Australian game rating board under fire for Lost and Damned classification
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Feb 18th 2009 at 11:50AM } 
However, the OFLC has recently come under fire from its harshest critics, not due to its refusal to classify certain games, but rather, because of its rating for the recently released expansion to GTA IV, The Lost and Damned. These critics take issue with the fact that the expansion earned a rating from the OFLC without undergoing any content cuts, while GTA IV was forced to clean up its act before getting approved. These critics claim the similarities between the core game and expansion are evidence of major disparities in the Australian rating board.
These critics might have a point -- the OFLC could be taking on a more lax approach to their classification of mature content titles. However, it's just as likely that Rockstar made content cuts to Lost and Damned before the first submission in order to avoid a refusal of classification -- and a costly resubmission. There's only one way to tell: Australian readers, we need you to boot up the game and, well, check for any and all wangs. We know, it's a lot to ask.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Laggy @ Feb 18th 2009 12:04PM
If the Australian OFLC somehow materialized into a living entity I would sit it down and have a harsh word with it, then proceed to swiftly beat the living daylights out of it.
As an Australian it really dissapoints me that something like this can happen. We have the entire gaming world asking why we can't have the R18+ rating, and all they can come up with is some shitty excuses most likely involving children and russian spies... or something, I just don't know anymore.
E07 @ Feb 18th 2009 12:18PM
I'm Australian and have played through a few missions, and though I haven't yet seen that cutscene, I have noticed that the things cut from our original version, such as the controllable camera when with a hooker and blood pooling on the ground are back in Lost and Damned which is strange.
kavendano14 @ Feb 18th 2009 1:30PM
it's early in the game so i guess you aren't going to see it
ScottG13 @ Feb 18th 2009 12:58PM
Can we just admit that Australians are afraid of boobs and wieners?
Dave @ Feb 18th 2009 1:24PM
Ya main boobs and waynaz?
ScottG13 @ Feb 18th 2009 1:34PM
OY!
Vidikron @ Feb 18th 2009 1:27PM
I was reading about this yesterday on another site and someone said that R* wasn't actually forced to clean up GTAIV. They edited the content on their own assuming it would be rejected without the edits just as previous GTA games were.
But then when launched the PC version later in the year they decided to see what would happen if they submitted an unedited version and to their surprise it was rated. So that's why this is happening. Since they were successful with the unedited PC version they submitted an unedited L&D and it too was accepted and rated just as the PC version was.
I don't know if all that it true, but that's what others were saying.
JDAC @ Feb 19th 2009 2:39PM
There are times when you think that here in the USA, we have a real problem with puritan thinking (think Janet Jackson).
Then you read about Australia and realize that while things have a long way to go til we reach enlightenment in America, the Land of Oz is speedily regressing to the biggest nanny-state in the world.
Good on ya, mates? Strewth!
Qube @ Feb 18th 2009 6:26PM
I'm actually a believer in Australia's ratings system - short of this of R18 debacle. It's the one damning mark that brings the entire OFLC into question, when the rest of the system (also applied to tv, films, dvd etc.) actually works.
For example, there is a meaningful age gap between mature (15+) and adult (18+) ratings (what is the fundamental difference between a 17 and 18 year old in the USA? nothing, that's what). Ratings are enforced at retail (yes, that's a good thing). The industry is not rating itself (yes, that's also a good thing).
Laugh all you want, but if the Australian attorneys general can agree that video games deserve the same ratings as video, the OFLC will have one of the better systems IMO.
kombat wombat @ Feb 19th 2009 7:57AM
What you just described is the BBFC exactly! (Pretty much anyway, if the game were to be rated 12 plus, it has to go through the BBFC, if not, it can be self rated, but it would be illegal to pretend so that's pretty much a non-issue.)
The BBFC universally rates DVDs, Games, Films, etc., and has a 18+ rating for games. Generally I think the BBFC is one of the better systems, because it is very reasonable in it's ratings, actually plays the games, understands the marketplace, but most importantly of all is statutory.
YourMom @ Feb 18th 2009 3:40PM
Here we go again
falafeln @ Feb 18th 2009 7:17PM
eek, a penis
mandiller @ Feb 18th 2009 5:49PM
The wang is included in the Aus version. I've seen the cutscene.
AJ @ Feb 18th 2009 11:50PM
There are wangs, loads of wangs, we are up to arse in wangs.
Also there is more blood spray, blood splatter on screen and bigger pools of blood when you kill someone. AND when you pick up one of those ladies of negotionable affection for a little adult recreation you get the 'too much information' animation, whereas previously it was just a bouncing number plate.
Lost and the Damned is the unedited version of GTA IV. Unfortunately if you play as Nico all the edits are still in place.
Side note, the PC version of GTA IV was released with no edits in Australia as well. Proving that the Australian OFLC are just completely batshiat crazy.
Australian Gamers deserve more wang.
barnaby hotdoggin @ Feb 19th 2009 4:45AM
its not all aussies you fools. its a couple of idiots in an office making decisions about things they know nothing about. idiots pandering to parents who use games as a babysitter and sook when things go wrong, blaming games/music anything but themselves and their shoddy parenting.
like a bunch of jack thompsons in an office that has the power to ban games. the real aussie gamers just want a damn +18 rating, but according to the people in power games are just for kids.