Grand Theft Auto IV edited for Australia

360 News | Rockstar yet to disclose what's missing from the Aussie version.

Despite confirming to PALGN a few months ago that Grand Theft Auto IV would not be edited in anyway for Australia, Rockstar has now told SMH journalist Jason Hill that the Australian copy will be edited.

Grand Theft Auto IV was awarded an MA15+ rating on December the 11th, 2007. In a post on his blog, Jason Hill stated that a Rockstar spokesperson confirmed to Screenplay that the company had produced a special version of Grand Theft Auto IV to comply with the Australian classification system. The spokesperson would not comment on what has been cut from the game, so for now Australians are forced to play the waiting game. We're not sure when or if Rockstar will disclose what is different in the Australian version, but if they do we'll report back.

Related Grand Theft Auto IV Content

GTA IV receives multiplayer focused patch
24 Jun, 2008 Exploits and connectivity issues targeted.

GTA IV sells 8.5 million
06 Jun, 2008 That's a lot of copies in about six weeks.

GTA IV cut details emerge
24 May, 2008 So, what's missing from our version?

Page12 3 4 5 Next

119 Comments

Itachi

4 years ago

You should be angry Luke they lied to you arghhhh!!!

B3NBO

4 years ago

F U rockstar. Atleast say what the content was!!

Shadow Wave

4 years ago

Sigh... was going to go for xbox 360... but now it seems im forced to go for the PS3 version since thats already confirmed for region free.

/sigh. I miss achievements.

GroovySamurai

4 years ago

Phew, luckily I didn't preorder yet. Is GTA IV 360 going to be region free? I'll probably import if it is. Sucks that they lied about it being uncensored..

NeoSanity

4 years ago

Who wants to lynch the OFLC with me?

No, well I guess a nasty letter will work or maybe an e-mail with plenty of exclamations. Maybe blackmail will work?

ugh the boot

4 years ago

I'm not waiting for ****, infact i'm gonna start importing every game from now on. Screw this stupid country and them trying to control my media.

Yea and Rockstar are EXTRA EXTRA **** for lying about it originally and not telling what has been cut.

I'm on the verge of getting the Ps3 version cuz I know that version is region free and special editions are still available online.

This is one of the biggest **** in a long time Australia and Rockstar and it's had a major impact on me and whether or not I will continue to purchase games in australia. Get the R18+ system quick cuz you're not gonna be getting anymore money from me.

Luke

4 years ago

Why are the OFLC to blame? It was Rockstar's decision to submit an edited version of the title for rating. It is very disappointing that the title has been edited and that Rockstar didn't mention this when I asked them a few month's ago.

ugh the boot

4 years ago

Well the fact that there is an R18+ version going around means Rockstar had to take the original version and edit it to conform to our stupid standards, i'm sure they would've released the game just as it was (and subsequently spent less time on it) if they could. So the OFLC is completely to blame! Rockstar wouldnt've even made an edited vsersion if it wasn't for the OFLC.

It's low of Rockstar to lie about the issue, but they've lied because of our stupid rules not their own!

lennex15

4 years ago

Can you confirm whether Rockstar or the OFLC will be editing the downloadable content for the 360 version in Australia.

Thanks for acknowledging that i raised awareness of this through the General Pal Talk forum 2.5 hrs ago. Maybe I'm being fickle.

NeoSanity

4 years ago

Luke wrote

I really do think that the OFLC has had some kind of say in this. I find it very odd that Rockstar themselves would decide to censor something on their own accord. They've re-submitted banned games before for review that I know. Not to mention the actual cost for them everytime they submit a game for review.

Luke

4 years ago

I believe it all comes down to finances, I believe that to appeal a decision at the OFLC it costs thousands of dollars, Rockstar were probably aware that the version they currently have wouldn't pass.

The OFLC is never to blame, they are a government body that hasn't 'decided' not to give R18+ ratings, they are limited.

NeoSanity

4 years ago

Luke wrote

You'd think they'd try their luck with the OFLC and potentially lose a couple of thousand of dollars rather than take the safe road and save us a couple of grand. What what I've read I would not be surprised if it did pass classification, but for Rockstar to take the safe route and save a couple of thousand on such a headline title seem odd to me. That's why I think that the OFLC must've had some word to them about it.

ugh the boot

4 years ago

Hey guys i'm getting desperate, can anyone tell me where I can order a special edition online right now for either the Ps3 or 360?!?! Please help!

ARRRGGHHHH!!! This has really pissed me off!!! Stupid stupid MA15+ crap rating ****!!! ARRGHHHH!!!

Jim Dash

4 years ago

Probably Neo, considering Rockstar's past. They would've been watching very closely.

Seems Rockstar didn't want to risk getting rejected in the first place.

NeoSanity

4 years ago

Jim Dash wrote

Seems Rockstar didn't want to risk getting rejected in the first place.

