Become Part of CodenameSaintsRow

I thought I'd just remind everyone on the site to stick around, because we have alot more in mind for this place. Mattze and I, Foxtrot, have been thinking up some pretty cool ideas for CodenameSaintsRow. These things include forums, a newsletter, each users' own userpage and uploadable avatars to display next to your comments.

That's another thing, if you've decided to stick around then definetely register. The whole user-system is hopefully going to be improved drastically and if you've registered now, you can comment on News-posts' like this. To do so, just hit ''X Comments'' adjascent to the news-posts' title.

So, stick around, register and we're going to try and set up a mailing service/newsletter, to alert you of Saints Row and CodenameSaintsRow antics.

New Team Member

For around 4 months I have ran this site alone, and although things have been running well I feel that it is time to start growing our team. On that note I'd like to welcome Foxtrot to CodenameSaintsRow.net team. I'm sure you will be hearing plenty form him in the very near future!

Introducing Codename Saints Row

I have always planned on covering a selection of games under the "Codename" umbrella and the second game series to get a site is Saints Row; with CodenameSaintsRow.net. Naturally the site covers THQ's Saints Row series and although it doesn't have alot of content just now that will change upon the game's release later this month.

For now why not take a look at some of the screenshots, videos, and pre-release information by visiting CodenameSaintsRow.net.

Jack Thompson to Appear on Showtime

Jack Thompson has been fighting GTA games from the off and is set to appear on Showtime's Penn & Teller: Bullshit. The show will look at videogame violence and we should expect it sometime around Spring. For the full article head on over to GamePolitics.com.

GTA Blamed for Sex Attacks

After last weeks report that a girl had saved her family from a flipped car, thanks to GrandTheftAuto, it was only a matter of time before yet another story surfaced blaming GTA for something that really... wasn't.

The Sun is reporting that Ryan Chinnery has appeared in court following a series of 'attacks'. The 19 year old prowled streets looking for women he thought were prostitutes.

From the Sun;

He attacked his first victim under a railway bridge, pulling down her trousers and touching her breasts. A month later he dragged another woman along a path before they fell down an embankment into a river.

He fled, apologising, after three lads hauled them out. The third victim was attacked as she walked home from work. Chinnery grabbed her arms and only let go as a man approached.

He struck the woman on the ear before running off.

Chinnery's most serious attack came when he seized a 42-year-old woman round the throat. She broke an arm as they toppled down a bank, but he made her remove her clothing, sexually assaulted her, and performed a sex act on himself.

Prosecutor Eleanor Laws said Chinnery's love of Grand Theft Auto "may go some way to explaining his attitude towards women". She said: "Prostitutes in it can be subjected to violence".  "There may be some connection with the defendant admitting spending a lot of time playing that game.".

To be honest I'd say over the years I've racked up a fair few hours of play-time on various GTA titles but can't recall going on any prostitute hunts; So is GTA to blame? One look at the photo gives me all the evidence I need...

GTA Helps Save Family from Car

While everyone seems determined to jump on the "blame GTA" bandwagon there is one family who owe their lives to the crime simulator. Around August 27th a family traveling in a Jeep Grand Cherokee veered off the road at 60mph flipping the vehicle upside down, with it's roof caved in.

She realized the back window had broken and was able to climb over the spare tire to get out. She then called for her mother to reach out her hand and Audrey helped pull her out the back window. She proceeded to help get the rest of family out of the vehicle. Audrey also tugged on her father's bloody arm to lead him to the road, where they flagged down a passing vehicle to get somebody to call 911.

Pretty intense stuff I'm sure you will agree; also nice to see a GTA game being praised for it's content as opposed to the usual blame it receives.

As you can clearly see in the image above the vehicle was in a dreadful state after the crash. If you would like the read the full article then head on over to MyWebtimes.com.

