Edited vs. unedited - any way to tell?

[chucker21]

From what I understand in late 2003 Rockstar agreed to "voluntarily" remove some language in the game that angered the US Haitian community and Mayor Bloomberg. This change affected all subsequent pressings of the game.

 

Yesterday I finally purchased the PC version of Vice City, but before I opened it I wanted to know if there is any way to differentiate between the edited and unedited version of Vice City. Are there any packaging indications(different bar code, different language, etc.) on the outside of the box that would let me know which version I purchased?

 

I apologize in advance if this has been asked to death, but the search function isn't working for me right now. Down for maintenance according to the suggestions forum(ironically I registered today specifically to search for this info).

 

PS I have absolutely nothing against the Haitian community whatsoever, and I imagine I will enjoy the edited version(if that's what I have) just fine. Nevertheless, just as I watch films in their OAR(original aspect ratio) as the director intended, so to do I prefer to play games in their unedited form just as the game creators intended.

 

Thanks!

[YeTi]

Hmm i can think of a few ways to tell. Firstly you could go into the american.gxt file with a gxt editor and see if you can find any insulting remarks about the haitans. Secondly you could try litening to all of the audio in the audio folder and see if you can find any insulting remarks towards the haitans. Thirdly you could just play the game and see if you find anything out. But i don't think there is anyway to tell on the box or manual.

 

EDIT: Just thought of another way you could check the copyrights if they say 2004 for example then you know it will be the edited version.

Edited June 10, 2005 by YeTi

[chucker21]

Thanks for the quick reply, YeTi.

 

The reason I asked about the packaging differences was so I could exchange my unopened copy if I determined that I had the edited version. Once I open this sucker I'm playing it regardless, and as you pointed out I'll then have my answer. Encouragingly the copyright on the box does say 2003, so who knows.

 

I know when movie dvds are reissued/repressed due to a glitch the packaging is often slightly different somewhere, and I thought Vice City might be the same. Being new to the game and board I just thought I'd ask. If it's not common knowledge, I'll just crack this sucker open and enjoy.

[Carbono]

I do not know for sure, but i think there is one line that is edited, nothing to worry about, it was a stupid in game line, something like "kill them all!" so nothing to worry about the censorship

[The_Real_Deal]

No Hatians in the edited versions either. Or at least no derogatory statements towards them.

 

I haven't seen an edited version so I'm not sure if they are in it at all or not.

[Chunky Lee Chong]

I used to have the original version sold on the first day it came out for the PS2 back in 2002, and I seriously couldn't tell any of the differences from that and when I bought the Double Pack on the X-Box a year later.

 

What was said on the original version?

[RogueIce]

A guy on GameFAQs made up a listing of it, and it had ways to tell on the packaging.

 

He also had this to say:

 

 

When I initially posted my findings on the GameFAQs message boards, I got responses from others that said that these changes were also found in the PC version.

 

So my guess is the PC version is the "Haitain-friendly" one either way. I'm not sure if the barcode stuff he mentioned would hold up on the PC version, since he only covered the PS2 versions.

 

EDIT: Link to GameFAQs Vice City PS2 FAQs page

[YeTi]

What was said on the original version?

I believe someone says

 

 

Kill all the stinking haitins

 

Or something like that.

[The_Real_Deal]

It's funny because if I recall, Colonal Cortez had some pretty strong statements to say about the French, but nobody made anything out of that.