On Tuesday, Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), released Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) worldwide for the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3. It is expected to be one of the biggest video game launches of the year, competing with EA Sports’ FIFA 14 scheduled for release September 27.



But while FIFA 14 is a game for all ages, GTA V is rated 18+ and it is illegal to sell in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, some shops are making the game available to regular customers at double the UK price. In Dubai, where the title is also banned, sellers are posting details online about where to buy a game copy.



While all reviews of GTA V are full of praise for its technical aspects, there was one review that discussed the uglier side of the title. Greg Tito of EscapistMagazine.com wrote:



“If only the morally reprehensible script written by Dan Houser lived up to the achievements in game-making that Grand Theft Auto V otherwise embodies, it would be not just the game of the year but of the decade. Unfortunately, you can only hear a character say “&^%@ you, Mother&*^%er” so many times before it starts to grate on you. You can only embody a vicious psychopath a short time before it becomes boring, at best, and soul-crushing, at worst. Forcing players to murder people, not in a gamey ‘I killed you to complete a goal’ way that defines this medium, but in a terrorizing and demeaning way, is not what will make videogames great. Rockstar had a chance to elevate, and they wasted it on portraying characters you don’t want to spend five minutes with, let alone the hours it would take to play through the game’s story.”



The Entertainment Software Rating Board stated in its content description that GTA V contains, “Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol.”



Also be aware that the online version of the title launches in two weeks and a free companion app is also available – meaning that there is game interaction in other formats besides the console hooked to the TV. Parents are often oblivious to the games their children are playing, but it’s worth the effort to ensure that your youngsters don’t bring GTA V home or access it elsewhere.