By Jim Drewes - August 1, 2005
GTA:SA pulled in Australia
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
Announces that Australian Rating Board Revokes Classification for Grand
Theft Auto: San Andreas
New York, NY – July 29, 2005 –
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) said today that
Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC), the
Australian entity responsible for rating films and video games, has
revoked the classification of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. As a
result of this decision, the game is now unclassified in Australia, and
cannot be sold, advertised or distributed in that country.
The
Company stated that the OFLC decision had been expected and the
financial impact will not alter the Company's recently announced
guidance.
In announcing its decision, the OFLC stated that, "the
content unlocked by a third party 'hot coffee' modification contained
material that could not be accommodated at the (prior) MA15+
classification."
Take-Two added that the European ratings will
not be affected by this decision or the recent ESRB re-rating in the
U.S. The Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) has stated of
the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) rating, "The application of
the so-called 'hot coffee mod' to the game Grand Theft Auto: San
Andreas does not change the 18+ rating this title has been granted by
the PEGI administrator."
About Take-Two Interactive SoftwareHeadquartered
in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) is
an integrated global developer, marketer, distributor and publisher of
interactive entertainment software games and accessories for the PC,
PlayStation
® game console, PlayStation
®2 computer entertainment system, PSP
TM (PlayStation
®Portable) system, the Xbox
® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Xbox 360
TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube
TM, Nintendo DS
TM and Game Boy
®
Advance. The Company publishes and develops products through its wholly
owned labels Rockstar Games, 2K Games, 2K Sports and Global Star
Software; and distributes products in North America through its Jack of
All Games subsidiary. Take-Two also manufactures and markets video game
accessories in Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region
through its Joytech subsidiary. The Company maintains sales and
marketing offices in Cincinnati, New York, Toronto, London, Paris,
Munich, Madrid, Vienna, Milan, Sydney, Breda (Netherlands) and
Auckland. Take-Two's common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under
the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please
visit our website at
www.take2games.com.
All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.
Safe
Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995: This
press release contains forward-looking statements made in reliance upon
the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. The statements contained herein which are not
historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under
federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are based on
the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and
information currently available to them. The Company has no obligation
to update such forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary
significantly from these forward-looking statements based on a variety
of factors. These important factors are described in the Company's Form
10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2005 in the section entitled
"Cautionary Statement and Risk Factors".
CONTACT:Jim Ankner
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
(646) 536-3006
james.ankner@take2games.comSafe Harbor Statement Safe
Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995: This
press release contains forward-looking statements made in reliance upon
the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. The statements contained herein which are not
historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under
federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are based on
the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and
information currently available to them. The Company has no obligation
to update such forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary
significantly from these forward-looking statements based on a variety
of factors. These important factors are described in the Company's Form
10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2005 in the section entitled
"Cautionary Statement and Risk Factors".