Grand Theft Auto IV rated in Australia

360 News | Game passes classification, we cheer.

A quick check of the OFLC database this evening has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto IV has been rated in Australia.

The game has been rated MA15+ with the consumer advise stating that the game has strong violence, strong coarse language and drug and sexual references, sounds like GTA to us. The news that the game has been classified is sure to bring about thousands of sighs of relief, as Grand Theft Auto III was pulled from the shelves in Australia for a few months and both Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas were both edited for the Australian market.

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18 Comments

ObsoletE

4 years ago

/cheer

i'm guessing there's currently no indication as to whether this has been toned down for an Aussie release or no?

Luke

4 years ago

I doubt it, especially considering how early the classification was.

Kikujir0

4 years ago

Hurrah!

Is it just me or does that guys face have an uncanny resemblance to Zhakaev's (sp) Son in CoD4? (The guy in the blue and white jacket you have to chase)

EDIT: I Read the posts above, well hopefully testers wont delve too deep into the game to witness something the mummies wont like their 8 year olds playing. (San Andreas anyone?) So getcha copies quick and you can say you had the original version before they take back all the stock and redo the game.

diogenes92

4 years ago

What a surprise!! (sarcasm lol), can't wait for this, sounds like it's getting closer to completion, hopefully it'd be out earlier then we think...

DrTim

4 years ago

The main reason GTA III was pulled was because of hookers and the fact you could kill them after you "had" one, and get your money back. They didn't have hookers in VC though, but then brought them back in SA, so I wonder what the deal is with this one..?

Luke

4 years ago

I'm pretty sure they did have hookers in Vice didn't they? I know the game was edited in some way from the UK release, San Andreas was merely edited because of Hot Coffee though.

Jellyfish

4 years ago

The classification was so quick because Rockstar didn't have to add blood or the hookers for our version

Bronze

4 years ago

Mario Kart Wii has just been rated as well.

No, not a virtual console release, THE Mario Kart Wii.

Rated MA15+ for drug references, strong coarse language, sex scenes, horror, and nudity.

...or possibly rated G with mention of the online experience potentially putting you in touch with the likes of pedophiles, and much worse... casual gamers.

brad_sickness

4 years ago

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the game takes the same route as some of the other GTA games. Released, pulled off shelves then re-released again.

BurnZ

4 years ago

MA huh, thought that it might of been that. One step closer to it being here.

matrix-cat

4 years ago

How can they rate an unfinished game? What if Rockstar's finishing touch in development is to add a bunch of child-murdering missions?

Luke

4 years ago

I believe it is the responsibility of the publisher to inform the OFLC of all of the possible things in a game that may bump up the rating, so if Rockstar added something in at the last moment the fault would be on them.

Capoeira

4 years ago

A genuine thanks to the OFLC for giving me one less reason to hate them.

Ok, maybe hate is too strong a word. One less reason to stare menacingly at my screen then.

Karai Pantsu

4 years ago

DrTim wrote

Easy, you just can't get your money back from a hooker that you've killed! Take away the money and its totally family friendly

James

4 years ago

Karai Pantsu wrote

DrTim wrote

Easy, you just can't get your money back from a hooker that you've killed! Take away the money and its totally family friendly

Exactly. That's why I never kill prostitutes for money. Thanks OFLC!

ShadowOnline

4 years ago

Yeah, GTAIII was edited so you couldn't pick up hookers in the first place, that was their solution to the killing afterwards "problem".

I bought the original version (PS2) before it was pulled from shelves, I also worked in a software store at the time, I bought the remaining stock (after the recall notice) from my boss (instead of him sending them back to the disto) and sold them on ebay for a tidy sum ($200+ ea)... before ebay then banned people from selling them... but I got my money before then .. $$

I've been playing San An lately (PC), I picked up the Aussie version, and it seems you can pick up hookers, but when I go find a nice quiet and dark place to park it, nothing happens. Seems this was their fix this time around. Also, when I get offered to buy drugs from the dealers walking the streets, it doesn't let me buy any ... leaving me all strung out!!

So I always end up killing the dealer instead and taking his money.

Fetidchimp

4 years ago

All reminds me of the deleted scene from family guy, when stewie shoots a prostitute coming out of Quagmire's house, money goes everywhere and Quagmire's first reaction is to start dragging the body back inside going alright!

EDIT: i went and had a look at the list of banned games and as i was perusing it, i noticed that Football Manager 07 is banned in China because it recognises Tibet as a country, good god.

lapzod

4 years ago

Luke wrote

That's exactly it. For game developers, they need to provide the OFLC with footage of all possible 'contentious materials' The guys who provide the footage have normally been trained by the OFLC so they know what's contentious and what's not.

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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

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