Saints Row Banned in Australia! [UPDATE: Not anymore!]

[Haze]

Source: Saints Row IV Banned in Australia - IGN

Saints Row IV has been refused classification in Australia. Acting Director of the Classification Board Donald McDonald announced the decision today, noting it was the first game in Australia to be banned under the new Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games that commenced on January 1, 2013.

The Classification Board has classified the game RC (Refused Classification) meaning the game cannot be displayed or sold in Australia.

In the Boardâ??s opinion, Saints Row IV includes interactive, visual depictions of implied sexual violence which are not justified by context. The Board also says the game includes elements of illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards. Such depictions are prohibited under the guidelines.

"Apart from todayâ??s decision, since the beginning of the year, the Board has classified 17 games R18+ under the new guidelines,â?￾ said McDonald.

Saints Row IV is the first game to apparently exceed what is permissible under the R18+ rating.

The R18+ rating for video games in Australia finally came into effect on January 1, 2013. Prior to this, Australia did not have an adults-only category for video games.

Deep Silver can appeal the decision; we await the publisher's response.

You have no idea how angry and annoyed I am over this (being an Australian)

It took us so long to get a R rating for video games here and this happens! I was extremely looking forward to this game as was my girlfriend as she is a big Saints Row fan. But nope.

Sorry guys, I don't usually get annoyed but, can you blame me?

 

[lindbergh]

Maybe Saint's Row IV should be classified as XXX since it exceeds the R18+ classification. At least you could still watch SR IV videos at YouTube. I think that the Australian government would no longer ban that would they?

 

[strangel0ve]

I feel that it's silly to do this, especially for a title like Saint's Row. If the fear is that exposure is going to cause violence/drug abuse, then Saint's Row itself is an example of a game that depicts such subject matters without encouraging it. If anything, Saint's Row is a series that caricaturizes and makes fun of the violence and drug abuse that plagues much of modern media. I mean, I feel like there is a distinction in what is being emphasized. Saint's Row is about extremes, but the end message is, ultimately, fun. It is a game that is silly and honest in addressing what players want and to ban it seems silly.

 

[Haze]

I feel that it's silly to do this, especially for a title like Saint's Row. If the fear is that exposure is going to cause violence/drug abuse, then Saint's Row itself is an example of a game that depicts such subject matters without encouraging it. If anything, Saint's Row is a series that caricaturizes and makes fun of the violence and drug abuse that plagues much of modern media. I mean, I feel like there is a distinction in what is being emphasized. Saint's Row is about extremes, but the end message is, ultimately, fun. It is a game that is silly and honest in addressing what players want and to ban it seems silly.

Well said my friend.

I guess the simple solution would be to import it. And it's not the same watching somebody else play it on youtube

 

[lindbergh]

And it's not the same watching somebody else play it on youtube

Haha. Yes, it's not. I feel bad for you. Really. But the real culprit here are the changes in the way Australia rates games. Does Australia ban porn videos as well? If not, then the Board should also allow this game to be released. I believe that adults are responsible enough not to let kids play these types of games.

 

[Haze]

Haha. Yes, it's not. I feel bad for you. Really. But the real culprit here are the changes in the way Australia rates games. Does Australia ban porn videos as well? If not, then the Board should also allow this game to be released. I believe that adults are responsible enough not to let kids play these types of games.

We allow porn... I think? Ha. We are so far behind when it comes to video game ratings. Everyone takes two steps forward, and we take 241875 steps back it seems.

I just hope Deep Silver appeal this decision! I mean, we got Mortal Kombat finally. Surely that game is worse then what Saints Row IV will display.

 

[Haze]

For those interested, Saints Row IV has been refused classification yet again in Australia!

Seems the reason this time is because of the use of illicit drugs as an in-game reward. But Deep Silver is re-editing the game yet again so we'll see if the third times a charm...

 

[Jellyfish]

So such a game is banned while we see every sort of filth on TV every day?

Maybe it's just a feeling but it's getting worse constantly. They are taking our freedom more and more. And it's all over the world, especially in the Commonwealth nations. Let's face it, in a few games we wil be playing only bubble gum games while watching bubble gum porn on machines that spy on us all the time.

 

[Gamer_Fries]

Can't blame you at getting mad over this, it is quite understandable in fact. While the Saint's Row games have not always been the most interesting and have sometimes gotten stale pretty quick for me I still enjoy playing the third one with a friend sometimes. I am actually kind of looking forward to the new game since it seems like they've go more into the wacky part of Saints Row like they should by giving you crazy guns and abilities.

 

[Medza]

Third time's the charm anyone? They've reconsidered it once because there was a huge uprising on the internet so with enough demand they might be forced to revisit it. Some people are actually arguing that it's better that they rejected the game rather than creating a censored copy, because it's just easier to get an international copy of the game from abroad. This would at least be possible for PC users, but console gamers might find it difficult if the consoles are region locked.

 

[Haze]

Looks like third time was a charm as reports are coming in saying that Saints Row IV has passed the ratings board with a MA15+ rating.

Deep Silver have removed a mission involving a character named Shaundi, which included the alien narcotics that proved to be the main cause of the original version being refused classification. While a secondary reason – the use of an “alien anal probe” – was left out of the Review Board’s decision to support the refusal, Deep Silver have played it safe and removed a loyalty mission in which the weapon is used.

Saints Row IV To Probe DLC Loophole | Kotaku Australia

If you read the link above, they (Deep Silver) may sneak the "deleted" items into future DLC