That is a good move by Rockstar.

I live in Chicago, and I've read the stories about the CTA pulling the ads, but there are at least two bus shelters near my building that still have them up. I don't know if they were just too lazy to take them down, or it's the area in question (non-residential, no schools, college kids mostly).

Solid. Hope they get a hefty sum from the CTA. Best of luck, Rockstar.

OH YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH.

Screw Fox news! They dont even report news, its just mindless babel!

It breaks the theory some posters had of "Rockstar having the ads moved for publicity". They should sue them. I don't see a weapon in that picture.

Hmm... let's hope that Rockstar will prove a point that those who wish to remove them pesky "vio-lant" games are doing much worse to do so (In this case, disregarding the first amendment)

good for them, hope this can teach someone a lesson in hypocrisy. The Ads themselves were not violent in any way.

I would like all ads for McDonalds pulled. They cause more physical damage to our youth than this game ever will.

I hope someone can see how completely absurd the "controversy" is surrounding GTA4.

im from chicago and i still see the ads all over bus stops.dont see them on actual busses anymore though.the cta chief is a coward too btw for pulling the ads, and blagojevich is corrupt =(

Poor CTA, they're just a helpless bystander caught in between the cross-fire of the media and video game war.

@HomerSapien: When theres business and $$$ involved there are no helpless bystanders.

[joffrey.com]
I did a random google search for CTA ads and found this. Tell me how the ad to the left with a blood stain and the word "MURDER" on it is less violent than the GTA ads.

[joffrey.com]

I tried the link to the video, but it didn't work. I wonder if fox news took it down.

I'd rather that this didn't happen in the first place. If Rockstar wins this then at the end of the trial after all the lawyers and settlements have been paid, this could cost the tax payer a collective $1+ million. Someone should be fired.

@HomerSapien:
No they aren't. They're cowards towards free speech.

These ads were rightfully paid for, and they do not in any way, shape or form, negatively affect the public. If the public is going to b*tch about ads, let's get b*tching on all the other ads there are out there. Sex being promoted everywhere I go, whether its a new stupid shaving cream, or some deodorant, it just can't be advertised in my face without having some nearly naked woman plastered along the side of a bus.

Thanks Weazel News for standing up for our rights.

What a bunch of Goddamn hypocrites. I remember seeing ads for San Andreas and Vice City on CTA buses, but apparently now they think it's offensive? Popycock, I say.

@silkylove: I am sorry you can't see the video but then again any time fox news can't spread it infectious stupidity is a good time

GO GET EM BELLOWS!

What a shame. The CTA was already having a major budget crisis and now this happens.

Makes you think since Chicago is a very liberal city...

Don't vote 4 B. Hussein Obama... or the chick either.

@silkylove:

its possible you cant find the video because fox news did not air it.

Fox News and their damn agenda makes me sick! Its not damn news to report who is getting paid for advertising! Rockstar will win this case hands down!!!

@BlackDove: i second that

@TxKARATEDUDE:

I'm going to let someone else point on the faulty logic on this one.

Corporations get lots of rights, but I'm not sure free speech is one of them.

If the CTA did break with its contract with R* to pull the ads, then R* should certainly sue them for that, but the free speech claim is a little bogus.

Titan Outdoor

I'd sue that guy for making me waste my time and wonder why his name is dumb.

[www.reuters.com]

Interesting to find the above article on Reuters, it's from a blog but nevertheless has a clear stance on the side of GTA.

The writer of the aforementioned article has a good point: gamers have matured, we're grown up, we want mature titles. Grand Theft Auto has been, by all means, "over the top" in the past, residing snugly in a gratuitous niche of violence and action. The most recent effort however seems to have taken notice of exactly the influence it has in media, and I don't mean as a "killing simulator" as some crack-pot Floridian litigators may pin it as.

Rockstar realizes they represent a large part of the gaming majority, including the hardcore audience we see on this site. As such I think they've done a good job making GTA4 a grand effort in maturing the series as a whole and it deserves to be held in the same regard we're holding other violent media but it's not. There's a confusion between those that are in the firm belief it's a piece of well made entertainment and those that cannot be swayed from thinking it's the sole factor corrupting America today. Things are coming to a head and a decision needs to be made sometime soon as to where these sorts of games ultimately stand.

I hope the CTA gets what's coming to them.

