Australia Getting Watered-Down Version of GTA IV

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

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Comments

Submitted by Harry Miste (not verified) on Sun, 04/06/2008 - 20:47.

...what the fuck did the OFLC do this time?
As an Aussie (13-year old) gamer, I shall buy this game via import.

Submitted by Harry Miste (not verified) on Sun, 04/06/2008 - 21:46.

@ Jono345:

"...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.

Submitted by Michael (not verified) on Sun, 04/06/2008 - 22:39.

Don't blame to OFLC. Blame the Hon MICHAEL ATKINSON MP, the South Australian Attorney General. He is the ONLY Attorney general holding out on allowing an R18+ rating for games.

Otherwise we'd HAVE the uncensored version, albeit rated R18+.

Submitted by Father Time (not verified) on Mon, 04/07/2008 - 00:01.

@Harry Miste

Importing a game and pirating a game are nowhere near the same thing.

Submitted by Puz (not verified) on Wed, 04/16/2008 - 05:01.

For those of you who are going to import from New Zealand DONT!

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

Submitted by Pedro (not verified) on Wed, 04/16/2008 - 23:10.

hey guys, Puz is correct... 'gamesman' web guru .mantis has just confirmed that ALL NEW ZEALAND RETAILERS ARE GETTING THE AUSTRALIAN VERSION. Import a US one if you want the rizzle dizzle.

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Michael Chandra: So really the guy's own words strike me as "wah! How dare you disagree with me!" behaviour, which is the sort of childish attitude I am unfortunately not surprised by.10/20/2014 - 2:17pm

Michael Chandra: Correct AE, but then again the owner's own words are about "wishes", not about an order. No "we told him not to", but going against his wishes.10/20/2014 - 2:16pm

Matthew Wilson: yup. sadly that has been true for awhile.10/20/2014 - 2:10pm

james_fudge: welcome to 2014 politics. Increasingly fought online10/20/2014 - 1:54pm

E. Zachary Knight: It is honestly a shame that anyone has to publicly state they are against such vile behavior, but that is the sad life we live.10/20/2014 - 1:46pm

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Andrew Eisen: Michael Chandra - Unless I overlooked it, we haven't seen how the directive to not talk about whatever he wasn't supposed to talk about was phrased so it’s hard to say if it could have been misconstrued as a suggestion or not.10/20/2014 - 12:35pm

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Neo_DrKefka: https://archive.today/F14zZ https://archive.today/SxFas https://archive.today/1upoI https://archive.today/0hu7i https://archive.today/NsPUC https://archive.today/fLTQv https://archive.today/Wpz8S10/20/2014 - 11:21am

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quiknkold: ugh. I want to know why the hell Mozerella Sticks are 4 dollars at my works cafeteria...are they cooked in Truffle Oil?10/20/2014 - 10:41am

Neo_DrKefka: Anti-Gamergate supporter Robert Caruso attacks female GamerGate supporter by also attacking another cause she support which is the situation happening in Syia “LET SYRIANS SUFFER” https://archive.today/F14zZ https://archive.today/Wpz8S10/20/2014 - 10:18am

Neo_DrKefka: That is correct in an At-Will state you or the employer can part ways at any time. However Florida also has laws on the books about "Wrongful combinations against workers" http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2012/448.04510/20/2014 - 10:07am

james_fudge: he'd die if he couldn't talk about Wii U :)10/20/2014 - 9:16am

Michael Chandra: By the way, I am not saying Andrew should stop talking about Wii-U. I find it quite nice. :)10/20/2014 - 8:53am

Michael Chandra: 'How dare he ignore my wishes and my advice! I am his boss! I could have ordered him but I should be able to say it's advice rather than ordering him directly!'10/20/2014 - 8:52am

Michael Chandra: If GP goes "EZK, do not talk about X publicly for a week, we're preparing a big article on it" and he still tweets about X, they'd have a legitimate reason to be pissed.10/20/2014 - 8:52am

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