Though that's the thing, Rockstar are known to take these sorts of risks when it comes to their games. Grand Theft Auto and Bully are two of their more controversial titles.
It's like saying I'm going to release a horror movie and then remove all the decapitation scenes because it might get an R-rating. Your making a game where your stealing cars and killing people here of course your teetering on that line of decency. That it's been the controversial titles that Rockstar have released that have made them as popular as they are today.

donovan515

4 years ago

Sigh well I want to know what were missing out on before we import.

ObsoletE

4 years ago

Luke wrote

The OFLC is never to blame, they are a government body that hasn't 'decided' not to give R18+ ratings, they are limited.

Correct, they're an enforcement agency, not the people who define the laws.

i guess it really comes down to what has been removed as far as whether we can say that they (the OFLC) actually had a say in the matter, but really, even if they (Rockstar) consulted with the OFLC prior to submission, there has only been 1 submission, so it was still Rockstar's choice not to try their luck with the uncensored version.

this all does make me worry about patches and DLC though in the future. i mean, we already don't get Ninja Gaiden Black because it hasn't been reviewed, so if there's something even slightly off in one of these DLC packs, it's possible we won't even see it.
and that's without potential conflict issues.

Capoeira

4 years ago

Ugh, if you've got a Aussie special edition on order already, don't cancel it.

Pick it up on release day, sell the game and import the uncut version from wherever.

That is unless you feel too strongly against paying an Aussie retailer for the gimped version. At least this way you're still assured all the extra content. You're going to have a very hard time finding a special edition this close to release.

I'm just as pissed off as the rest of you guys but there's no way I'm going to sacrifice my SE ticket. I still want to know what exactly has been cut from the game so I can make my mind up whether it's worth pursuing other options.

NeoSanity

4 years ago

ObsoletE wrote

i guess it really comes down to what has been removed as far as whether we can say that they (the OFLC) actually had a say in the matter, but really, even if they (Rockstar) consulted with the OFLC prior to submission, there has only been 1 submission, so it was still Rockstar's choice not to try their luck with the uncensored version.

Though this is it, you read the BBC article about what they see as adult material and it sounds like a stock-standard Grand Theft Auto storyline, shoot-outs, drugs and prostitutes. These are all things that have been in previous games.
You look at it like that and really you begin to think why would Rockstar decide to just edit the game last minute? Now I say that the OFLC has seen the material that'll end up in the game, they've advised Rockstar that the game might not pass classification and to re-consider some elements of the game. Rockstar have taken this as it may very well be banned and changed the game around just to please the reviewers.

Am I the only one who sees something wrong here? If you've got government bodies getting into the ears of developers like this you begin to think how much of an influence they have on the games that are released here.

Peveus

4 years ago

This sickens me. That's all I can say.

But now I'll add this: Even New Zealand has the uncut version. Screw you Rockstar + OFLC.

RhysDeschain

4 years ago

Wow, this is bad.
Went and bought a US special edition off Amazon the second I read this, and will cancel my order at work next time I'm in.
Really don't care what's been edited, the fact it is is enough for me not to get it. Looks like I'll be waiting a couple of weeks before I get to play it then... :'(

el_rezzo

4 years ago

My spleen just burst in anger. I was prepared to buy the 360 version at the inflated price of $100 for the achievements and DLC, but now I'll just import the PS3 version from Play Asia for the $75 or so.

mipac

4 years ago

I'll still be getting my PS3 Aus version. To be honest, I don't really care unless a major gameplay element has been cut out.

ObsoletE

4 years ago

Neo.Sanity wrote

ObsoletE wrote

my point is though, that the OFLC is a reactive entity, not a proactive one, and they work in a transparent fashion, meaning that if something is submitted for review, it's listed. (check the listing for GTA4 and compare it to the listing of GTA3. note especially the Version label. and if you search the database, including RC material, you can see that GTA3 was submitted 3 times.)

now, i'm not saying that the OFLC didn't send off a list, or that Rockstar didn't send the OFLC a list of likely suspects that were commented on (or ore likely, the would've hired some form of consultant, since even a submission of a list contravenes the way the OFLC are supposed to work), it's possible they did, but i really don't think the OFLC are to blame here, since even if a list was commented on, it was up to Rockstar to submit what they submitted, and apparently that was a different product to what was submitted elsewhere.

(i'm also not saying i'm not disappointed that we're being fed a censored product, i'm extremely disappointed, i'm just saying that the OFLC are really only doing their job as it's defined to them. they don't make the laws, they just uphold them.)

Page12 3 4 5 Next

View as forum topic

Add Comment

Like this news?

Share it with this tiny url: http://palg.nu/1bY

| More

Grand Theft Auto IV

Pre-order or buy:
PALGN recommends: www.Play-Asia.com

Australian Release Date:
  29/04/2008 (Confirmed)
Standard Retail Price:
  $119.95 AU
Publisher:
  Rockstar Games
Genre:
  Action
Year Made:
  2007

Read more...