As we have stated many times by now, life sucks when you're an Australian gamer. Overcharged, underappreciated and barred from legally purchasing a variety of titles, the Australians don't have it easy, and it seems that the latest farce over Grand Theft Auto IV was too much. Not only is the game censored, but Australians would have to pay comparatively more money for the cut down experience, and they're now turning to less legal methods for great justice.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that angered Australians are hitting back in full force:
Many Australian gamers have cancelled their [GTA IV] orders.
Already angered by the price of the blockbuster in Australia - $120 compared to $US60 ($64) in North America - gamers have reacted with outrage to news… that developer Rockstar has edited the game for Australia in order to obtain an MA15+ rating.
Many gamers said they cancelled their orders with Australian shops and will import a cheaper, uncut version, flouting the law.
As someone who wishes consumers would talk more with their money than their mouths, this is truly encouraging, and I would like to applaud the Australian gaming public for both giving their tormentors a significant "up yours" and also making a very smart consumer decision. Let's face it -- why should you be expected to pay more for a lesser experience, when you can spend less on the full game?
I hope the Australian government gets completely humiliated by this, especially as its actions have now indirectly influenced crime -- and they say it's the violent content IN videogames that does that, not violent content taken OUT. Maybe they should think about having that 18 rating now, like a real society.
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52 comments + 134338 views
this is quite cool. Never would I ever want to pay $120 for a watered down game and I also don't blame Australians from importing. It doesn't make sense at all.
throw a big dick in the air and give that australian goverment a big fuck you!
Well, only PS3 owners have recourse to do this. PS3 games are region-free; 360 games aren’t...or at least, I think so. But yeah, kudos to Australian gamers for not taking this crap anymore!
STICK IT TO THE MAN
The bad part about this is that, by importing the game, who gets directly hurt are game stores, who are just caught between a rock and a hard place since they cannot legally sell the original product. Guess it'll be up to them to put the pressure on the gov'ning guys.
I was wondering, though, which is the illegal part about buying the US version of the game in Australia? Possession of adult-intended content? Is there no porn in Australia? Are there no goddamn zombie movies?? Don't they have no fracking South Park??!? I'm confused...
As an American gamer I get irked at all the cool shit that Japan gets. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to be an Aussie.
darn that grand theft auto, it forces so many people to break the law apparently.
so controversial...
what's next, people are going to be smuggling the game in back alleys for reasonable selling prices, and then doing cocaine off some hooker in a van, while smiling at some guns?!
it never ends...never!!!!!
I wonder what else they've been censoring...
Good for them. I applaud them, as well.
"Sticking it to the man" comes to mind.
Down with government! Kill whitey! and other hippie expressions.
Twenty no descript monies bets the Goverment sees the increced amount of crime associated with GTA 4 and adds 2 adn 2 to make 8.
I have some fascinating new GTA IV on my cblog. Ahem.
"like a real society"
lmao
Fuck your cblog.
Isnt Australia just a jazzed up prison island anyway?
BURN!
I don't really give a fuck what Australia does with its censorship. All I care about is that I'm a New Zealander and can take this opportunity to point and laugh at them HAHAHAHAHAH! Ok, thanks.
I wonder how many cans of Fosters its gonna take to bribe the people who import this game.
"YOU CALL THAT A KNOYFE? THIS IS A KNOYFE!"
"Thats not a knife thats a spoon"
"OH I SEE YOUVE PLAYED KNOFEY SPOONEY BEFORE HAVENT YA?!"
Good thing PS3s are region free.
I miss Steve Irwin.
120 USD is a regular price for Xbox 360 games in Poland. And we are not as rich society as other European countries...
Props to the Ausie gamers. Stick it to the man.
It does suck about the gaming stores there because of this. GTA is a huge seller. I could have sworn I read that game stores rely on releases like this. The big titles like halo and what not that move a lot of games and help their bottom line. The Ausie govt. could be hurting their businesses if enough gamers there are cancelling their pre-orders and importing instead.
Hey, SubOrbital, joke's on you: NZ is getting the same censored version as Australia. I know this because I was planning on importing from an NZ store until they were told this annoying fact. So make sure to have your say when the OFLC asks for opinions on an R rating in Australia soon, because it's affecting you guys too.
Good job Australian gamers, do the smart thing, import the game for cheaper price + uncensored. And if the 360 is region locked, get the PS3 version and stick it to M$ as well.
At least they don't censor tits. their censorship makes more sense than US censorship. Still fucking stupid though.
@MrJunko -- That comment sir, is pure excellence.
$120 for a censored game. WOW.
That's fucking outrageous.
Damn Government. Nothing but a bunch of GOBLINS!
This is great news. Go forth aussie cousins and stick it to the man. If the fools that run their govenrment don't listen to the people in the street, they'll now get it in the ear from retailers, who have games they can't shift and money lost from the whole country's economy.
I'm sure they might say importing is illegal, but that's not necessarily true. Australia still run PAL systems, so there's nothing stopping them buying their copies from the U.K (from Play.com)or even Hong Kong (from Play Asia.
It's so good to see gamers voting with their feet and taking positive action. You can only ever take so much bullshit.
Go, aussie gamers, go! Bring the aussie government to its knees on this one. If they don't act soon, they'll be arresting half the country, with only their stupidity to blame.
