Sometimes you just don’t have the words. Sadly, when you’re writing a story you actually do need to have some, so I’m writing this through the grittiest teeth I can muster: the Daily Star newspaper is claiming that a “Raoul Moat version” of “Grand Theft Auto” is in production over at Rockstar.
The game, which to our knowledge doesn’t actually exist in any official capacity, is causing “fury”, with the newspaper citing “gaming websites” that apparently “showed the cover of Grand Theft Auto Rothbury – a version of the XBox hit Grand Theft Auto”.
We struggled to find any mention of such a game on any official channels, although a few spoofs have been floating around for a while.
The ‘mock-up’ that the Daily Star picked up is below, taken from the newspaper’s site:
The game, again, according to the Daily Star, “is named after the Northumberland town where Moat, 37, hid then shot himself after his gun rampage in which he shot ex-lover Samantha Stobbart, 22, killed her lover Chris Brown, 29, and shot and blinded Pc David Rathband, 42 in both eyes.” Thanks for reminding us.
The Daily Star then has what appear to be quotes from Samantha’s grandmother Ann Hornsby, 69: “I can’t believe someone wants to make money out of people who have been killed. It is sick – it’s blood money. The game is beyond belief.”
“Someone wants to make money out of people who have been killed”? Yes, someone does. By writing fabricated stories based around a commonly demonised entertainment medium to sell newspapers. As dedicated fans of video gaming, we’re with Mrs. Hornsby – it is sick.
Update: The Daily Star have now pulled their “story.” Unfortunately for them, the internet never forgets.
TSBonyman
“Someone wants to make money out of people who have been killed”? Yes, someone does. By writing fabricated stories based around a commonly demonised entertainment medium to sell newspapers.
That’s my favourite bit – well said CB :)
GodDarnKat
The gutter press are what has / is and will continue to contribute to the fall of morals and respect in the UK. They’ll keep selling this sort of fabricated sensationalist journalism because… the desensitized population keeps baying (paying) for it.
andytorr
It’s got tits. TITS. Daily Star is like a porn mag for the kids ;) I was all over it when I was young.
BIGAL-1992
Bloody hell.
Roynaldo
Massively distasteful from the star. It really has me lost for words too. I mean OMGWTF! What awful awful people to be making this stuff up. Do the press have no boundaries whatsoever?!
Roynaldo
ok, so i did have a couple of words :)
solidsteven
the sick basteds. the daily star must be really thick and desprate
bunimomike
Seriously, their readers can’t even spell the most basic words. Shocking!
solidsteven
mmm tastes like bullshit
Barc
Before Mr Moat took his own life (alledgedly) there was a ‘joke’ going around the twitterscape about GTA Rothbury. I wondered which one of the papers would pick up on it and report it in bad taste. Never imagined this though. By the way, if you’re reading this Daily Star, BP are re-releasing an old classic, http://m.kotaku.com/5580291/bp-oil-spill-the-official-bp-board-game, allegedly.
Raen
Wow. Just wow. I’d love for them to get sued into the ground, but I would imagine it got pulled quick enough that they’ll be safe.
BIGAL-1992
Does anyone else hear a law suit nearby?
badgersnapper68
Sad thing is, some people – namely the Star readership – will believe this kind of crap.
BIGAL-1992
That’s the worst thing about this mess.
solidsteven
+1
solidsteven
FATALLITY wait a sec oh they gone and made me mad >XD *turns green*