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Australia gets a special edition GTA IV. Maybe TOO special?

April 03, 2008 in News comments 15

Ahem. Australia is going to get a special and rather... different edition of the awaited action game Grand Theft Auto IV. How exactly different it would be, we wouldn't really know. But we do know one thing. That game is going to be rated 15+. Smell a rat, anyone?
Of course, they say the game still has "strong violence, strong coarse language, drug and sexual references", but something is cut out. Wonder what it'll be.
History tells of many edits done to GTA in Australia.

A Rockstar spokesperson confirmed to Screen Play yesterday that the company had produced a special version of GTA IV to comply with the Australian classification system, which does not currently contain an R18+ rating, but declined to reveal what material had been cut.

The game has been rated R18+ by the British Board of Film Classification, New Zealand's OFLC and the German Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle. It has been rated M17+ by the Entertainment Software Rating board in North America.

The Grand Theft Auto series has a chequered past with the OFLC in Australia.

In 2001, thousands of copies of GTA III were sold before the game was rated and refused classification because players could pick-up prostitutes. An edited version was later released.

2002's Gran Theft Auto: Vice City was also edited for Australian audiences.

In 2005, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has its original MA15+ rating overturned and the game pulled from retail shelves after it was revealed game discs contained a hidden "Hot Coffee" sex mini-game. An edited version rated MA15+ was soon back on sale.

Grand Theft Auto IV is released in Australia on April 29.
StarJet via blogs.smh.com.au »
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Most recently commented on by on Apr 5, 2008

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  • 0
    Bale Fire* Apr 4, 08
    I knew it, I can garuntee a lot of stuff won't make the cut
  • 0
    ShinyMilotic Apr 4, 08
    Damn it, I hope it is nothing to good..
  • 0
    Euphoric Apr 4, 08
    Why is our censoring so shit Couldn't they just make it R and leave everything. Wouldn't bother me at all.
  • -1
    Donnelly Apr 4, 08
    15+ is the highest age rating in Australia.

    It'd be 15+ or not at all.
  • 1
    Euphoric Apr 4, 08
    Are you sure? I swear I have seen 18+ games in the shops...
  • 0
    The Power Apr 4, 08
    I think Austrailia does only have 15= as the maximum. I know Euphoric lives there, but still at least in England they are keeping all the cool stuff in
  • -1
    Miss Razz Apr 4, 08
    I wouldn't be surprised if hardly anything is cut out. Usually games and movies that are rated 18+ in other countries just get a M15+ rating over in Australia without any editing (though there are a few exceptions).

    Tbh, the Australian rating system is alot more lax than most countries. Heck, I'd say America's rating system is the strictest I've ever seen - I didn't even know games could come with an "alcohol use" or "tobacco use" or "partial nudity" warning. These things aren't even looked at in Australia when things are rated, so that's why they get a lower age rating.
    • 1
      Existenz Apr 4, 08
      They get a lower rating because they cut all the stuff that is put on America's M rating sticker.
    • 0
      Slumpy monkey Apr 4, 08
      No. England is the most strictest.

      You can face a £5000 fine and a prison sentance for selling an 18 game to a minor.
      • 1
        Existenz Apr 4, 08
        And? that doesn't affect the game whatsoever, i would rather have a store getting fined and having their employee's raped in prison if it means the games don't get edited.
        • -1
          Slumpy monkey Apr 4, 08
          Yeah, So what? I was responding to Gothic girl's comment saying that Americas rating system is the strictest..
  • 0
    The Primagen Apr 4, 08
    I'm Aussie and If you buy the game at JB hifi you get license plates.
  • 1
    Shadow of Death Apr 4, 08
    Just import it, if you HAVE to have the unedited one.

    Yeah, it totally sucks that the Australian rating system is lacking the 18+/17+ rating level, but as it stands, there is nothing you can do about it.

    So if you can afford it, and don't want a censored version, you might be able to import an unedited version....
  • 0
    Gamesta100 Apr 4, 08
    Actually there may be something we can do about it.It is going to be up to the public to decide if we get an R18+ rating.So far they haven't said HOW the public will decide.But here's hoping that it does indeed mean "public" and not just certain groups of people.
  • 0
    theundertakergonzo Apr 5, 08
    I hope they don't cut overly much from it. I don't care if they cut a few things but aslong as they donn't chop half the stuff out of the game i won't complain. The game sounds promising just don't *bleep* us over with something like this.

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