Australian? No Saints Row 4 for you then.

[SSJBlastoise]

So, as I was checking through my news feed I came across this article.

http://ps3.mmgn.com/News/saints-row-iv-refused-classification-in-52919

Yep, what the actual fuck is going on over here?!

I seriously thought the R18 rating in Australia could have been used for, you know, allowing games like Saint's Row 4 into Australia. Everything I have seen of the game is pretty similar to that of the third installment so why the hell is this one refused classification?

I'm not sure if anyone knows exactly how the laws work but is it possible that somewhere (hopefully as soon as possible) that this decision is thrown out?

Honestly, I don't think I've been this disappointed and, quite frankly, pissed off at something in a long time.

How does everyone else see this issue?

 

[Anathrax]

Less Australian friends to make. Yaaay.

What the hell?!
I thought with digital sharing being a thing now we'd stop having differences with other regions. It seems I was wrong.

 

[redwolflim86]

So, as I was checking through my news feed I came across this article.

http://ps3.mmgn.com/News/saints-row-iv-refused-classification-in-52919

Yep, what the actual fuck is going on over here?!

I seriously thought the R18 rating in Australia could have been used for, you know, allowing games like Saint's Row 4 into Australia. Everything I have seen of the game is pretty similar to that of the third installment so why the hell is this one refused classification?

I'm not sure if anyone knows exactly how the laws work but is it possible that somewhere (hopefully as soon as possible) that this decision is thrown out?

Honestly, I don't think I've been this disappointed and, quite frankly, pissed off at something in a long time.

How does everyone else see this issue?

They allowed SR1~3 to be released in Australia... but not SR 4? We can expect GTA5 to be banned in the future.....

That classification board is nothing but a joke. I can understand why Japan dating sims games are banned, but this....?

Welcome to Australia, mate -.-

 

[SSJBlastoise]

Less Australian friends to make. Yaaay.

What the hell?!
I thought with digital sharing being a thing now we'd stop having differences with other regions. It seems I was wrong.

Oh, don't worry, there will be Australian's with it. Seeing as how both consoles aren't region locked and banning MK9 didn't stop everyone.

I just wish it could be bought legally in Australia, that way I can give my money to the developers rather than try some dodgy way to import it.

 

[Sack of Cheese]

SR4 doesn't look that different from SRTT, and it got banned, and SRTT didn't.
I don't really care since I preordered it online (just as I did with Mortal kombat 2011 before it was released here). If Steam version is region locked I guess I will get the PS3 version.

 

[Soopy]

Less Australian friends to make. Yaaay.

What the hell?!
I thought with digital sharing being a thing now we'd stop having differences with other regions. It seems I was wrong.

Oh, don't worry, there will be Australian's with it. Seeing as how both consoles aren't region locked and banning MK9 didn't stop everyone.

I just wish it could be bought legally in Australia, that way I can give my money to the developers rather than try some dodgy way to import it.

Just buy it off ebay mate. You're a muppet if you want to pay Australian RRP anyway. Fuck spending $100 when you can spend $50 and get it from the states or the UK.

 

[Dryk]

Less Australian friends to make. Yaaay.

What the hell?!
I thought with digital sharing being a thing now we'd stop having differences with other regions. It seems I was wrong.

Oh, don't worry, there will be Australian's with it. Seeing as how both consoles aren't region locked and banning MK9 didn't stop everyone.

I just wish it could be bought legally in Australia, that way I can give my money to the developers rather than try some dodgy way to import it.

The money goes to the developers either way, the retailer's cut just doesn't go to our economy. If the government don't want our money then fine, the British government can have it.

 

[Anthony Corrigan]

even with the R18 they still RCs any games which promote realistic drug use for rewards and any game which depicts sexual violence

Personally I think the way they handle "realistic sex" is more of an issue

Edit to Add: EB are still taking orders for it
https://www.ebgames.com.au/xbox360-158290-Saints-Row-IV-Presidential-Edition-Xbox-360

 

[Zhukov]

Despite being Australian, I find it hard to work myself into a lather about this.

Usually when people cry censorship, one assumes the material being censored is something of worth, not, well... another Saint's Row sequel.

 

[Elijin]

Despite being Australian, I find it hard to work myself into a lather about this.

Usually when people cry censorship, one assumes the material being censored is something of worth, not, well... another Saint's Row sequel.

So censorship only matters if you care about the specific material, and anything you dont care about is fine to be censored?


Also its not like we were going to pay Australian RRP anyway. Thats what importing is for.

 

[Sack of Cheese]

Edit to Add: EB are still taking orders for it
https://www.ebgames.com.au/xbox360-158290-Saints-Row-IV-Presidential-Edition-Xbox-360

Only because they haven't got the news yet, I assume.

 

[Amakusa]

The computer game is classified RC in accordance with the National Classification Code, Computer Games Table, 1. (a) as computer games that "depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified." (Australian classification board0

essentially certain elements of the game offended the standards of morality and decency of the common reasonable adult. It was speculated on the other news announcement thread that it was the linking of drug use and sex with rewards that was the trigger. Essentially this is another version of obscenity laws that we have in Australia.

That being said, ps3 is region free, so just import an overseas version.






Source
http://www.classification.gov.au/Pages/View.aspx?sid=ORJKHNcqACcJiNUajTM5pA%253d%253d&ncdctx=zmM%252fpLYhRaoPTSx73N4OSazjUs0nPLaypoWL8TZSg5VRvj1AWD2LKxeCe%2bILbEPT6cQbEjvY5QauhztRn755DQ%253d%253d

 

[Anthony Corrigan]

Sex as a reward is ok, its sexual violence and drug use which are absolutely forbidden and realistic depictions of sex because games don't have an x rating (why sex is considered worse than violence I will never understand)

Oh and don't be so sure customs will turn a blind eye

 

[Anthony Corrigan]

Heavy Rain has an MA 15+ rating not an R

https://ebgames.com.au/ps3-148819-Heavy-Rain-PlayStation-3

GTA V has an R

https://ebgames.com.au/ps3-154040-Grand-Theft-Auto-V-PlayStation-3

Obviously they felt that the drug use was justified by context and of low impact, or maybe it was just a contributing factor or irreverent to the Sexual Violence

 

[ThriKreen]

"In addition, the game includes elements of illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards."

Hmm, sooooo what are Mario shrooms considered as?

 

[Madman123456]

Steam didn't market SR3 to germany because our old people have a similar fear of violence in videogames.
So i had to move to another country, or at least tell steam that i did that to be able to install it. I could then move back to germany and play it with no problem.

Maybe you People down there should rename your country to "Importalia" since you have to import all the games. Also People wont confuse you guys with my Neighbors from Austria

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

"In addition, the game includes elements of illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards."

Hmm, sooooo what are Mario shrooms considered as?

Don't give the ACB ideas... neither ACB (one's the classification board the other is the cricketting board)...

WAIT A FUCKING SECOND...

Maybe they're not 2 seperate boards. Maybe it's a conspiracy to make video gaming such a pain in the arse in Australia that we get back outside playing cricket in the summer and will eventually be able to beat good sides in a sport we once dominated.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Also People wont confuse you guys with my Neighbors from Austria

Oh please, they're easy to tell apart

Austria - birthplace of Hitler, crap at rugby

Australia - not birthplace of Hitler, not crap at rugby