Take-Two Game Has O.J. Simpson -- and a Knife

Updated from 4:54 p.m. EDT

Video-game publisher Take-Two Interactive(TTWO Quote) has done it again.

The company, which has come under fire in the past for offensive content in its games, is now testing the taste barrier with its latest sports video game, All-Pro Football 2K8, which features O.J. Simpson, unquestionably America's most infamous athlete.

A customized video clip on the Game Trailers Web site shows Simpson game highlights as his team, "The Assassins," moves down the field. Toward the end of the clip, Simpson scores a touchdown, prompting a large hooded mascot (above) above the scoreboard to make stabbing motions with a large knife.

Game Trailers, a division of Viacom's(VIA Quote) MTV Networks, publishes video game trailers, previews, reviews from all publishers.

The video clip represents an externally created scenario of possible outcomes if the Simpson character plays a game for the Assassins team, but wasn't generated by Take-Two.

The decision of Take-Two's 2K Sports label to include Simpson in the game, despite his past, could possibly be defended, considering his place in football history. But's it's unclear why the company would use a mascot that had the potential to play on Simpson's notoriety as the accused in the 1994 murder of his former wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman.

Simpson was acquitted of the murders in 1995; two years later, a civil jury found him liable for the wrongful death of Goldman. ...