Best-selling UK tabloid The Sun proved itself far too eager to launch a fresh attack on the games industry, running a piece in which it was claimed that THQ’s Monsters Inc. for Game Boy Advance featured everyone’s favourite swear word.
The article followed the low-brow antics of Mark Stewart of North Shields who shelled out, according to him, £200 for two Game Boy Advance units and games for his children for Christmas.
In the words of Mr Stewart, “I am disgusted. This was their big Christmas present. Beki was playing and said, 'Daddy, there is a swear word.' I said there couldn't be because it was a Monsters, Inc game. But she said, 'Daddy, it is the F-word'. She was upset because she did not expect to see it.”
Stewart’s rant continues, "This game is for kids. If it was for adults you might expect such language. But I don't say this word in front of my daughter - and I don't expect Disney games to contain it either. Surely Disney test their games or see what goes out in their name.”
And yes Disney (well, THQ) does indeed test its games, ensuring that no swearing is included every time. What Disney (well, THQ) does not do is test pirated versions downloaded from the Internet which are burnt to flash carts and sold in pubs for a tenner, possibly bundled with some of the huge haul of stolen Game Boy Advance consoles taken earlier this year.
The offending text, which if we’re sure you’ll agree is strongly reminiscent of the Scandinavian Amiga hacking blurb, read: MODE 7 BRINGS YOU ::: MONSTERS INC. (C) THQ ::: IT's BEEN AWHILE SINCE OUR LAST RELEASE, BUT WE'RE STILL AROUND.. STAY TUNED FOR MORE! - REMEMBER TRUE SCENERS DON'T CARE ABOUT CRC'S AND UNTOUCHED DUMPS, THOSE THAT DO CAN F**K OFF AND DIE! - OUR RESPECT TO THE FOLLOWING: CAPITAL . ILLUSION . AGGRESSION . ANTHROX . SNEAKERS . SWAT . MENACE . EURASIA . VENOM . LIGHTFORCE . OK! THAT'S ALL FOR NOW, SEE YOU IN THE NEXT ONE (DO YOU GUYS EVEN READ THIS FAR?)