Just interested, why does GTA V have a profanity filter?

[Cream Tea]

Like it doesn't bother me or anything, but I'm curious since isn't GTA V an 18 rated game anyway with in-game characters using the 'N-word' and other bad words? Perhaps I'm missing something but I would have thought Rockstar wouldn't even have wanted something like that?

[JadeChen6868]

Some of it is filtered when typing messages but the npcs are overflowing with profanity ... hehe

[Cream Tea]

Yeah see that's what doesn't make sense to me, the game it's self has loads of profanity. Yet it doesn't let players use profanity, I mean as I said doesn't really bother me, but I'd of thought why would Rockstar bother with something like that.

[Johnny362000]

R* logic for you

Game franchise that once held the record for most amount of profanity in a game's dialogue has a profanity filter

[miji]

The game is targetted to the younger audience, and there's an abundance of evidence that makes it very clear.
For instance: The EULA that shows up when you start the game states that you need to be 13 or older to create a Rockstar Social Club account. Legally, no problem. Do they have any Rockstar Social Club games that aren't Rated M? No.

Also, your avatar looks delicious.

[Serath]

I had actually thought about this now that you brought it up. Although I still think it's a bit silly, (i.e. stupid) I guess it's there for R* to protect themself against the most over-sensitive, but more importantly in this case "nit-picky" of people, ones who would sue over a technicality:

The only reason I can think of, is the ESRB rating is rating the product. The product, in this case, is the single player campaign, the online, and everything that you see and hear in both modes.

"Players," are either considered not part of the product, or come in as an uncontrollable part of the game's product, and it's because of this, the game has to at least enable by default, a profanity filter. (Can't remember if you can disable it or not, because I honestly haven't looked or cared.) Without it, the most nit-picky of adult human beings playing the game, or god forbid, parents, (the ESRB rating/store policies typically prevents the selling of the game to minors, not playing) would probably find random player's cussing as something to sue over, because they might not consider it part of the game's product.

........of course, I could be talking a bunch of ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and none of this can actually be taken to court, but I chalk it up to R* (or any game company that does the same thing, which is a lot) just wanting to play it safe, so they don't have to worry about the "adult content" complainers who end up just wasting the company's time. (And money.)

[Bloodhawk]

There is no good reason for a Grand Theft Auto game to have a profanity filter. The entire premise of the game is to be as offensive as possible.

[Serath]

Originally posted by Jessica Nigri, Sexy Cosplay Girl:

There is no good reason for a Grand Theft Auto game to have a profanity filter. The entire premise of the game is to be as offensive as possible.

Premise doesn't get you far with jerks who want to sue because $$$$.

[Skiptro]

it is about context, the game characters use it as satire and social commentary, while players use it as hate speach and insults, there is a big difference in the way the scripted characters use slurs and profanity and how players use it. It is about context.

[Serath]

Originally posted by GungZA:

it is about context, the game characters use it as satire and social commentary, while players use it as hate speach and insults, there is a big difference in the way the scripted characters use slurs and profanity and how players use it. It is about context.

Thank you....

[- Sand-]

lol i found out that SOMETIMES that filter can be "filterd out" just type the work like you would normally just make it look like "th is" just like i did there if its bigger more spaces lol

[Cream Tea]

Looking into this I think I might have found an answer.

While GTA 5 is an 18 rated game, however Rockstar Social Club you only have to be 13+ to join.

Perhaps rockstar have to do this by law since RSSC has people under 16 playing? Probably to do with legal stuff. But that's my theory.
Edit: Just saw another user post a similar theory, haven't looke ath this thread for a while.

Originally posted by GungZA:

it is about context, the game characters use it as satire and social commentary, while players use it as hate speach and insults, there is a big difference in the way the scripted characters use slurs and profanity and how players use it. It is about context.

This seems fairly plausable though.

[Johnny362000]

Originally posted by m_zzy:

Do they have any Rockstar Social Club games that aren't Rated M? No.

Actually Midnight Club LA is a PEGI 13 or ESRB T rating