Remember when I posted about that Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories ad on Denver's local train months back?

The Parents Television Council and the Campaign for Commercial Free Childhood just announced that they are trying to get the ad pulled from the trains.

Specifically, they're asking the Regional Transportation District to "stop advertising video games rated "Mature" or "Adults Only.""

What bothers me is that this group is so specifically targeting mature and adult games and don't seem to care about the same content being advertised for movies or music or, shudder, books. God forbid they slap an add up for Lolita or Choke.

"Our public transportation network serves more than half the residents of Colorado and is doing them a disservice with its tacit approval for the dangerous content in the Mature-rated video games that are advertised throughout the system. I'm here today to remind Chairman Chris Martinez and the board that they have a responsibility to act in the best interest of those who voted you into these important positions. You can take a step towards being a better steward of the public good today by no longer accepting advertising from violent video games that can have long-term harmful effects on the youth in our community," said PTC Denver Chapter Director George Robison to attendees at the meeting. ... "It is unconscionable that RTD would accept advertisements for a game like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories," said CCFC member Peter Simonson . "In Vice City Stories, players are rewarded for killing innocent bystanders, law enforcement officers and rival gang members, as they attempt to set up illicit businesses, such as drug dealing and prostitution rings, and commit armed robbery. As a father and a Denver-area resident, I want to know that my children can ride public trains and buses without being subjected to ads that promote violence and lawlessness." ... According to PTC President Tim Winter, "Countless research studies demonstrate the unequivocal effect of media violence on a child's brain and cognitive development. It is the height of irresponsibility for the RTD to be accepting money to promote violent video games to the many children who use their services."

"Advocates for children from across the political spectrum are united in their belief that children should not be targets for advertising that glorifies violence," said CCFC co-founder, Dr. Susan Linn. "This letter reflects that diversity. We hope that Denver will join the growing number of communities declaring that public property cannot be used to promote violence to children."

I spoke with a representative of the organization today about the decision to call for the ads removal. Specifically, I wanted to know if they would ask for the removal of an advertisement for an R-rated or MA movie, or if this request was driven more by the medium than the content.

They said they'd get back to me. They still haven't. Brian Crecente

Rockstar today announced what we all knew: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is coming to the Playstation 2.

The title is set to hit North America on March 6 and Europe on March 9. No word on the price. I'm hoping for something between low and cheap. Brian Crecente

New York, NY - February 7, 2007 - Rockstar Games, the world-renowned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTWO), announced today that Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories will be coming to the PlayStation 2 system. The title will be available in North America on March 6, 2007 and will be on European retail shelves on March 9, 2007.

Since its release in October, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system has garnered praise and acclaim worldwide. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories offers PlayStation 2 system owners a big screen experience of the same storyline and missions, featuring the open-world, innovative gameplay, incredible production values and diverse music that are the trademarks of the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

Denver's public transport system, the RTD, isn't exactly up to New York City standards or use, but it's been coming along nicely lately.

And I've still just had the one run-in with a gamer on the Light Rail train in six months or so of use, so I was pretty surprised to see this advertisement for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories on a Denver train.

I think this is the first public ad for a video game I've seen in the state of Colorado. OK, back to your shopping. Brian Crecente

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories streeted today and look what showed up at my front door. The swag pack for the game included a long-sleeve shirt, stickers, a pink lawn chair, the game and a... wait for it... retina burning white Member's Only jacket with a fancy pink Rockstar logo on the sleeve and the game's name on the back. And this wasn't a knock-off, it was actually made by Member's Only, it says so on the tag.

Either this company has been gliding off 80s profits for two decades or someone at Rockstar found that warehouse from Zoolander. Hit the jump for a megasweet picture of the jacket. Yes I'm cheesy, my wife even says so. Brian Crecente

Rockstar shot Maxim Online a list of a half-dozen things to look out for in their upcoming Playstation Portable title: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. The list isn't that exciting, but it does have some interesting details like the fact that a transexual plays a major role in the game. Brian Crecente

1. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is set two years prior to the events in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. That's important, because there is a ferris wheel in the latest version. Wonder what happens to that? Also, several of the landmarks from that game such as the Malibu Club and Tommy Vercetti's hotel are not featured.

2. Progress far enough, and the Hyman Memorial Stadium is open for business. Some of the biggest names in music play this venue when they come through town.

3. If you are killed or captured, your weapons are available at both the hospital or police station you respawn at, for the right price.

4. Vic Vance is the prodigal son. A former soldier, Vic is just trying to carve out a life for himself in Vice City when his brother, Lance, returns. Lance may have his famous "Lance Vance Dance," but Vic has all the right genes.

5. The water doesn't just surround Vice City, but it is an integral part of the game. Expanded water physics, new and varied types of vehicles, and mission structure all combine to add a new dimension to the physical surroundings of Vice City. When does this come into play? Try evading a gunman firing at you from a helicopter as you escape on a jet ski.

6. Not counting any Metroid-style reveal, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories features the first transsexual in videogame history. S/he's a big portion of the game, so be on the lookout.

