GTA IV edited for Australia

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 4th 2008 at 1:00AM }

The Age reports Australia's MA15+ rated Grand Theft Auto IV is an edited version of the game. Rockstar confirmed that it made a special edition of the game to comply with the Australia's classification system, which currently does not have an R18+ rating. Rockstar refused to comment on what content had been cut from the game.

If past issues with the Aussies are any indication, Rockstar may have had to remove some mclovin. GTA III needed to remove the prostitutes for classification in 2001 and GTA:Vice City also required editing. GTA: San Andreas received an MA15+ until, well ... you know. We're following up with Rockstar to find out what's missing from the Australian version, just because it seems silly for the company not to say it's something simple like picking up hookers. Even Germany's USK gave the game an 18+ rating, so it obviously didn't set off their violence alarms and trigger the group's non-rating limbo maneuver. What are the Aussies going to miss out on when GTA IV launches April 29?

[Thanks Simon]

Tags: australia, censor, edited, gta-iv, gtaiv

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Moffka @ Apr 4th 2008 1:09AM

I guess the Aussies should stick with the PS3 version of GTAIV then and import a copy from the U.S. to get the unedited game.

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 4th 2008 1:10AM

Today I pre-ordered the Collectors Edition of this game...

I don't why I'm not hyped... I'm gonna buy it just for collectible reason... but I'm 100% that I will never finish this game.

=(

Moffka @ Apr 4th 2008 1:24AM

Do you even need the lock box and all that crap?

I had the collectors edition preordered, but then realized I didn't need any of that stuff and sure would look silly walking around with a GTAIV dufflebag.

Either way... GTA games story modes aren't that long, so it's sad if you don't finish it. It's trying to get 100% in the entire game thats impossible.

Slayer @ Apr 4th 2008 1:27AM

Same here. I don't think I've ever completed GTA game. I'm still going to get GTA 4 when it's released though.

bto @ Apr 4th 2008 1:36AM

Personally, the only game I didn't finish in the series was San Andreas. But, then again, I lost interest in that one in two days. It just didn't feel right, as opposed to 3 and Vice City, which I finished at 100%.

Savok @ Apr 4th 2008 1:27AM

Ah well, here we go importing from New Zealand again.

Brian @ Apr 4th 2008 1:45AM

I owuldbe cautious about importing from NZ untill they know for sure their version won't be gimped as well.

Moffka @ Apr 4th 2008 1:44AM

Oh you can do that, ha. A lot cheaper than getting it from the U.S. I would assume.

Schmobu @ Apr 4th 2008 2:04AM

I'm from New Zealand and all our games are just your games with a new Zealand ratings sticker put over the Aussie one, so your in as much a shit I'm in

Schmobu @ Apr 4th 2008 2:06AM

After looking at my Aus games and NZ ones, my copy of Dead rising (NZ) has the same ratings sticker than My copy of Gears Of War (AUS) oh wow it's even worse than I thought.

Savok @ Apr 4th 2008 2:12AM

Yes but you're all forgetting New Zealand has an 18+ rating where Australia doesn't.

This is how most Australians got the uncensored Vice City and GTA3 (post-recall), they imported from New Zealand and I'm sure Rockstar know this.

Schmobu @ Apr 4th 2008 2:53AM

Aye I see what you mean, most games are the exact same as their Aus counterparts, exept a few such as GTA 3 and Vice City and soon to be GTA 4. Oh well I wont be able to play GTA 4 until 3 months after release anyway.

Why Trick Why

Munchman @ May 9th 2008 1:30PM

The New Zealand Version is same as Aust this time around, Rockstar don't have a Map it seems.

Nequam @ Apr 4th 2008 1:53AM

Shouldn't we have this information available to us before we pre-order a game?

Now I have no idea what parts of the game will be taken out and I've already paid for the damn thing. Not really good business practice from T2.

brokenscope @ Apr 4th 2008 4:00AM

Did you preorder it from T2 directly?

Nequam @ Apr 4th 2008 4:24AM

@brokenscope

no need for sarcasm buddy. You know as well as I do T2 could have informed Australian distributors that the game will be edited for release here. Simple.

ViagraFiend @ Apr 4th 2008 10:20AM

hold it there nequam, I think he's trying to help. If you preordered it from T2, you should be able to call them and request the NZ 18+ version.

The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Apr 4th 2008 2:05AM

I'm guessing that by censoring GTA IV they probably just gave Nico erectile dysfunction. So that the sexual simulation in this game is equal to that of a panda.

RabbidMickeyMouse @ Apr 4th 2008 2:38AM

Gah!

I just know that this is going to start more pretentious debating (not here necessarily) about censorship in videogames.

To think I was in the clear after Manhunt 2 was out of the news.

