confusing New Zealand with Australia. Australia is the former penal colony with kangaroos and dingos. New Zealand is where they filmed Lord of the Rings, and where Flight of the Conchords is from. So basically the best country ever.
Yeah, that's not going to hold up. As one of the lawyers the police ought be rounding up according toEdmon, I'm pretty confident that you can't squeeze this type of thing under a misuse of uniforms offence. Criminal statutes are interpreted strictly, you can only interpret them to include acts that are clearly and unambiguously intended to be in the scope of the law. And something tells me a kid putting them into GTA wasn't on the mind of the legislature! And the cops know damn well they couldn't make the case.
So all we have is a bunch of cops getting their own back by trying to scare some kid who doesn't know that they can't really do this. He's probably going to wet himself wondering if he'll end up in jail!
@ianovich: Scotland gave the world the Telephone, the Television, Penicilin, antiseptics, fax machines, Dolly the Sheep, fridges, whiskey, the US Navy and the chance to beat up prostitutes to gain your money back.
I think we win somehow :D
hahah!
only in ameri...oh.
@Clamchop:
As an ex-alabamian I would have to disagree.
@Owen Good:
But about the comment in the article itself..what makes Alabama stand out from other states in regards to pants wetting about video games?
Are you referring to the fact that there is one court case involving a cop killing defendent pleading not guilty using a GTA defense?
How about using a state that has actually enacted a law against violent video games.
How about...
I've never been to either Australia or New Zealand, but crikey, their collective pants-wetting over American video games, this series in particular, makes them look like the Jack Thompson of western liberal democracies, and that comes from an American.
I mean I get that analogy...
Stereotyping ftw....and being from Alabama I guess that makes me an expert on stereotyping too...
O yeah, and mentioning liberal and Alabama in the same sentence = epic fail =[ (red state!!)
On the other hand I believe my comment now qualifies as "pants-wetting" over a perhaps innocent statement.
@Captain Nobody: lol comment of the day.
@DigitalHero: This is New Zealand we're talking about, not Australia. The animals targeted for hit-and-run will be sheep.
As a New Zealander, what can I say? We're a country of stupid people. Seriously, dont visit here. We kill babies on a weekly basis, and the cops cant do anything about that. But, white collar crimes, if you could call this that, are easy to deal with, and easy to make money off of.
Also, yes, our government doesnt allow us much freedom, and therefor, we (the govt) always seems to crap itself over any violent american game, because its not their way of thinking.
Why do you think we import so many games? Its illegal to play Postal2 here, even to possess a copy.....but I wasn't going to let someone else decide on my freedom.
NZ police have decided to take away this guys 'freedom' - the freedom to use a logo and uniform in a GAME.
Seriously, avoid New Zealand folks.
@Crab_Botherer: Hey, at least you're not in (dun dun dun duuuuun...) ALABAMA!
I think Cops get so upset when you mention there are serious crimes they could be investigating because they don't have a choice. It's like the military.
And traffic and parking violations are important because it makes money for the city/county/etc. Which makes the higher ups look better for promotions from the mayor/city council/etc.
It's very sad if you think aboot it.
Comforting to know that the US isn't the only place where cops are little more than juvenile thugs in uniform,
Wow, don't know where the Alabama hate is coming from, Owen. I doubt you've even been here before. Oh well, yay for encouraging stereotypes!
@Moonshadow101: Somehow this comment made my day.
That's two blows to the south this weekend. Isn't it a little irresponsible to stereotype your own readers? Sorry to bitch, but whether it was just a joke or not, I think Kotaku has higher standards than this.
@Kid_Kitten: When was the first one?