Comments on: Rumour: Here’s What Rockstar Removed From Australian/NZ GTA IV

By: Skin Bintin

Skin Bintin — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:11:22 +0000

So thanks to Australia’s censorship rules us Kiwi’s must suffer? I really wanted the full version, and heard that’s what I was getting. This is such a shame. If I wasn’t so anti game piracy I’d just download the leaked UK version from bittorrent. Oh the pain of having morals :(

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:06:13 +0000

@AJ: I don't know about Australia, but the Cheif Censor in NZ (Bill Hastings) answered this in an interview by Gameplanet:

'GP: If our readers import the unedited version from, for example, the UK, what is the likely penalty if they get caught?

Mr Hastings: Unless the game a person imports is objectionable (as is the case, for example, with Manhunt), there is no penalty for importing a game for your own use. A foreign classification is no guarantee that a game is not objectionable under New Zealand law. In the case of GTA IV however, I note that the British Board of Film Classification has given it an 18 certificate, so I rather doubt that either version is objectionable.

If your readers import the UK version into New Zealand for their own use, there is no penalty provided it is not objectionable under New Zealand law. It does not even need a New Zealand label if you import it for your own use. If anyone decides to offer the UK version for sale or hire in New Zealand however, it will have to be submitted for classification and a New Zealand label.'

[url]http://www.gameplanet.co.nz/news/131637.20080417.GTA-IV-Chief-Censor-talks-to-Gameplanet/[/url]

I don't care about what's been taken out and what's not. I've made up my mind to just import it.

By: Geeeee

Geeeee — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:22:16 +0000

Interesting, I still buy gta iv here im just interested in the game play after i clock the game then ill import maybe. I remembre clocking San andras un censored in aus and then clocking the cencored version they were so similar i coulnt find eny diffferences.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:27:57 +0000

This rumour is completely true, as this was the information that I, and some of my fellow SCE-NZ collegues, got out of Take 2 Interactive NZ on Wednesday 16th April.

By: bunta001

bunta001 — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:54:40 +0000

got mine for $90 At Noel Leeming

By: AJ

AJ — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:48:04 +0000

I'm pretty sure the imagined, naieve whingy Ms. Lovejoy style parents that Michael mentions don't exist. I've never heard of parents making official complaints or taking action against media outlets in Australia. Likewise the OFLC are just an organisation doing their job within the guidelines set to them and Rockstar just want us to have their product and be happy.

If you want to lay some thick, creamy blame on someone it should all go squarely totally and utterly on the head of the Attorney General's of Australia, and one in particular. The law makers are completely to blame for the state of our media classification laws and its at their biased discretion that we get decided for us what media we can consume. Not that it matters that technology has gone beyond their ability to enforce their laws, or that popular culture is vastly different from how they perceive it, they'll keep on paddling their sinking ship and take the Australian Games industry, Australian game consumers and the OFLC down with them.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:18:04 +0000

$98 at DSE Powerhouse with VIP Card (NZ)

By: P.P.Bohner

P.P.Bohner — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:03:45 +0000

@Mike and @AJ
Do some shopping around. JB (where I shop when I buy locally) have the game available on pre-order for $115. Play-Asia has it for AU$70. OK, not quite half-price but a big saving. As for whatever they’ve taken out (at this stage it’s all still just rumour), the issue is bigger than that. If you’re happy to have the government make decisions as to what you’re capable of playing/viewing, that’s your choice. I’ll make those decisions for myself.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:46:43 +0000

Its just stupid that we dont have an R rating but the only ppl you can blame it on are the idiot parents that buy there kids MA+ games then complain because there too graphic thats what is making it take sooooo long for this to happen that and the old fuddy duddy ppl making the rules once the really old ones die off there will be changes.Anywho im not bothered about the missing scene but i will be annoyed it they do put stars on the womans breasts and stuff cos it just looks stupid.

By: Danny K

Danny K — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:24:59 +0000

I don’t like the idea that I am paying equal to 146 USD for the biggest game of this decade, and that I will NOT be getting the exact same experience that Rockstar intended me to have or the same experience the rest of the world is getting. The biggest release in the history of video games and us Australians have to settle for less than the complete experience