Australian gamers canceling Grand Theft Auto 4 pre-orders, will import game instead |
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Already saddled with an expensive retail price, the Australian version of Grand Theft Auto IV (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360) has even been confirmed to be edited to comply with the wishes of the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification (OLFC).It seems a lot of Australian gamers are not putting up with all these troubles. The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that many Australians have already canceled their pre-orders, and that some gamers have even openly claimed that they will import the uncensored version - even if it is against Australian law.
Most of the problem stems with the fact that Australia doesn't have an R18+ rating. Having a couple of run-ins with Australia in the past (GTA III and GTA: San Andreas), Rockstar Games has carefully tailored GTA 4 for the M15+ rating. In fact, Rockstar is claiming the Australian version is as good as the other versions.
However, the drastic measures Australian gamers could take to obtain the uncensored game may strengthen the campaign to integrate R18+ in Australia. Local attorneys are now debating the merits of an adults-only game category. Updates as QJ.NET gets them.
Buy: [ Grand Theft Auto IV (PlayStation 3), (Xbox 360) ]
Buy: [ Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition (PlayStation 3), (Xbox 360) ]
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Comments [refresh]
yeh i cancelled and ordered about a month ago, this is good, if more people do this then they are more likely to change laws here
So this means that we should expect to see massive PS3 GTAIV sales in these regions? I only assume that since the 360 is a region locked system, unlike the PS3.
the option for importing games from other regions are unrestricted with the PS3 but the 360 owners will have to buy thru retail for their gta copy (unless there are other means which i am unaware of)...
expect software sales in australia to reflect a huge jump for the 360 cause of gta but for the ps3 most informed gamers who are capable of importing will not reflect their game purchase on the aussie charts but help in inflating the sales figures of other regions.
well this is good cause maybe other developers will see this and also push for the rating so that their games dont suffer the same fate, not that its going to destroy rockstar or anything, just shows them how we feel about censored/cut games, I am soo glad PS3 isn't region locked *sigh* cause if im paying money for something, I want all of it
Aussie gamers can import UK 360 versions as they're compatible and un-cut.
People are seriously not going to buy a "cut-down version"... you do realize that it means that there is just a few tiny things different... and from another article it looks to be just an extremely crude scene about raping some guy in the ass with a gun. If this is the kind of content people actually WANT then you're demented and probably more nuts than me... and I am literally nuts according to the doctors, LOL
ok... so UK 360 games works on Australian 360 consoles, thanks for the info Hugh_Man.. got a couple of 360 friends who wants to cancel their pre-orders but are hesitant because of the region coding.
what will be mostly affected by this is the australian gaming industry... GTAIV is a good example for the government to see how much money is thrown away just because of their rating scheme, money that could have been very useful to the local economy... and GTAIV is the game big enough to smack some sense on politicians.... can't wait for the outcry from aussie retailers too because of the lost of potential sales due to adult gamers importing the game from overseas, these retailer's voice will make some noise too.
360 games are not all region locked, Microsoft allows developers to choose if they want it locked or not. So until games are out we don't know.
That said Sony has the right idea by removing locks completely.
absolutely nothing to do with being demented.
What we have here is a government that is giving itself the right to decide whether its citizens are capable of handling that level of violence. If the Canadian government did that we would be up their ass over it. If I can't handle watching a guy get raped in the ass with a gun, I won't by a game that is rated mature.
Consumers!!! Buy what you want from where you want... it's the only way you can expect change.
I recently imported Dark Sector for X360 from the GAME website in the UK, as Australia is again receiving an edited version of this game. Even after delivery costs it cost me $88. Far cheaper than any new release in Australia which can cost anywhere up to $109 and in the case of GTAIV $119RRP.
I have preordered GTAIV and it will work out to be around $85 - 90 AUD depending on the exchange rate at the time of dispatch.
Any PAL format X360 game can be played on Australian consoles. My suggestion is import, it will save you money as well as be the unedited version.