I don't think you need me to tell you there's been little news on the GTA front as of late, but since there's been a few, minor stories worth noting, this roundup is here to clarify a number of things.

Firstly, Grand Theft Auto on PlayStation Portable. Online retailer EBGames has been advertising a date of May 15, 2005 on their website. Unfortunately, several sources within the games media have seen this as 'inside information' leading them to believe that a date has been confimed to the retailer by Rockstar. Further confusion arose when a few Grand Theft Auto fansites posted that Gamespot.com were showing the same date on their gamespace. Well, the bad news is that Gamespot and EBGames' databases are linked, whatever date EBGames posts will appear on the Gamespot website, and whatever screenshots Gamespot post will appear on the EBGames website. Also, it should be taken into account that it is not unknown for retailers to place incredibly speculative dates online in order to receive media coverage and thus, boost preorder numbers and sales.

We may, however, find out details of the PSP Grand Theft Auto later this week when Take 2 Games report their First Quarter Fiscal 2005 results on Thursday. These press statements are mainly aimed at investors, but often contain details on forthcoming games. The last time Take 2 reported, we received release dates for the Xbox and PC versions of Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, so keep your eyes peeled on GTAGaming for all the latest news this Thursday.

Keeping with the PC version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, top games magazine PC Gamer claim to have a 'first look' feature on the game in their next issue, which hits stores on May 5th. (Thanks RCAgent!). We'll bring any information about the game as soon as it's available.

Finally, there's no news on the next Grand Theft Auto game. Gamesradar claimed to have insight into Take 2's trademark registrations, but their article was riddled with inaccuracies and their predictions of Grand Theft Auto: Tokyo and Bogota are completely false.

Take 2 have reported their financial results for Q1 Fiscal 2005, attributing good performance in part to GTA: San Andreas. The company has stated that sales of the game have exceeded 12 million units since launch.

The expected launch date accouncement for GTA: PSP was not made, with the company planning release in the "3rd Quarter" of Fiscal 2005, around the same time as GTA San Andreas is released on PC and Xbox (June 7th/10th).

Nothing new was announced during the conference call which took place shortly after the press release was issued.

Press Release: Read the financial results in full.

A New Zealander who kidnapped and subsequently robbed a teenager as he withdrew cash at an ATM has told police it was like "playing Grand Theft Auto".
Cory Daniel Blue Gawith and an unknown accomplice demanded money from the teenager as he was making a transaction at a cash machine. When the teenager refused, they stole his car keys, cellphone and bank account card, taking the teenager for a distressing high speed ride around the local town until he surrendered his PIN which allowed the criminals access to his funds.

Gawith will be sentenced on April 28th. This case is the first international instance of the "GTA Blame" culture that is a frequent occurrence in United States courtrooms.

Source: Rotorua Daily Post

With the increasing media coverage of M-Rated video games and their alleged links to crimes of murder, theft and sexual assault, US politicians have decided it's their turn to try to do something to curb the problem. Arkansas Senator Shawn Womack introduced a bill, which could see M-Rated games having a legal requirement of being displayed on shelves at least five feet from the floor in the state. Penalties are minimal, with offenders receiving a $500 fine straight from the Arkansas Department of Health.
The second piece of legislature is a bill that would see video games companies held responsible if an act of violence is caused by a minor playing an M-Rated video game which they developed.
However, this bill appears only to be moving the blame from the person who commits the crime in the first place. If this bill were introduced, Courts must take into account that whether or not a videogame influenced it, a crime has been commited and sentencing should be made appropriately. In my opinion, the blame is in the wrong place. The video games companies do not give anyone the means to commit a violent act - the relatively free availability of firearms in the United States contributes to this greatly. Until gun laws are tightened in the country, the unfortunate trend may be towards further acts of violence and wrongful blame against games companies, who have a right to express theirselves in any way they wish.

Thanks to: Gamespot
PDF: House Bill 2178