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Daily Star apologises over Grand Theft Auto Rothbury story
Newspaper says sorry for GTA blunder, pays Rockstar Games 'substantial damages'.
Written by David Scammell, 24 July 2010
The Daily Star has publicly apologised to Rockstar Games for publishing a news story alleging them of having plans to develop and publish a Grand Theft Auto game based on killer Raoul Moat, paying the firm a "substantial amount in damages".
The story, which claimed that a game called Grand Theft Auto: Rothbery was currently being developed by Rockstar Games, was first published on the newspaper's website on Wednesday but later pulled from the site.
The author of the article then lashed out at gamers on his Facebook profile saying:
"These are grown (?!?) men who sit around all day playing computer games with one another who've today chosen to enter the real world just long enough to complain about my story slamming a Raoul Moat version of Grand Theft Auto!
"You would think I'd denied the Holocaust!!! Think I'...ll challenge them to a virtual reality duel....stab....I win!!!""
However, the newspaper now admits that it "made no attempt to check the accuracy of the story before publication and did not contact Rockstar Games prior to publishing the story.
"It is now accepted that there were never any plans by Rockstar Games to publish such a game and that the story was false," said a statement on the paper's website.
"We apologise for publishing the story using a mock-up of the game cover, our own comments on the matter and soliciting critical comments from a grieving family member.
"We unreservedly apologise to Rockstar Games and we have undertaken not to repeat the claims again. We have also agreed to pay them a substantial amount in damages which they are donating to charity."
For the full apology from the Daily Star, click the link to your right.
