Minneapolis - The National Institute on Media and the Family has issued warnings of explicit pornographic and violent content in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas since the October 2004 release, but recently additional hidden pornographic content has been found in the game. The pornographic content can be accessed by downloading the "Hot Coffee" mod and directions online. This unlocks sexually graphic interactive scenes for all users.

"It should be clear to everyone by now that video games do influence young people," said Dr. David Walsh, author of the best selling book on teenage brain development, Why Do They Act That Way? "While San Andreas is already full of violent behavior and sexual themes, the pornographic sex scenes push it over the edge. The ratings board has launched an investigation to determine if it was mislead into issuing a "Mature" rating instead of the "Adults Only" rating. There may even be legal ramifications since most states have laws restricting the sale of sexually explicit material to those eighteen and older.

"Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" never belonged in the hands of kids," said psychologist Dr. Walsh. "We are taking the unusual step of alerting parents to the pornography available through this game to any child or teen who is Internet savvy. This gives greater urgency to our message to parents: Become MediaWise: Watch What Your Kids Watch."

"We are calling upon Rockstar Games to come clean with the ESRB, the nation's retailers, and especially America's parents," said Dr. Walsh. "What is your involvement in the production and distribution of pornographic content in your game? What do you know about the "Hot Coffee" scenes, and what are you doing to inform the public?"

The National Institute on Media and the Family is an independent non-partisan, non-sectarian, non-profit organization. The Institute's mission is to maximize the benefits and minimize the harm mass media have on children through research and education. For more information, visit www.mediafamily.org or call 1-888-672-5437.