3 Teenagers claim GTA "Taught Them About Molotov Cocktails"

WSBTV reports that 3 teenagers, aged 15 and 16, have been arrested and charged with 57 felony counts in connection with a string of car bombings, using molotov cocktails, in Milton, Georgia.

Taken from the WSBTV article;

The felony charges include arson, criminal damage to property and possession of explosive devices in six vehicle fires between 11 p.m. July 24 and 3 a.m. July 25. Each teen is charged with 19 counts.

Investigators said after the incidents, they went to a local Wal-Mart and pulled receipts. They found a receipt that contained the purchase of Sprite bottles, red rags and lighter fluid. Authorities said they pulled the surveillance tape from the time of the purchase and were able to identify the three teenagers.

According to officials the teenagers learned how to make molotov cocktails from Grand Theft Auto (That's funny - I must have missed that mission).

2K Games tech support reveals GTAIV PC?

Two pranksters have posted a blog covering how they apparently tricked a 2K Games technical support employee into semi-announcing GTAIV for PC.

The pranksters forged an idea whereby they would complain about having a technical problem with the PC version of the game. The prank is quite well orchestrated and you can see how much effort has gone into it by readin the emails below...

The pranksters emailed Rockstar with their problem;

I recently downloaded your free version of Grand Theft Auto IV for the PC. Despite your unique instructions on how to get it to play, it has performed great. The first person driving view is simply amazing and the Nico Bellic character really makes me feel like I'm living the storyline. So much so that I feel bad in finding something to complain about, that being the surround sound. At times the back left speaker cuts out, specially when characters like little Jacob are speaking. Also when I call 911, the automated response starts, but cuts out when I am given emergency options. I am using a Sony Vaio LT VGCLT23E all-in-one desktop, an NVIDIA Geforce processor, and the Sony sound reality with external RCA speakers. Could it be that the speakers are simply not the same Sony brand? They work perfectly with my other applications. So I have to assume it's your game. I hope you can resolve this issue for me, your website was no help. It's a shame the multi-player isn't available for PC in the free version, but I can live with that, I don't want to be picky. Thank you for any help you can provide.Scotty C

Rockstar replied with two auto-response messages;

Date: Mon Jun 9 05:42:26 2008
From: Rock Star Support
Subject: grand theft auto IV technical issue [Incident:080609-000134]

Your question has been received. You should expect a response from us within 24 hours.

Date: Mon Jun 9 09:01:34 2008
From: Rock Star Support
Subject: grand theft auto IV technical issue [Incident: 080609-000134]

Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support centre. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

If this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may reopen it within the next 7 days.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.

The third email was from an actual Rockstar tech support employee;

Hello,

Currently there isn't a PC release of GTA IV, especially not a free to download one.

Would you please be able to give details of the website from which you downloaded the Games.

Kind Regards

2K Games Tech Support

The pranksters replied;

Doesn't the website pay you to distribute the game? They didn't charge me anything. I thought
it was because the game did not include all the other options like multi player or PC technical help
on your website. Much like buying a used car, it is as-is. Sometimes you get a 30 days warranty
but a car is not the same as a computer game. I will look for the website I got it from, if I can't find
it I will ask my friend to send it to me again. I don't have time to search for it at the moment as I
must leave for work.

Is it possible our confusion is that I have emailed the wrong company?? I wanted to contact Rockstar
but your name has '2k games' after it.

Thank you for responding so promptly!
Scotty C

Rockstar replied;

Hello,

Rockstar and 2K Games are both parts of Take Two Interactive, you have corrected the right company.

The PC version of GTA IV has not even been announced for release and is still in development so is not about to be released on a website we have no knowledge of. Have you got another version of GTA? There are other versions that are available on-line, the list are below, could it be one?
GTA
GTA 2
GTA 3
GTA Vice City
GTA San Andreas

If it's not one of these and it is (somehow) a Pc version of GTA IV, you can see why we would like to know the website address

Kind Regards

2K (And Rockstar) Games Tech Support

The pranksters replied;

Do you think we're talking about different games? I am speaking of Grand Theft Auto IV with Nico
Bellic as the primary character. The game that was released recently. Is it possible that the video
game version also works on the PC or that someone figured out how to make it function properly?
I downloaded a torrent file and followed the instructions in your included readme file called crack
something where after a couple mistakes I was able to install and play the game on my PC.

