http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/07/21 ... 29543.html
Not really sure WHY it's rated AO now though. The only reason for the rating change is a "hidden" sex minigame (in which there is no nudity.)
And...
M = 17+
AO= 18+
Really not a difference at all.
The only impact that this has is that most stores are pulling the game from their shelves. This may hurt sales although there have already been 6,000,000 copies sold.
...plus the game is easily downloadable...so.....
And in other news:
Hilary Clinton thinks that hidden sex mini-games with 0-nudity within a game warrant an Adults Only rating.
"We should all be deeply disturbed that a game which now permits the simulation of lewd sexual acts in an interactive format with highly realistic graphics has fallen into the hands of young people across the country," Clinton wrote in a letter to the head of the Federal Trade Commission.
Meaning...
Clinton asked the FTC to look into whether Grand Theft Auto's rating of "M" (Mature 17+) should be changed to the rare "AO" (Adult Only), which would threaten to crimp sales at large retail outlets.
She requested the agency to study whether retailers' enforcement policies were adequate to keep adult-rated video games out of the hands of minors.
And...that has been the news.