April 4, 2008
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Grand Theft Auto IV, due for April 29th release, has been edited to satisfy Australian censors. Jason Hill of the SMH writes: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 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.
Via: GamesIndustry.biz
Comments
As an Aussie (13-year old) gamer, I shall buy this game via import.
"...Maybe reduced sales [of GTA: IV] in Australia will clue people in!"
No, it'll be ammo for those who think the majority of gamers are crooks who pirate games so they can have their precious violence and sex.
Otherwise we'd HAVE the uncensored version, albeit rated R18+.
Importing a game and pirating a game are nowhere near the same thing.
Most stores over there have been told they are getting the Aussie version of the game.
One example,
http://games.internode.on.net/content.php?mode=news&id=2912
& it still gets an R rating