'GTA' drug deal game sparks controversy

Rockstar has sparked controversy by announcing that its upcoming Grand Theft Auto title on the Nintendo DS will feature a drug dealing mini-game.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will reportedly allow players to sell drugs such as heroin, cocaine and LSD to earn money in the game.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Darren Gold of charity Drugsline said that "anything using drug-dealing as entertainment is sending out the wrong message".

However, Rockstar vice president Dan Houser told Edge magazine that "we wanted to have a drug-dealing mini-game in lots of the GTA games".

He added: "We played with it a little in Vice City Stories because it worked really well juxtaposed with the main story.

"It works well with what GTA is, with driving around the map, and it gives you another thing to think about - another layer or piece of the puzzle to keep you motivated."