Take 'em to the cleaners Rockstar!

Damn our Faux news station. They make me ashamed to be a Chicagoan.

Well, Rockstar has an obvious case. They paid for a service, their service was not delivered. They sue. That simple.
@ocalot: Stupidity isn't infectious. It's a genetic defect.

@The Crimson Phantom: OOH! OOH! Allow me!

@TxKARATEDUDE: FOX NEWS IS A CONSERVATIVE NETWORK, DUMBASS!
You just insulted liberals for an action taken by conservatives.
I'm sorry, but that needed to be said.
Whether or not Liberals or Conservatives reign supreme is not the issue. The point is you just became a blatant hypocrite.

PS: On a personal note, the ACLU is run by liberals, not conservatives. The book-burning mobile is run by conservatives.

Fox News loses again. Of course, have they ever won? That answer is no.

Sue them for what? Like the CTA has any money. R* should actually try riding the CTA around the loop then re-evaluate their position.

I seriously doubt the contact had a term past that exceeded 2 months anyhow.

Why did I watch that video? They thought were so rightous it made me sick.

these guys are jokes. at least they gave a sensible person a spot though (that woman saying that its the parents job to keep their kids away from this stuff). honestly, i hope take two makes plenty of money. local news is a joke.

@Covert_Knight: @Witzbold: I meant it to be 'light sarcasm'. Of course they are cowards for pulling the ads in the first place, but I meant for it to be overly-simplistic.

Imagine this from their perspective: "Hey, this game company's giving us a bunch of money to put ads on our buses!" Then FOX News comes out with a overly-negative story upon these ads, which just happen to be on their buses. They get scared, because they didn't realize that they were promoting an 'ultra-violent murder simulator'. So, they pull it. Now Take-Two's suing them.

Anyways, yeah, they're idiots for pulling the ads, but I thought it was pretty humorous to overly-simplify things.

@Truepatriot: I just came on here to say that...as a Chicagoan I haven't really felt deprived of GTA IV ads. What I am pissed about is that every bus that used to have a GTA IV ad now has a terrifying ad for the Hair Cuttery...look for them, they're all over now.

@okenny :): I see your point but I am confident the CTA has insurance for this kind of litigation. It may even be mandatory under Illinois.

And at the same time, not accusing you of this, but that reasoning would hold that because taxpayers must foot the bill for a tort, then a public entity cannot be found responsible for anything. And that is worse.

CTA deserves this but unfortunately it can't afford to pay out, shitty Illinois budgeting. @marissa_melee, please help me rid illinois of r-tarded politicians.

I have been watching out all over the city ever since I heard of this situation. I havent noticed any changes. The same GTA ads are still where they were on my bus stops( belmont & ashland,) the CTA just removed the ad from the sides of the buses. I guess its okay to have the ads in Lincoln Park, its just politically incorrect to to advertise the game anywhere south of lake street. Way to keep segregating chicago, as if Illinois wasn't already the most segregated state in the USA.

Now people, don't yourselves go being hypocritical. Rockstar has the right to display the ads, and Fox news also has the right to report on it if they want to, it is called free speech. As long as Rockstar has a large enough market to support the development of their "Murder Simulator" whilst making some profit they will, regardless of what Fox News has to say and Fox news will keep saying it as long as they have a large enough market to support them as well.

@HomerSapien:
Aw man now I feel bad that I didn't detect sarcasm. Sorry, but at least we are on the same page =]

@Covert_Knight:
Haha, not a problem. The internet wasn't made for my kind of sarcasm!

@The Crimson Phantom: what logic?

They may have grounds on the contractual part, but the free speech part is not in the least winnable. Paid advertising is not free speech. The company doing the advertising has the right to refuse (assuming they haven't already signed a contract that is)

@Owen Good: You make sense but I really feel that this was a misstep by the CTA president and his response seems reactionary at best. It annoys me that this can go to court as a result of his poor (albeit from my perspective) judgment with out some sort of reprimand.

Great news - game companies need to stand up to bullying.

Also - PROOFREAD PLEASE!

"... why the CTA was displaying paid for advertising for the Rockstar title."

... is a nonsensical statement.

@inn1t: Agreed. I wish them luck.

I don't understand why the ads were pulled to begin with. It seems like people have a problem with the brand altogether, and won't tolerate it being seen or mentioned in public. What a damn shame.