Censored version of Saints Row 4 approved with MA15+ rating: anal probe staying, alien drugs out (AU - Polidicks

[img]http://gon.cdn.on.net/uploads/2013/07/saintsrow4-2.jpg[/img] [quote]Word has just come through from Deep Silver that a censored version of [I]Saints Row 4[/I] has received an MA15+ rating in Australia. The watered-down edition removes the Shaundi loyalty mission which involved the use of alien narcotics. “This mission represents approximately 20 minutes of gameplay out of the hours available to purchasers,” say Deep Silver. “The removal of this mission has no negative impact on the story or the superpowers and will not detract from the enjoyment players will get from their Saints Row IV experience.” Meanwhile, the alien anal probe weapon, which was also a subject of controversy, will be staying. “The rectifier weapon will be available as part of a DLC package as originally intended. Deep Silver stands by this decision and thanks the Australian Classification Board for their assistance with this matter.” The issue of the rectifier weapon has divided our community, with Community Soapbox pieces submitted both [URL="http://games.on.net/2013/07/community-soapbox-in-defence-of-saints-row-4s-alien-anal-probe/"]for[/URL] and [URL="http://games.on.net/2013/07/community-soapbox-in-defence-of-sanity-why-the-classification-board-made-the-right-call-with-saints-row-4/"]against[/URL] it.[/quote] [url]http://games.on.net/2013/08/censored-version-of-saints-row-4-approved-with-ma15-rating-anal-probe-staying-alien-drugs-out/[/url]

so what you can't have it in the game because its 'too violent' but can have it as DLC? at least, that's what i'm reading [editline]2nd August 2013[/editline] oh no, misunderstood, woops it's removed entirely

Someone please think of the children they'll try and take these alien drugs. Oh wait, alien drugs. I don't really see their point

While it's good that is has been given a rating, I honestly think they should have allowed the full game through with an R18 rating. I seriously doubt that everyone will suddenly go out finding alien narcotics to get high.

Saints Row gets more and more bizarre every time they release a new title.

I still don't understand what the whole issue was. An R18+ would of been suitable enough in my opinion and the drugs don't really seem like an issue?

So the drugs shot off the rating from 15+ to unrateable even though it's clearly a 18+ topic. Oh well, that's 20 minutes of gameplay + whatever time the devs wasted working on it that Australians won't be experiencing. I seriously expected 18+ after the drugs had been removed.

Does Australia also treat its publishing and film industries like this?

Anal probes: 15 and up Alien drugs: NO ONE

[QUOTE=Rangergxi;41681958]Does Australia also treat its publishing and film industries like this?[/QUOTE] Nope, basically everything is let through.

How the fuck does this get MA15+ I'd be expecting R18+ [editline]2nd August 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Rangergxi;41681958]Does Australia also treat its publishing and film industries like this?[/QUOTE] There are TV programs and movies where encouragement of drugs and other bizarre super powers from taking narcotics have been shown and they get stamped with an MA15+ rating TV isn't regulated by ACB however, television networks need to make their own decisions with classifications, however watersheds and all that shit is managed by FreeTV Australia (Freeview) and AMCA (Australian Media and Communications Authority). SBS, ABC and PayTV are excempt from these rules

[QUOTE=Rangergxi;41681958]Does Australia also treat its publishing and film industries like this?[/QUOTE] Nope not at all, it's just video games. Maybe because they are still so new and the industry for gaming is now only becoming so much more main stream and popular like Tv, movies and music.

[QUOTE=Rangergxi;41681958]Does Australia also treat its publishing and film industries like this?[/QUOTE] Pretty much same behaviour like in Germany. Brutal, violent movies R-18 can be bought but are mostly censored at some points, while brutal violent games (Mortal Kombat 9, Left 4 Dead 2) get completely banned and are forbidden for you to have. Even if you are adult. Even the complete censored version of L4D2 (No blood, corpses vanish) got banned and was forbidden to buy and sell. People are just too fucking dumb to understand the R-18+ notifications. Children shouldn't get these things from the beginning but the adults all just ignore it. "Think of the children!!".