Schmobu @ Apr 4th 2008 2:56AM

Censorship in games suck, why it is the exact same as censoring art, I hear a lawsuit a coming, and not one started by Jack; although it will definitely involve him.

clarkestar @ Apr 4th 2008 3:11AM

Many an aussie has a relative in the UK. Perhaps ask them to send a copy over.

I'll order a UK pal copy from play.com and have it delivered to Australia so that I can play it on my Aussie pal 360.

crucible @ Apr 4th 2008 3:30AM

If they were doing it smart, they'd make it the same disc, but the extra content a download patch for NZ.

Kinda sucks that we don't get it though.

Bender @ Apr 4th 2008 3:59AM

If it's possible to play a USA version of the game on Xbox360, I'd just import that instead.

2 reasons:
1) It won't be overly censored
2) It's cheaper than buying it here (Xbox360 games are AU$110, which is approximately US$100).

There's no reason NOT to import!

crucible @ Apr 4th 2008 4:30AM

Xbox games are region coded so you couldn't play it... wait, would that be a good reason why not?

Bender @ Apr 4th 2008 5:07AM

Really crucible?

Taking a look at www.play-asia.com tells me that some games are region free.

For example:
Universe at War: Earth Assault
Viking: Battle for Asgard
Turning Point: Fall of Liberty
Sega Superstars Tennis
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2
Soldier of Fortune: Payback
plus many more, and that's just the first 2 pages.

Which is WHY I started my comment with "If it's possible".

No need to be a jerk.

V1L3 @ Apr 4th 2008 4:36AM

If anyone's curious, the reason the earlier versions of GTA were edited is because the censorship laws in Australia are very strict on not combining violence and sex.

Sex in Mass Effect and Fahrenheit? Fine.
Violence in Resident Evil 4 and Condemned? Fine.

It's the combination of the two (i.e. having sex with, and then killing someone) that's not allowed, and even an R18 rating probably wouldn't allow for it.

I imagine they've just removed the ability to pick up prostitutes and then kill them. There are supposedly strip club scenes (lap dances, etc) in GTA4, and so long as you can't get a lap dance and then put a bullet in the girl's temple, they've probably been left alone.

Mad Godji @ Apr 4th 2008 4:40AM

What wouldn't they do to ensure a special treatment from Yahtzee!

ChodalBerryWagon @ Apr 4th 2008 5:47AM

I'd prefer if they didn't include an R 18+ system, hardly any games worth playing get banned anyway.
And they won't take much out, you probably won't even notice it.
It just gives them a reason to rate all violent games R 18+ now.

chris @ Apr 4th 2008 9:05AM

Actually one of the big reasons a lot of sane people want to finally introduce an R18+ rating in Australia is so that all the games that get forced into just making it into MA15+ get put into R18+ where they belong. Both letting adults play whatever they want, and meaning less children playing games they probably shouldn't be playing yet.

Henry @ Apr 4th 2008 6:56AM

You Aussies shouldn't be playing video games anyway, you should be out in the sun! If I lived there I would spend as little time as possible indoors. (im from the cold, miserable and rainy UK btw)

Halwende @ Apr 4th 2008 8:35AM

Hmm, GPStore.com.au list GTA IV as "yet to be classified", yet the NZ store lists it still as R18. Nothing's in stone of course, but here's hoping NZ still get the full version - we got the un-edited San Andreas... *crosses fingers*

Ben @ Apr 4th 2008 9:00AM

Can I just say that I wish they would simply put controllable filters on the game? I know that sounds blasphemous to say to video gamers, but what would be the big deal about simply having a "no nudity" checkbox, or a "no language"? It would be so simple and then everybody wins.

And really, what's the reason they don't? Artistic license? I mean, tell me honestly...is a character saying the phrase "don't $%!* with me or I'll kill you" really any different than if it just skipped the curse word and muted it out like on TV? I mean, maybe that would sound weird, but wouldn't it only promote sales to show that if players or parents didn't want to hear/see that, that they could turn it off?

I recognize that in a game like this you obviously can't turn off the violence (which, coincidentally, I don't think *most* parents have a problem with) and I really don't think most people would want to...I'm just saying that if they allowed this option, it would boost sales and R*'s rep, which can't hurt.

j.howlett @ Apr 4th 2008 11:44AM

i had a thought like that. there should be something in the options like fx volume, speach, and brightness where you can toggle bleeps. i use to let my niece ride around on motorcycles and do jumps and sometimes the amount of cussing is to much.

Alexander @ Apr 4th 2008 11:45AM

America Fuck Yeah

Poisoned Al @ Apr 4th 2008 1:10PM

I know this is a sweeping comment, but I'm glad I don't live in places like Australia and Germany. Being forced to play pussy, cut down versions of games, becuase it upsets some old fart who looks for things to be upset about, becuase they got bored with waiting to die!