Do you just want the website or where the file is or what program I used to get it? I am still waiting
for my friend to send me that information again. He is traveling this week. I am going to see if I can
update my audio on my PC and fix the problems.

Have a good day!
Scotty C

Rockstar replied;

Hello,

This is an illegal way to play the game. We have not yet officially released the game for the PC so we cannot give you any support on a cracked version of the game.

The pranksters replied;

If that's true, Richard, I should contact the website and tell them what they're doing is wrong.
I feel deceived. My friend finally sent me the details and I was able to find it again. It's not right
that they give out the free version of the game before it's released. Are you also with Rockstar
games technical support?

On a positive note, I have managed to resolve all of my audio issues! The 911 assistance no
longer cuts out and I can hear all of the options. Everything is working perfectly now. Please
tell Anthony that I'm sorry if I wasted his valuable time. You guys make the best games!

Have a good day.
Scotty C

Rockstar replied;

Hello,

Can you tell us which website you downloaded the game from so we can pass it on to someone in the company and try to get it stopped?

The pranksters replied;

That's a good idea. The website that I went to was (edited out). I think the reason I
had so much trouble getting it again is because the page also is called (edited also) at the top which
is a bit confusing. The file was almost impossible to find again as it was not labeled like it is supposed to
be. It doesn't say PC on it at all but somehow people know what it is. I don't see why that one is such
a big secret when I can see there are so many other free download files. I don't know how users can
sort through all of this, I wouldn't have wasted my time trying to figure this out if I wasn't shown exactly
where it was.

Does this help you out? When will the full PC version be released? I'm eager to try out all the options, specially
the multi player. I'll be first in line to get it, it is fantastic so far!

Rockstar replied;

Hello,

Thank you for the information Scotty we will be sure to check it out. We are unsure when the PC version of the game will be released as we are only technical support and do not receive information on the matter. I would suggest keeping an eye on www.rockstargames.com for any information.

Finally the pranksters wrapped up the prank by replying;

Happy to help, Rich. I don't believe you by the way. Anthony seemed to know what was going on. Nice way
of avoiding answering the question, though. Time to let it simmer for a few days and maybe come back with
another dumb question. Even if I don't, that was an amusing week for sure!

I would definately take it with a pinch of salt. Speaking from experience employees such as tech support staff are rarely told sensitive information such as details of products that have not publically been announced. That being said I don't think a PC release of GTA IV would surprise anyone given the record of other games in the series.

Grand Theft Auto 'inspires crime spree'

According to Long Island and New York City news website NewsDay.com six teenagers have been arested following cases of mugging and vandalism.

Teenagers who police say went on a video-game-inspired late-night crime spree were arraigned Thursday after they mugged a man outside a New Hyde Park supermarket and menaced motorists in Garden City with a baseball bat, a crowbar and a broomstick, Nassau police said.

The teens told detectives they were imitating the "Grand Theft Auto" video-game series where characters steal cars, beat up other characters and commit crimes, authorities said.

Police have identified at least three victims: a man they said was severely beaten during a robbery; a would-be carjacking victim; and a driver whose van was smashed with a bat.

The teenagers have claimed that they were simply emulating the actions of various characters in the GrandTheftAuto video game series. As StrategyInformer points out this is not the first time that Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto has been linked with real-world criminal activity.

IGN Xbox 360 Awards Directors Cut

IGN.com have a spoof of their Xbox 360 awards, named "Xbox 360 Awards Directory Cut". It's hardly prime-time humour but it cracked a few smiles!

GTA IV walked away with most painful delay award. Check you the full article at IGN.com