Do you remember when you first saw Rocky and was moved almost to tears by the triumphant story of an untalented boxer who, by dint of his determination and ability to sustain massive blows to the head, rose above his own fears to prove that he wasn't just a bum? Three movies later, Rocky looked like a supermodel, drove a Porsche, shattered the Iron Curtain after wiping the pinko sweat of Ivan Drago off his brow with the corner of the American flag and — even more unbelievably — lived in a mansion with a talking robot. Philly leg breaker makes good!

I always wanted one of those talking robots, but they stopped selling them at the Sharper Image after around 1984. Luckily, Vice City Stories takes place in 1984, and you can buy one in the Domestobot, who also bares an uncanny resemblance to Nintendo's R.O.B. Now that Silent Hills Origins is sure to suck, this is the only title I'm looking forward to on PSP. Florian Eckhardt

Domestobot In Vice City Stories Is The Nintendo R.O.B. Robot [Gamebrink]

GameVideos.com is hosting the second Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories trailer, featuring a flabby, flirty walrus and a cross-dressing, Bowie-esque bellboy who informs us that everyone was on cocaine in 1984. Hell, still am! Florian Eckhardt

According to CVG, at a recent demo of the PSP titlle, Rockstar said it was "unlikely" that Vice City Stories would be coming to the PS2. No reasons were given, but CVG plausibly speculates that GTA IV has caused a manpower crunch.

A bit of a bummer, considering how well Liberty City Stories sold. Then again, these games do appear to be made for a portable in mind, and the first installment ended up looking a bit subpar when it was ported to the PS2 and compared with the other titles in the series. Florian Eckhardt

No Vice for PS2 Say Rockstar [CVG]

IGN's PSP limb reached out to snag Rockstar Leeds boss Gordon Hall and ask him some questions about Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Hall managed to spill some pretty exciting new details about the game.

For example, jet skis that can go underwater are in. So are helicopters and planes, which we knew, but this necessitated some engine optimization to pull in a far expanded draw distance. Polygon counts are way up, "with new features such as animated textures and neon light effects and an all-new radiosity lighting model." And hey, there's even some grappling moves and throws you can do unarmed.

Plus, the soundtrack has 100 songs, making it the largest soundtrack in any game. Of course, I have no idea if this means licensed songs: has this information been released yet?

Looking very good. I think with this and Silent Hill: Origins I need to cave and get a PSP. Florian Eckhardt

Vice City Stories: The Interview [IGN]

In the 1980's Philip Michael Thomas was hot. The heart throb was costarring on the biggest cop show on TV, recorded an LP and had three names. Philip Michael Thomas was on top of the world.

Then, Miami Vice went off the air. While co-star Don Johnson went on to other things like TV show Nash Bridges and sexual assault, PMT was left holding the bag. With film and TV opportunities few and far between, he signed on to be the spokesperson for Florida-based Psychic Reader's Network. He was eventually canned.

PTM rebounded, lending his voice to PS2 title Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The 57 year-old actor is back and will be playing the lead role of Lance Vance in the PSP title Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. The Rockstar Leeds production is supposedly a more solid outing than the previous GTA PSP game. And hey, it's got that dude that played Tubbs in Miami Vice.

More Here [Kikizo]

PSP Vault snatched some new details about Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories from Australian magazine Gamepro.

According to PSPV, which cites the mag, the game will have you playing as Victor Vance, Lance's brother. You may remember Vic as the guy who gets mowed down by a SWAT unit in the opening scene of GTA: Vice City.

Hit the jump for the rest of the skinny. Brian Crecente

From the site:
The game takes place in 1984 - two years before GTA: Vice City
Victor is a 28 year-old US Marine
Players can now take on the water of Vice City With jet ski's!
The animations are more life-like and is a ''step-up from previous titles in the series''
A multiplayer feature similar to the PSP version of LCS is in the game
VCS is ''much, much bigger than Vice City''
Some landmarks are half-built or yet to be refurbished to their state circa 1986
There's new or altered locations and buildings
All new vehicles and weapons
You can fly helicopters!
Radio stations from Vice City make a return
New weather effects that could include hurricanes
You can swim in the game!
Bikes handle better than before
There's also no more seamless exterior-to-interior gameplay as seen in LCS (There'll be a slight loading time)
A new addition in Vice City is the chunder-wheel, which you can ride in first-person view!
Binoculars is in the game
LCS is ''rookie first-gen PSP title compared to VCS''
Draw distance is great and is said to be better than Vice City on PS2
Trip skips make a return (If you die or get busted a taxi will take you back to the location where you received the mission from)
New animations which give both the lead characters and pedestrians a whole new degree of humanity
Far richer color palette that brings sunsets to all new levels of beauty, and realism
Increased density of pedestrians, cars and objects
Reduction in clumping (where groups of the same model type appear together)
Far more interiors that its predecessors

Vice City Stories Info and Screenshots Revealed! [PSP Vault]

Actually, this has me plenty excited. Although San Andrea is bigger and has more depth, the lay-out of Vice City was probably the most interesting to me. It certainly was a hell of a lot easier to navigate — even though I've beaten San Andreas twice, I always have to keep my eye on the map. In comparison, Vice City's layout is intuitively segmented into two islands with long highway bridges stretching between.

GTA Returns to Vice City [Next Generation]