Australia gets censored GTA IV
by Majed Athab 
{ Apr 4th 2008 at 5:00PM }
The Age is reporting that Rockstar had to submit an edited version of Grand Theft Auto IV to the OFLC in order to receive a passing rating. Rockstar confirmed this, but did not clarify what the censored content was. The game officially earned an MA15+ rating last year, Australia's most restricted rating.
This must be really saddening news for all you Aussies. Not only do you have to live with those horribly annoying OFLC ratings crowding your beloved box cover, but they also serve as cruel reminders of the censorship only you must endure. Sad indeed, especially after hearing the good news about the UK version.
This must be really saddening news for all you Aussies. Not only do you have to live with those horribly annoying OFLC ratings crowding your beloved box cover, but they also serve as cruel reminders of the censorship only you must endure. Sad indeed, especially after hearing the good news about the UK version.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mberkowitz @ Apr 4th 2008 5:06PM
whats so sad about it? So just import the real version, at least the PS3 version should be region free right? Damn aussies are so conservative
lee @ Apr 4th 2008 5:25PM
Has anyone thought about how bad this game could be for the young minds of Australians? Especially if played whilst listening to heavy metal music?
Seriously though, ebay australia will be stocked to the rafters with uncensored version! I thought Australia was flamin' ok with kinda shit, I reckon we need to have our heads looked at.
Dxw @ Apr 5th 2008 2:21AM
Young kids aren't supposed to be playing it, hence the rating restrictions. Also, I don't see why listening to heavy metal whilst playing should make any difference. I suppose I'll order it from New Zealand, nice and close and unedited.
lee @ Apr 5th 2008 5:54PM
my sarcastic tone went unheard on that one it would seem.
lobotomies4free @ Apr 4th 2008 5:59PM
makes me glad the ps3 has no region coding. thank you sony
finelicker @ Apr 4th 2008 5:42PM
I urge all Australias gamers to import the game, the money your enonomy loses as a result should make the nanny state politicians sit up and realise people want to be make their own decisions about what they should and should not see. Another point to this is the PS3 will really benefit from this, seeing as the 360 version will also be censored, but the Oz xbots will be stuck with the gimped version. (so much for your exclusive downloadable content)
ayarti @ Apr 4th 2008 9:05PM
Before i import, i want to make sure the multiplayer won't be region locked. If the content of the games are different, will that mean importing the game will restrict you to play in US only servers? Or do you think the multiplayer will be fine?
Fraser JK @ Apr 4th 2008 5:49PM
Feel really bad because I was ready to order mine from the US to here in the UK. Just glad that they let it pass over here... guess they haven't got much of a choice.
TinyTim121 @ Apr 4th 2008 6:09PM
Man, i can't say how bad i feel for Austrailia. I remember how pissed i was when Manhunt 2 was banned/censered in the UK. (Before i knew it was gonan be crap)
But yeah, Import it, PS3 is region free (Y)
jayj @ Apr 4th 2008 6:56PM
i expected this anyway. i'l just import the u.s version as usual, it will be cheaper and unedited.
TinyTim121 @ Apr 4th 2008 7:00PM
Has Rockstar responded yet?
Would be interesting to see how they tackle this; would they go down Manhunt 2 root of editing the game or try and appeal the decision?
But seeing as how PS3 is region free, i can't imagine them trying that much, its not like GTA IV can't be imported as jayj is doing.
TinyTim121 @ Apr 4th 2008 7:04PM
Wait i just re-read the article. Its being released edited, not being banned outright.
Well i feel stupid :$
*Puts on dunce cap*
Mark @ Apr 4th 2008 7:04PM
Canceled my pre-order. If i buy the UK version will it work on an Australian PS3 since they're both PAL?
jayj @ Apr 4th 2008 7:20PM
you can play any region ps3 game, doesn't have to be pal.
Mark @ Apr 4th 2008 9:13PM
Cool, it's actually going to work out cheaper to import even with shipping. US$60 on amazon.com which is around AU$65. Costs AU$120 at EBGames here in Australia.
Steve @ Apr 4th 2008 8:42PM
You can't buy games off Amazon if you don't live in the US. Believe me, I've tried.
Steve @ Apr 4th 2008 8:45PM
You can't buy games off Amazon.com if you don't live in the US. Believe me, I've tried.
Mark @ Apr 4th 2008 9:10PM
Really, crap! I haven't tried yet. I'll just import it from New Zealand. :)
George Arauz @ Apr 4th 2008 7:52PM
A country started as convicts and it gets an edited rating? damn that sux
jonneyt @ Apr 4th 2008 9:15PM
There were people there before convicts.
ChodalBerryWagon @ Apr 4th 2008 7:24PM
meh, I'm sure they won't take that much out, I'll be fine with it how it is.
Andrew @ Apr 4th 2008 7:25PM
It is because we have a highest rating of MA15+. If we had an 18+ rating, then it would be unedited. I read a few days ago people are trying to introduce an 18+ rating, so maybe eventually we will get the unedited version.
James @ Apr 4th 2008 7:28PM
I am personally pissed off! I hate the rating system here in Australia. We couldn't even get Dark Sector in Australia because of the human decapitation....and now they are going to release it based on the Japanese game. With 'minimal human decapitation'. Like come on! Thats the best part!!
As finelicker said, we should be able to buy the games if we want! We know what the content is, so let the Australian consumer decide. At least bring in R18+ games, that would make it easy to classify games like GTA4 and DarkSector without taking out content.
