I could have sworn I’d read some news stories about it a while back, so I’ve always assumed it was banned. When I went to EB to ask about the PC version (that’s due out here next week) they hadn’t heard of any banning and had the ps2 version on shelf.
So what gives? Have I been misinformed?
I think the banned it, and then edited it. I’m not sure though.
Yeah, the version released in the US and elsewhere was a lot more “adult.” The Australian authorities decided that it was too much for the delicate Aussie sensibilites (snort) and blocked its sale until the makers did an edit. I don’t know exactly what they changed, though.
According to GameRankings.com:
YEAH!
LIKE THAT’S THE WORSE PART OF THE DAMN GAME!?:rolleyes:
Different countries, different priorities, I guess.
We’re not allowed hard core porno here either (at least in all the video stores I frequent – no, not that kind of video store!)
Oh well, if that’s all the change is I can buy it rest assured that a patch’ll be out in minutes to change it.
I saw Al Franken’s joke graduation book at BN last night. At random I turned to the page with this nugget:
“I think of ourselves as a pretty ‘together’ family, despite the fact that my son spends about 8 hours a day playing a video game called ‘Grand Theft Auto 3’, where the object of the game is to pick up a prostitute in a stolen car and murder her. Naturally, I don’t get it, but my parents didn’t get the Beatles either. Maybe someday, the creators of GTA3 will be regarded with the same esteem.”
I’ll let my son answer this when he gets home from uni - it’s the way the game was classified here initially which was the problem (and the classification of it has been reviewed over and over in magazines like Hyper).
The rating it was given effectively takes it out of the mainstream market. If I can actually find the latest Hyper among the debris in this room, I’ll check on the rating for the PC version. IIRC, it was modified enough for it to be widely distributed through major stores.
Like most Aussie government departments, the OFLC uses PDF to publish it’s decisions, but you can find the decision of the review panel here.
As I’ve only done a very quick search so far, I haven’t come across an application for classification of a revised PC version; if I can find one, I’ll link to the details. Otherwise, I might just email them and find out what’s happening.
From what I’ve heard, the Aussie government did ban the game for “sexual violence”; the ability in the game to pick up a prostitute, be “serviced”, and after the fact, get your money back by killing her. Later versions of the game supposedly clean up this messy little detail for Australian makets
…er, markets.
You can’t even do that in the US version for PS2, can you? I’ve only been playing it since the weekend (for countless hours, though) and so far all we’ve been able to do with the hookers is give them a ride. You can’t even blow up a car with them in it, at least not that I’ve seen.
elfkin477, try taking her someplace remote. And watch your uh, health meter rise.
I’m apparently in the same boat elfkin477’s in - I didn’t know you could actuially do anything with the prostitutes other than drive around.
I tell you, now that I’ve played the game awhile, I do have to work very hard to resist the temptation to run other drivers off the road.
Yes, you can with the U.S. version. It’s jaw-droppingly disturbing. Like Mojo said, get her in the car and drive someplace quiet. Your health meter will rise while the car humorously goes squeaky-squeaky, to potentially better than 100%, like 125 or so. Your money will diminish, and she gets out of the car, and, if you choose, so does our bat-wielding psychopathic antihero. You can let her go if you’re feeling charitable, but if you want your cash back…
Why is it “draw-droppingly disturbing”? The car rocks back and forth. It’s not like it’s a porno or anything.
Try doing this for fun
Pick one up and then park the car near the edge of something harbor water, cliff, top of building). If you are close enough, once the car starts rocking it will roll off the edge.
Death by poontang. What a way to go
I think the disturbing bit is that you can run them over afterwards, and not only has this been anticipated, but you get rewarded for it.
What Silentgoldfish said. Sex with a prostitute isn’t particularly disturbing; the car rocking back and forth is actually pretty funny. It’s sex with a prostitute followed by brutally murdering her to get your cash back that’s a little unnerving.