James Delahunty
5 Apr 2008 21:12
The bad luck experienced by the Grand Theft Auto series of video games in Australia has continued with the upcoming GTA IV. Rockstar confirmed to the Sydney Morning Herald that the game has indeed been edited, with certain things cut out so that it can receive an MA15+ rating. The Office of Film and Literature Classification awarded the game the rating making it suitable for individuals over 15, while it does not have a rating for over-18s.
In its rating, the board advising consumers that the game contains "strong violence, strong coarse language, drug and sexual references". Rockstar did not reveal exactly what was cut out of the game for the ratings board to consider it suitable enough for 15 year olds.
Back in 2001, Grand Theft Auto III was refused classification (although sold thousands of copies beforehand) because players could pick up prostitutes. An edited version of the game was released in the country later, and an edited version of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was also sold to Australians to gain a rating.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was pulled from retail shelves despite having an MA15+ rating after the "Hot Coffee" modification disaster hit the developer. Soon after, an edited version was sold in the territory (and others). Grand Theft Auto IV will be released in Australia on April 29.