Adam @ Apr 4th 2008 7:58PM
What a joke. The Office of Film and Literature Classification doesn't even reference the industry in its name! It's ridiculous that we still need to have this conversation. Essentially it's the government's opinion that as a medium games aren't intended for anyone over the age of 15.
It's absurd.
Mike87do @ Apr 4th 2008 8:09PM
Yes, import the US version. The PS3 game are region free. Is there any law for importing a unedited video game in Australia, will you go to Jail for doing that? If there isn't do it, people of Australia just because they censored the game doesn't you buy it, you import the US version and show OFLC that you don't approve of that.
Damian @ Apr 4th 2008 9:44PM
I've always been properly confused about this. In Britain, if you so much as say the word 'shite' on TV before 9pm the presenters will recoil in terror, the channel's hotlines explode and their directors get down on their knees and apologise repeatedly while beating themselves with sticks. Whereas in Australia you're pretty much not normal if you're not saying the word 'bloody' every other sentence. OK, I'm being slightly flippant here, so don't lynch me. You take my basic point.
TinyTim121 @ Apr 4th 2008 9:53PM
I agree. Its pathetic.
TinyTim121 @ Apr 4th 2008 9:53PM
I agree. Its pathetic.
mathab @ Apr 4th 2008 10:27PM
To back up your point, do you remember that Australian tourism campaign "where the bloody hell are ya?" It's a paradox considering that Australians are well-known for their laid back, take-it-easy culture. You know, the bbq on Bondi beach listening to Violent Femmes' Blister in the Sun sorta stereotype (of which several people I know are guilty of, lol).
It is unfortunate, however, that in the mind's eye of Aussie policy makers, videogames are still a child's play thing and consequently are conservative when approaching issues regarding it.
never$$hort @ Apr 4th 2008 10:01PM
I always thought Australia had more freedoms then us in the U.S., Huh? Because my friend just moved over there a year ago and said there was a town a couple hours from him that was like a mini Amsterdam in relation to the whole place was based off cannabis or related to cannabis.. you definitely wouldn't find that here.
ChodalBerryWagon @ Apr 5th 2008 1:08AM
Whoa, really? Cool. Whats it called?
I should go there... :P
Dxw @ Apr 5th 2008 2:24AM
He's probably referring to Nimbin, NSW.
stargateheaven @ Apr 4th 2008 10:43PM
just get the UK/US version.
Volomon @ Apr 4th 2008 11:04PM
Nothing but a bunch of communists.
RPore @ Apr 5th 2008 12:13AM
What difference does it make? Will the censorship of the game effect your enjoyment of it? Did they remove the free roaming? Did they remove the massive city? Did they remove the gritty story? Did they remove the amazing soundtrack.
Seriously guys, you don't even know what's going to get cut. Might not be worth going out of your way to import.
Mark @ Apr 5th 2008 4:00AM
We can't determine how the gameplay has been impacted because they haven't revealed how it has been changed or what has been removed.
The fact remains we pay almost twice as much for a game where features have been removed because some breeders and religious fanatics don't want to control their children.
FkOurLeaders @ Apr 9th 2008 10:22AM
@RPore
we don't what a nurfed version when we pay and insane price..
It's not fair how we don't even get a say in the rating system, very time someone brings up a change to it its gunned down by a number of Political Nubs and we never even get to vote on it (i bet it would be passed). Why vote when it doesn't matter or they don't let us have a say on it?
Hughbus @ Apr 5th 2008 9:14PM
well something might happen about it,..... one day.
A few weeks ago, the state attorney-generals held a meeting discussing the introduction of an R18+ video game rating. They ruling decision was to hold a public pole. Who knows when this will happen, could be 6months to a year + down the track, considering this meeting and the final outcome was based around poll data gathered in 2005!
Even if the public says yes, the introduction of such a regulation could take several years to push through our legal system. If we are lucky we might see something in 5 years minimum. In an even stranger turn of events a Christian lobby group, and Porn Advocates Australia have joined forces to try and prevent the public pole! Go Figure!
I will be pre-ordering mine from amazon US, considering the special edition is now sold out here in Aus, and at the same time saving 50 bucks!
Ptrack_Git @ Apr 6th 2008 2:59AM
What the hell is up with Australia. Why are panties always in a twist over video games? Do people over there like this kind of censorship? AND THEY STILL DON'T HAVE ROCK BAND?! If I lived there I would drink a lot... this is depressing.
Whubbsie @ Apr 7th 2008 1:46AM
HAHA funny you mention drinking seeing as thats the national pass time.
Hughbus @ Apr 7th 2008 7:36AM
It certainly is a national past-time :D and its all because we can't get games in their original form; and on-time.
Im an animator in the industry, and even the games we work on get released in other regions before ours,.... I guess they just think Australians are too delirious from booze and kangaroo boxing to notice products being released later, and missing content!
Is there even a release date for rockband over here?
haliotis81 @ Apr 7th 2008 8:54AM
Since the Australians like Sony PS3 so much!!! They dun mind getting a censored game while other countries are getting a full game. hahahahahahahaha Sony PS3 number one!!!!
Shelley @ Apr 19th 2008 1:44AM
It's pretty stupid, I'd have to agree. I'm living in the US right now but coming home to Aus in a few weeks and I'm just gonna buy it here and bring it home for my bro. Not only the editing of it (Oz, seriously, stop being so tight-assed about it), but you'd save at least $40, if not $50, buying it in the US cause they feel the need to rip of the Australian gaming consumer.. even though it won't have all the content. Where's the justice in that? $120 for a bloody game, are you kidding me?