I agree with you Uther. :P
Well what do you expect? If they are smart, they start importing. Thats the way to go
I also heard NZ was getting the cut version, but game stores are listing it as R18. Were getting more screwed than the Aussies if thats the case, not only do we get our game edited to fit another country's laws, we have to be 18 to view it! Luckily its cheaper to just buy it on play-asia.
@that guy up the page:
we (australia) have got porn and zombie movies, it's just they don't like it when games get too violent. Pricks.
Also: 120$? Fuck that. Might see if I can get my mits on the UK version or something.
I'm surprised...
At that price point I would be importing all the time!
They were going to charge $120!? Wow, glad I'm importing.
@ Mr Juko.
Just a side note, no-one drinks Fosters in Australia, it's generally considered to be a bit shit.
But on topic a lot of my friends are considering importing. Luckily a lot of stores such as Play Asia can get you a compatible version for less than retail :)
I canceled my preorder. Ordering with a bunch of mates from Playasia.
And to whoever said "it hurts the game stores", the main reason why I'm importing is because they are charging double the normal price. I didn't particularly mind that some rape scene was removed from the game. I have a little brother that watches me play games, so it would've saved me from explaining "what are they doing?"
EB australia has ludicrous prices. 80 dollars DS games, 110 dollar new release PS3/360 games, 120 for the popular games. 60 dollars for PS2 games!?! 50 dollars for pre-owned PS2 games (which they buy from you for 20 dollars).
I've also cancelled my pre order and am importing from play-asia.
I'd also be less surprised if the government BANNED the importing of video games rather than actually implement an 18+ rating for games
I see what you're doing Jim Sterling. By starting a revolt against the Australian government using the power of the Internets(TM), you hope to swoop in and reclaim that country/continent for the Queen! Don't give in Australians!!!
Actually, I would highly recommend importing our unsavory and filthy North American versions of GTA4. Our dollar needs all the help it can get!
TEAM AUSTRALIA! FUCK YEAH!
GOING IN TO SAVE THE MUTHA-FUCKING DAY YEAH!
TEAM AUSTRALIA ! FUCK YEAH!
FREEDOM IS THE ONLY WAY OUT!
I have 2 collectors editions ordered. one for each console. I may just import the ps3 version for the 18+ violence and buy the 360 aust version to play online and get cool stuff too.
I will not pay 150 for the collectors. I will demand a discount and will update you as to how much I actually pay.
Poor Australia. At least they get to ride kangaroos to work.
Finally, we have a large scale revolt against the game stores in Australia. This is fantastic news. Keep fanning the flames children. Eventually something will burn...
Apparently, all Xbox Pal systems are compatible to all PAL codes,so that means that you can get games from Europe, South Africa, India, Australia, and New Zealand according to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/908223.
its certainly what i plan on doing, now i just have to decide which one to get, ps3 or xbox
How many preorders have to die?
I for one am boycotting stingrays. Fuck them, fuck them up their stupid asses.
Well I had a special edition held for me by a friend at EB at no charge but once i heard about it being watered down I canceled the order, told my friend why and he has actually been telling customers the news and quite a few are canceling their pre-orders now.
I have given up on buying games in Australia. We fork out more money for games and consoles than other countries, we get all the watered down content, we get no R18+ rating, we get great games canceled to hit our shores and we have to deal with ALWAYS being left behind when a game is released. If something is released in the US or UK or Japan we have to wait a further 3 months or more.
It's bullshit and I am fed up with it. Fuck you, my country. Fuck you indeed.
The day I buy a game on these shores will be the day that the R18+ rating is brought in and we are taken seriously as a country for game title releases. We are always shafted and its bullshit.
Ahhh relax you little whiny bitches, just because a game is more expensive and watered down doesn't mean this country is shit. We live right next door to Asia and importing isn't such a big deal. Be grateful you live in a country that has low crime, good living and a laid back lifestyle, games aren't the only thing in life!
No one is saying Australia is shit, pal, just the muppets that are currently running it. It a damn nice place, but I guess every paradise has some problems.
Passing an R18 rating isn't rocket science to do, but the powers that be make it seem so and are fudging the issue, with many fellow gamers suffering because of it.
Sure, its only a game some might say casually, but its a wider issue of the games industry being taken seriously. Unfortunately it seems many in power (just like some in the U.K) still have this jaded image of games and seek to hold the medium back. This does no one any good, and if anything is only gonna loose aussie retailers lots of money.
Whiny bitches! Tell that to the french after their revolution. I applaud those gamers out there for cancelling their pre orders and seeking their GTA4 from an import seller that respects and treats them like adults.
Yes, there is more to life than games. But when you love and believe in something, you should fight for it. Nothing wrong with that.
I wonder what Rockstar think of this whole ordeal? Lets hope they back the gamers.
I Love Australia. Where you can legally pick up prostitutes and buy 9 % alcohol proof soft drinks....but can't buy the real GTA4.
At least they gave us Outback Steakhouse!
wait...
I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free!
I seem to be the only Aussie gamer here getting the 360 version and is fucked anyway.
Why are they getting so pissed? I thought Rockstar told us it was a very minor edit, and we've certainly dealt with worse when games have come over from Japan.
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