Modified Saints Row IV classified MA15+ in Australia

Wow. I have my share of issues with my government, but at least we wouldn't make an adult rating, then promptly ignore its existence.

@Nicholas Gibson They probably forgot that they had an R rating.

SO the R rating has actually meant more edited and banned games, So why did we lobby for this again?

@Nicholas Gibson It's actually worse now. :(

@John Ace why would they move to the us, europe is where its at, us has a terrible economy

so they take out the anal probe gun only to put it back in a dlc, wtf

i still think number 1 is the best,you feel the most like a gangster in number 1 then any other 1

there should be a rating where everything is aloud except childporn

At least New Zealand wasn't effected this time. Our censors are more forgiving, so we're getting the uncut version of the game.

WHO CARE

I get protecting kids from games they shouldn't really be playing, but it should be up to the parents to do research on buying games like this, not the government. Gamers in Australia should boycott games that do this or import them if they can.

The censors win again.

I don't understand. Those 2 things were bad enough to cause it to be over R18+ yet without those 2 things it gets a MA15+. That doesn't even make sense.

So all the crazy stuff in it makes it ok for anybody 15 or older to play but some fictional drugs and a probe weapon makes it a horrible demonic monstrosity that no one can play?

Great logic by the Australian censors as always.

As usual, sexual themes, drugs and so on are considered more disturbing than ultra-realistic depicting of a human skull exploding after a headshot from a sniper rifle, x-ray vision on breaking bones with a crowbar, or chopping limbs off with a fork.
Violence and gore - natural, proper, acceptable
Sex and nudity - unnatural, wicked, unwelcome
Do those guys even know where do the babies come from...?

Am I the only one who thinks SR has gotten too outlandish?

Geez, who runs the Australian ratings board? 80 year old grannies?

here is the r rated games guild lines here in australia, you will see that sexual violence and drug use that give effect isnt allowed

The Australian Classification Board has jsut released the new overall guidelines for games classifiction, including the new R18+ rating, to be introduced early next year.

You can have a look at the entire document here, but the relevant section is pasted below:

R 18+ - RESTRICTED
Impact test
The impact of material classified R 18+ should not exceed high.
Note: Material classified R 18+ is legally restricted to adults. Some material classified R 18+
may be offensive to sections of the adult community.
Classifiable elements

THEMES
There are virtually no restrictions on the treatment of themes.

VIOLENCE
Violence is permitted. High impact violence that is, in context, frequently gratuitous, exploitative and offensive to a reasonable adult will not be permitted.
Actual sexual violence is not permitted.
Implied sexual violence that is visually depicted, interactive, not justified by context or related to incentives or rewards is not permitted.

SEX
Depictions of actual sexual activity are not permitted.
Depictions of simulated sexual activity may be permitted.
Depictions of simulated sexual activity that are explicit and realistic are not permitted.

LANGUAGE
There are virtually no restrictions on language.

DRUG USE
Drug use is permitted.
Drug use related to incentives and rewards is not permitted.
Interactive illicit or proscribed drug use that is detailed and realistic is not permitted.

NUDITY
Nudity is permitted.

It could be argued that this isn't that different from the previous MA15 rating, as the issues of, for instance, drug use for reward is still a no-no. So, effectively, random and meaningless drug abuse is A-okay in a game, so long as it's not realistic.

The guidelines on sexual activity or similarly vague, and actually make it sound like games such as Mass Effect 3 (where I'd say the sex is far from 'implied') would now become R-rated. And speaking of sex, where would this leave games such as the new Tomb Raider, or even Hitman: Absolution. There may not be any actual sexual violence in these titles, but it is certainly implied.

And then, of course, the guideline still takes the stance that interactive violence is more impactful. "...as a general rule computer games may have a higher impact than similarly themed depictions of the classifiable elements in film, and therefore greater potential for harm or detriment..."

At the end of the day, though, these are just guidelines, and their interpretation is what's going to have the most impact. We can only hope the people enforcing this new code are as game literate as possible, otherwise we're not really getting anything new at all.

As stupid as this at least they won't be missing out.

Can't import the game because they speak Australian. Apparently the language is heavily influenced by Fosters beer. Drunks are less detrimental to society than cartoon violence.

ummm lol, just import the game?

Did I understand that correctly? They remove some stuff to get a rating in Australia, then promise to give it back in a DLC? Clever. They should do the same with the mission. **** you Australian Classification Board!

Hopefully after all their work to get the game classified there lots will buy it. I personally can't wait to dive into the deep, obscure and crazy world of Saints Row. People need to understand it's just a crazy video game meant for nothing more than a good time, not every game has to be gritty and mature like Last of Us to be playable. Least to me.

This whole thing still seems pointless to me. AU enacted a strict game classification system so that only adults could get "mature" games. Why don't they actually use the damn thing in lieu of making publishers jump through hoops?

Hahaa MA15+. That legally means 15,16,17yr olds have to be accompanied by an adult in order to be able to play the game. Tsk tsk.

do they understand that r18 means only adults should play these games