Australia Getting a Tamer GTA Experience

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It seems that Australia is all up in arms as of late over video game ratings and Rockstar has taken this as a reason to cut some mature material from the latest Grand Theft Auto title.

The folks at Rockstar have yet to reveal exactly what was cut; they’ve only confirmed that they have indeed cut content. What’s slightly bizarre about this is that GTAIV had already been reviewed and given an MA15+ rating, which means it’s A-Ok for store shelves, just not for young’uns. It would seem that the cuts weren’t necessary at all.

Back in December, our own Patrick Steen reported on this very rating, and remarked “So can we expect a tamer GTA experience? We don’t think so.”

As much as I would love to rub in his face how wrong he was, I would’ve agreed with him. Why did they make cuts?

Source: itwire

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  • Leathersoup

    Do Australians in general have some sort of complex because the country was settled by criminals? It seems that they try too hard to be “holier than thou” when it comes to stuff like this. It reminds me of Germany. After the whole Nazi thing they now seem to be overbearing on the other side of things.

    If anything it will probably lead to more nutcases than less. Anytime people try to force behavior, the end result seems to be counter intuitive to what was originally hoped for.

  • shajir

    Should not be a problem with the PS3, as it plays games from all the regions.. Indeed as Dylan mentioned, there was no need to make any cuts.. They could have given it an 18+ rating and left it alone.. Maybe the rating board knew that all the 15+ is going to play this game irrespective of the rating, so they had to force a GTA4 cut down version.. can’t say…

  • John Kershaw

    As a UK gamer I often feel shafted, but then I talk to my mates on Auz and it’s all put in perspective.

  • http://www.eightwaymovement.blogspot.com John Robertson

    i dont believe australia has an 18+ rating – any games that fall into that category are banned. seems like rockstar took the cuts in order to be able to release the game at all. the aussie government recently said this has to change, perhaps in response to the public outcry at the cuts for gta4.

  • http://zeitgeistmovie.com/ DavidGX

    How lame. I’m glad I don’t live in Australia.

  • luke

    DavidGX
    on April 4, 2008 9:01 pm

    How lame. I’m glad I don’t live in Australia.

    I’m glad you don’t live in Australia too David :)

    Leathersoup
    on April 4, 2008 11:09 am

    Do Australians in general have some sort of complex because the country was settled by criminals? It seems that they try too hard to be “holier than thou” when it comes to stuff like this. It reminds me of Germany. After the whole Nazi thing they now seem to be overbearing on the other side of things.

    If anything it will probably lead to more nutcases than less. Anytime people try to force behavior, the end result seems to be counter intuitive to what was originally hoped for.

    Just a question Leathersoup. If the Video Games rating board have cut some material from the game, how would we know anyway? Your argument is flawed, you’re suggesting because some “violence/nudity/drug use is cut out the game people will be more inclined to act out on something that isn’t there?

    And yes we are a country settled by criminals. But remember mate, back in the day criminals we’re sent here for something as small as stealing loaves of bread to feed family, we’re a really scary breed. Where might you be from?

  • Leathersoup

    I apologize if I have upset your delicate sense of self. I’m simply trying to deduce why the Australian government would feel it necessary to censor games which are aimed at adults. Also I love the way they refer to censorship as toning down.

    Do they also prevent you from seeing Cheech and Chong movies? How about Mad Max? Is there no pornography in the entire almighty empire of Australia? If you can find any of the above things in your country then there’s no reason why they should request that the game Grand Theft Auto should be “toned down”.

    In reference to where I live? Canada.

  • LC

    it’s because governments think they can legislate morality…or whatever, its complicated, a bunch of do gooders who think its there job to protect the world from whatever artificial evil that will ruin everything… some countries are more anti violence like Australia and Germany and here in America it ain’t no different with games like the witcher being neutered of its promiscuous content… it’s stupid and unfortunate buts its a problem that will never go away.

  • luke

    I don’t know how my sense of “self” had anything to do with my post, I’m sure someone will figure it out. I’m not disagreeing with you about the censorship Leathersoup, I agree with you actually. My point is, “toning the game down” has no effect whatsoever. Anyone who acts out on these games have issues already. If its not the game thats the primer it would be something else.

    These days censorship is pretty much dead and buried now anyway…………..haven’t you ever used youtube?

  • Linc

    Rockstar will sell more games given a 15+ rating than if they are given an 18+ rating.

    If they decide to trim some content to get a 15+ rating then it means more money. Plain and simple.

    ps. I would rather live here in Aussieland with trimmed down games and perfect weather all year round than anywhere else, especially next door to USA! ha ha

  • Patrick Steen

    Linc: If it had an 18+ rating in OZ it would be banned – they wouldn’t be able to sell it. So it’s necessary to get a 15+ rating, not optional

  • http://www.eightwaymovement.blogspot.com John Robertson

    rockstar have been on of the most vocal recently about australia introducing an 18 certificate, so gamers can xperience their games without cuts.