Saints Row IV refused classification in Australia

Saints Row IV refused classification in Australia
Saints Row IV has become the first game to be refused classification in Australia, effectively banning the game until develop Volition can change its content.

The Australian Classification Board follows the Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games in determining a rating for a game. The new guidelines only came into effect in January. Before this point, Australia had no category for games intended for an adult audience only, which lead to many high profile titles running into trouble in the country.



However, it would appear the Classification Board finds Saints Row IV so bad that even adults should be protected from playing it in its current form.

In the Board's opinion, Saints Row IV, includes interactive, visual depictions of implied sexual violence which are not justified by context. In addition, the game includes elements of illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards. Such depictions are prohibited by the computer games guidelines.

Volition has confirmed that it will now have to modify the content in Saints Row IV and resubmit it in order to release the title in the territory.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 25 Jun 2013 8:13
Tags
Australia Saints Row IV
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  • 14 comments
  • Red_Forman

    Quote:Volition has confirmed that it will now have to modify the content in Saints Row IV and resubmit it in order to release the title in the territory. And by doing so you continue to support such ridiculousness in the 21st century.

    I'll stick my foot up your ass.

    25.6.2013 08:21 #1

  • APropheto

    We get an R18+ rating and they don't bother using it. Complete nonsense. I'll just import a copy.

    25.6.2013 10:10 #2

  • Bozobub

    Originally posted by APropheto: We get an R18+ rating and they don't bother using it. Complete nonsense. I'll just import a copy.
    Just curious, but is that actually legal in AU, even when done privately/for private use?

    25.6.2013 10:29 #3

  • bigfamei

    Good luck to them with this thing called the internet.

    25.6.2013 13:30 #4

  • dEwMe

    Wow. Maybe they should add a XXX rating. I gotta say the content does sound like some "2 girls 1 cup" type of action. Total garbage in my opinion but I'm all for adults playing it if they want. For sure they are bumping the allure of the game. OOOH banned in Australia!!!

    Just my $0.02,

    dEwMe

    25.6.2013 14:43 #5

  • ThePastor

    And now I want to see this game! Thank you.

    Oh, Im sorry... Did the middle of my sentence interrupt the beginning of yours?

    25.6.2013 15:03 #6

  • Bozobub

    Originally posted by dEwMe: Wow. Maybe they should add a XXX rating. I gotta say the content does sound like some "2 girls 1 cup" type of action. Total garbage in my opinion but I'm all for adults playing it if they want. For sure they are bumping the allure of the game. OOOH banned in Australia!!! Well, Saint's Row 2 (moreso than 3) was a LOT of fun; sort of like GTA, but ridiculously over the top, to the point of cartoonishness. The new game happens entirely in a virtual world (in the plot, that is, of course it's virtual - lol), so there's also another layer of removal from the silly escapades.

    25.6.2013 15:17 #7

  • APropheto

    Originally posted by Bozobub: Originally posted by APropheto: We get an R18+ rating and they don't bother using it. Complete nonsense. I'll just import a copy.
    Just curious, but is that actually legal in AU, even when done privately/for private use?
    No. Importing content that is refused classification, essentially banned, is illegal.

    --

    For anyone who is interested, the reason for the refused classification was the "Alien anal probe" & "smoking alien narcotics which gives you super powers"

    25.6.2013 20:38 #8

  • bobiroc

    Banning the video games is not the solution to the problem. We should start by banning the parents that ignore game ratings and buy these mature games for their children. That is more of the problem than the video games themselves.

    AMD Phenom II 965 @ 3.67Ghz, 8GB DDR3, ATI Radeon 5770HD, 256GB OCZ Vertex 4, 2TB Additional HDD, Windows 7 Ultimate.

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    25.6.2013 21:01 #9

  • Jemborg

    I'm so embarrassed.

    We are becoming a nation of wowsers.

    And it will get worst after the next election.

    Originally posted by APropheto: Originally posted by Bozobub: Originally posted by APropheto: We get an R18+ rating and they don't bother using it. Complete nonsense. I'll just import a copy.
    Just curious, but is that actually legal in AU, even when done privately/for private use?
    No. Importing content that is refused classification, essentially banned, is illegal.
    But you can still get away with it... I have no idea how that will affect online play from Oz though.


    -----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Its a lot easier being righteous than right.


    26.6.2013 03:07 #10

  • APropheto

    Originally posted by Jemborg: I'm so embarrassed.

    But you can still get away with it... I have no idea how that will affect online play from Oz though.
    You certainly can get away with it. Customs doesn't open every video game package that comes their way. After Mortal Kombat 9 was banned they threatened that they were going to inspect more packages but I know of very few examples of copies being seized.

    On another note, State of Decay was also refused classification here in Aus. Sucks to be an adult gamer here right now.

    26.6.2013 03:48 #11

  • Jemborg

    Originally posted by APropheto: Originally posted by Jemborg: I'm so embarrassed.

    But you can still get away with it... I have no idea how that will affect online play from Oz though.
    You certainly can get away with it. Customs doesn't open every video game package that comes their way. After Mortal Kombat 9 was banned they threatened that they were going to inspect more packages but I know of very few examples of copies being seized.

    On another note, State of Decay was also refused classification here in Aus. Sucks to be an adult gamer here right now.
    Do you think online play would be affected with a import? They're notorious for putting online into the "too-hard" basket.

    Its a lot easier being righteous than right.


    26.6.2013 04:21 #12

  • APropheto

    Originally posted by Jemborg:
    Do you think online play would be affected with a import? They're notorious for putting online into the "too-hard" basket.
    I honestly couldn't say. I hope online play won't be affected. I am not a huge MP/online gamer, but I wouldn't like to be robbed of the opportunity.

    26.6.2013 05:16 #13

  • Jemborg

    Originally posted by APropheto: Originally posted by Jemborg:
    Do you think online play would be affected with a import? They're notorious for putting online into the "too-hard" basket.
    I honestly couldn't say. I hope online play won't be affected. I am not a huge MP/online gamer, but I wouldn't like to be robbed of the opportunity.
    Ditto.

    Generally it's ok regardless of what they do to single player mode.

    Its a lot easier being righteous than right.


    26.6.2013 05:26 #14

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