Australian GTA IV was censored before classification. New Zealand got the same game despite having an R rating at its disposal. The story’s been told many times but, before today, it seemed nothing more a depressing reminder of how outdated our classification system is and how NZ got caught in its crappiness.
While Oz is still fighting for games to be treated like movies and literature, NZ no longer has to deal with an edited GTA IV.
Stan Calif, owner of NZ retailer First Games took it upon himself to pay the $NZ 1400 ($AU 1130) fee to have the unedited GTA IV classified by the country’s OFLC. It took a number of weeks for events to transpire but finally, New Zealand gamers can buy the complete version of GTA IV from Stan’s store.
You can read the entire story beyond the link.
GTA IV Uncut Hits New Zealand [Geekpulp]
anthonii
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 4:32 PMI want to know what was actually censored?
NegativeZero
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 4:40 PMGood for him. I wonder if he’ll ship to Australia? I still haven’t bothered to pick the game up after the whole ratings thing and their decision to region-lock the US 360 release.
takuie
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 5:51 PMNegative you do realise that the UK one is uncut? I got mine a few days after the release and been enjoying it ever since.
ban
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 6:08 PMthere’s honestly bugger all in it worth censoring and bugger all worth importing the uncensored version for. i think what i’m saying here is that it will not affect your gameplay as far as i am aware (unless you really like watching 3D models give fake handjobs?)
still, good on that man. how about an uncensored pal no more heroes? just in case freeloader gets borked..
Dave
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 6:16 PMOn their site it says they ship to australia. Probably best to contact them directly.
Alex
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 6:24 PMI emailed him and yes he will ship to Australia. Good times!
Kurt
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 7:31 PMby anthonii at 4:32 PM
“I want to know what was actually censored?”
- Go here: http://www.refused-classification.com/ud_08_05.htm
Also, great job Stan! My PS3 copy has just now gone up on Trademe and if/when it sells I’ll be ordering from his site.
Trel
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 10:28 PMWhat even WAS censored? I’ve got an Australian copy and I’ve done it all, picked up whores, killed guys and seen the resulting blood, videos seem to show American version strippers are still just barely covered up by clothes, what was it?
formulated
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 10:59 PMBAN: there’s no such thing as a PAL uncensored version of No More Heroes, there’s a lot more involved in making that happen. Stan Calif merely went to the effort of legalising imported UK PAL copies of GTAIV.
I’ve got the UK version for my 360 – on principal that as a paying customer I deserve the full game, even if that does include lame prostitute encounters.
Chillyhollow
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 12:41 AMStan, you are my hero.
bazuden
Friday, May 23, 2008 at 12:06 PMI agree, FORMULATED.
As paying customers we deserve stimulation simulation.
Ahmad
Friday, May 23, 2008 at 10:23 PMCongratulations Stan. You made it onto New Zealand National TV for your efforts.
Video available here:
http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/GTA4uncutnowavailableinNZ/tabid/209/articleID/56995/cat/41/Default.aspx
LELELELERORORORORYYYYYYYyy
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 2:29 PMAussie aussie aussie eat shit shit
DrGreenThumb NZ
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 2:36 PMStan the man :)
Its a joke we got aus ver, why didnt NZ get the bloody UK ver we got R18 games here ,yes were more evolved then our drongo aussie neigbours
mike
Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 4:42 PMits so stupid that they banned the word “bloody” in australian tourism ads over in the uk. but then the uk has a fully uncut GTA and Australia has a censored one..