The
Australian censor has issued a report on its decision to award a
MA15+ rating for a pre-cut version of Grand Theft Auto IV.
The report does not identify what was pre-cut though. [Also Spoiler
Warning!]:
VIOLENCE
Violence is relatively frequent and strong in playing impact.
During the game, the player (as lead character Niko Bellic) is
required to undertake various missions, mostly involving criminal
activity, in order to develop contacts, make money and protect his
cousin Roman. These include pick-ups and drop-offs, killing /
protecting various people, stealing, racing, chasing, eating,
drinking, going out and dating. A number of tasks involve drugs (for
example retrieving a stash of cocaine for a dealer) and violence
(for example, rescuing Roman from a kidnapper).
Violence includes hand to hand combat (basic punching and kicking)
and more regularly involves use of various weapons. These include
knives, baseball bats, a nightstick, pistols, machine guns, shot
guns, rifles, grenades and rocket launchers. The player is able to
use these weapons to inflict injury on other participants which
results in frequent blood spray. Blood spray occurs as victims are
attacked and is also depicted on objects such as floors and walls.
Blood pooling occurs under bodies that are shot at after death
however no post mortem damage (such as decapitation or
dismemberment) is possible. These is also infrequent blood splatter
on the camera lens as the player manoeuvres their way through
missions involving killing.
A less frequent example of violence includes the ability of the
player to set an enemy alight causing them to burn. The victim is
shown flailing and on fire before they fall to the ground. Bodies
remain as long as the player lingers in a particular scene, however
after this, they disappear.
As the violence is relatively frequent, causing blood spray and
injury detail, the impact is strong.
LANGUAGE
Coarse language is frequent. Aggressive and/or strong coarse
language is infrequent.
During the game play the characters are heard to use "fuck"
language, primarily in a naturalistic tone but occasionally in an
aggressive manner. This, coupled with the infrequent use of the word
"cunt" (as well as some visual use written on a strip club wall)
creates an impact which is strong.
OTHER MATTERS CONSIDERED
In the majority view of the board the game contains drug and sexual
references, which although moderate in impact, warrant flagging at
the MA15+ classification.
These include a scene (with no player interaction) where a drug
dealer is depicted implicitly, then explicitly, snorting lines of
white powder (implied to be cocaine) from a table and the
involvement of Niko in various missions dealing with drugs.
Further, there are sexual references which require flagging at the
MA15+ classification. These include a scene (with no player
interaction) at the beginning of the game depicting a woman in
lingerie whipping a man in his underwear, tied to a bed and the
general ability of the player to go on 'dates' and have sex with a
'girlfriend', to pick up a prostitute and have sex with her and the
ability to attend a strip club and pay for a lap dance.
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