Tabloid Fined for Lying About Grand Theft Auto

While we may be used to the general media patently misrepresenting video games, the Daily Star is finally reaping the whirlwind. The tabloid published a story in its July issue claiming that Rockstar was developing Grand Theft Auto Rothbury, based on real-life shootings committed by Raoul Moat.

As it turns out, patently lying with no regard for veracity or human decency still has consequences. The Daily Star was forced to pay an undisclosed amount in libel damages to Take Two Interactive.

“The defendant now accepts that Rockstar Games never had any intention to create such a video game at any time. The story was entirely false,” a Take Two statement said.

The Daily Star also posted an apology for the story online, admitting that they didn’t check the facts behind the story.

“We made no attempt to check the accuracy of the story before publication and did not contact Rockstar Games prior to publishing the story,” the apology read. “We also did not question why a best selling and critically acclaimed fictional games series would choose to base one of their most popular games on this horrifying real crime event”

Hopefully other news outlets will take note – lying about games, like anything else, is not becoming of a respectable news source.

[via Edge Online]