Frank @ Apr 4th 2008 1:19PM

The dingo ate my content!

ChodalBerryWagon @ Apr 4th 2008 7:29PM

lol

ZeroCorpse @ Apr 4th 2008 1:31PM

You know, I keep hearing from people how "uptight" and "puritan" America is because we don't have nudity in beer commercials, but it seems like every time I turn around, Australia is censoring something that would seem fairly innocent or at least viewable by adults in The United States.

I do believe Australia and Germany take the prize for most censored video games and movies. How about a little respect for the United States and our success in fending off the puritans and politicians so we can at least have the option of buying media aimed at an adult audience?

Bilgin Ozkan @ Apr 5th 2008 7:49AM

and the real stupid part is every time i view a hell's kitchen episode from a US source, it is all censored, where as the episodes that play here in Australia are broadcast just is. Where else can you hear the "C" word on national TV?
ironic.

Mythor @ Apr 4th 2008 9:11PM

The initial Australian release of GTA3 was uncut as it was submitted to the OFLC uncut and was passed uncut.
Then the wowsers found out you could hire a hooker then kill her afterwards to regain your cash. And so the rating was revoked.
The cut version of the game still allowed you to hire a hooker, you just didn't get a chance to kill her afterwards. That's it.

Rockstar are gutless for submitting an already neutered version. Show a little integrity and stand by your game's vision, guys.

Munchman @ May 9th 2008 1:30PM

Um sorry to correct you there but I got the edited version off a mate (while i waited for the unedited version off eBay) and no you can't get with Hookers in GTA3 edited version, in fact since they were game characters you could still kill them but they wouldn't get in your car so they had very little money on them.

jj @ Apr 6th 2008 7:53PM

does anyone know if there are any issues/problems with playing a nz (or any other country that has the same region) games in australia on an australian console, with xbox live and downloadable content? because i know there is content coming for the xbox360 version of gta4, and if i get an uncensored version i want to know if it will work.

dooncan @ Apr 15th 2008 10:08PM

Got this from an NZ store I ordered through

We have been informed today that New Zealand will be receiving the same version of Grand Theft Auto IV as Australia.

As you have placed your order after Rockstar announced that the Australian version was edited, we are assuming that you will no longer require the game to be shipped from us, as we can't supply you with an uncut version.

The last thing we want to do is supply you with a product that does not meet your needs and we've therefore taken the liberty of removing your GTA4 order from our web site.

We certainly hope we can be more helpful to you in the future! :)

Kind Regards,

Katey

Customer Service
Gameplanet Store

Jak @ Apr 17th 2008 5:08AM

this is bullshit, just because australia have stupid rating rules, we here in NZ have to suffer too? JESUS FUCK!

Bloodfeast138 @ Apr 21st 2008 11:54AM

As an Aussie all I can say is God bless America!!
Got my US version of GTA preordered from America seeing as how the bunch of Fascists in charge of us downunder keep either banning or censoring stuff.
I know it hasn't exactly gotten rave reviews but after playing the first one I would've liked to at least had a try of Manhunt 2 but unless it gets released on the PS3 which given it's sales on the PS2 seems unlikely guess all I can do with that one is look at the screenshots and use my imagination thanks to our backward government.
I just hope with that with ordering GTA IV from overseas the government doesn't click onto it too fast so we don't get stupid situations like where buying Aus versions of Manhunt on Ebay australia is like buying something off the black market.

bryce @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:47PM

if i order a ps3 vesion of it from america will i be abl to play it in australia

dannyboyinxs @ Apr 27th 2008 12:36AM

you should be able to play the us version here in aus... when i got an xbox 360 magazine from the uk, i had to change the locale to be able to view the game disc.

You should be able to change the country settings, the one's that you set when you first set up your ps3. under "locale" just choose australia and it should work.

Daniel @ Apr 27th 2008 12:33AM

yeah, there are a lot of fuckups with australia's stupid system.... especially with that ramsay's kitchen show comment.... we show ramsay's kitchen nightmare's at an 8:30 timeslot, with swearing and everything, but they dont wanna let us play a miserable fucking game that shouldn't be cut up and edited so more people can play it. It's not about censorship, they just want more fucking sales, fucking communists. The same happened with manhunt... honestly have we had any reports in australia of "game-related violence"
NO WE FUCKEN HAVENT! SO STFU OFLC! AND GIVE IT A R-18 RATING SO SOME OF US CAN AT LEAST ENJOY IT FFS!

i feel pretty bad tho for nz, they're just fucken paranoid about someone going into a grocery store and pulling out a sawn off when its them not the fucking game!

i could go on....