L4D2 and MK9 got RC'd because MA15+ stated in their classification code "Content which can be viewed by minors", R18+ restricts that to only adults if L4D2 and MK9 were brought in when we had R18, they wouldn't get RC'd

[QUOTE=Antimuffin;41682042]Pretty much same behaviour like in Germany. Brutal, violent movies R-18 can be bought but are mostly censored at some points, while brutal violent games (Mortal Kombat 9, Left 4 Dead 2) get completely banned and are forbidden for you to have. Even if you are adult. Even the complete censored version of L4D2 (No blood, corpses vanish) got banned and was forbidden to buy and sell. [b]People are just too fucking dumb to understand the R-18+ notifications. Children shouldn't get these things from the beginning but the adults all just ignore it. "Think of the children!!".[/b][/QUOTE] It's stupid, main reason kids under the ages of 18 and 15 get these games is because of their parents and retailers actually doing their jobs and checking.

So GTA V gets an R18+ for Drug Use yet Saints Row IV has to take them out. doesn't make any sense

R18+ safe nets unlimited violence, swearing and adult themes. Drugs and Sex are still the only 2 things that need to change

[QUOTE=Mio Akiyama;41682111]So GTA V gets an R18+ for Drug Use yet Saints Row IV has to take them out. doesn't make any sense[/QUOTE] Whether a game is rated or not seems to depend on which planets are aligned According to the rules for R18 games: [quote]Computer games will be refused classification if they include or contain any of the following: Depictions of: violence with a very high degree of impact which are excessively frequent, prolonged, detailed or repetitive; [/quote] [video=youtube;EdGHEN6FumU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdGHEN6FumU[/video] And this flies through with an MA15+

[QUOTE=Woovie;41681969]Anal probes: 15 and up Alien drugs: NO ONE[/QUOTE] Why did they even bother with R18+ if they're not gonna use it?

[QUOTE=TheLolrus;41682203]Why did they even bother with R18+ if they're not gonna use it?[/QUOTE] There isn't much common sense in the government here. They treat the population like most of it is under 18 years old anyway.

[QUOTE=kaze4159;41682188]Whether a game is rated or not seems to depend on which planets are aligned According to the rules for R18 games: And this flies through with an MA15+[/QUOTE] And then there was the Alien vs Predator 2010 game. First submission, refused classification for being too violent. Sega resubmitted it without changing a thing, suddenly MA15+.

Well, if it's uncensored in the rest of the world, we can still just buy and activate an American key or something.

[QUOTE=Mio Akiyama;41682111]So GTA V gets an R18+ for Drug Use yet Saints Row IV has to take them out. doesn't make any sense[/QUOTE] It's down entirely to how they're presented, SR4 had them give you benefits, which is a huge no-no, GTA5 obviously doesn't have them give you any benefits. Or GTA5 does have benefits, the the board is just being stupid as usual.

Fucking soft pricks the ACB are, a R18 rating is fucking useless if we continue to ban shit or censor stuff. Cunts.

[QUOTE=Mr. Tripp;41682421]Well, if it's uncensored in the rest of the world, we can still just buy and activate an American key or something.[/QUOTE] That's what I did and saved myself $20+. Just buy a $50 steam card from a place like EB Games and give the code to a ROW friend so they can buy it for you.

The reason it's blocked isn't because of alien drugs, it's because the drugs have positive gameplay impact and thud it encourages you to take them. GTAV also has drugs, has a R18, but hasn't been refused classification because it doesn't handle drugs as a positive element.

Quick question for those in the know: Would an Australian be able to trade through steam to get an international copy? Would activating it in Australia render it censored?

[QUOTE=Novangel;41682841]The reason it's blocked isn't because of alien drugs, it's because the drugs have positive gameplay impact and thud it encourages you to take them. GTAV also has drugs, has a R18, but hasn't been refused classification because it doesn't handle drugs as a positive element.[/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure using them to heal yourself sounds like a positive.

[QUOTE=Damoman;41682943]Quick question for those in the know: Would an Australian be able to trade through steam to get an international copy? Would activating it in Australia render it censored?[/QUOTE]Easiest way is to have somebody in the UK, USA, etc. who has access to the uncut version and is able to gift you the game on steam.

The Australian censorship board is the reason it's called 'Med x' in Fallout 3 rather than just morphine, because that teaches bad morals. As you can see they are clearly retarded.