Kiwis across the tiny game-loving country of New Zealand are pissed. They just got the news that their version of Grand Theft Auto, like the Australian version, will be censored despite any regulations against R18 games on the little bitty island.
One of our forum members recieved the news from retailer Gameplanet, via email, and he was nice enough to share it with me this evening. Here’s what he was told by Gameplanet–>
We have been informed today that New Zealand will be receiving the same version of Grand Theft Auto IV as Australia.
As you have placed your order after Rockstar announced that the Australian version was edited, we are assuming that you will no longer require the game to be shipped from us, as we can’t supply you with an uncut version.
The last thing we want to do is supply you with a product that does not meet your needs and we’ve therefore taken the liberty of removing your GTA4 order from our web site.
We certainly hope we can be more helpful to you in the future!
Kind Regards,
Katey
Customer Service
Gameplanet Store
Jimmy went on to say that there were going to be, “a lot of pissed off NZ gamers once word of this gets around.”
This really sucks for New Zealand. Time for some hot import action if you ask me.
Playing GTA4 censored is like having a Ferrari stuck in first gear. Sure, it’s a Ferrari, and it’ll get you laid. But the hot chicks like to go fast… and you can’t.
Sorry NZ. God that sucks.
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24 responses so far ↓
1 SarcasticSparki // Apr 17, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I am really interested in seeing the actual sale vs pre-orders in that region… compared to other places. Odd that the island once home to the worst of English criminals, can’t handle this game. They really need to get an R18 rating.
2 Orange // Apr 17, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Its EA picking on the little guys! FIGHT THE POWER!
3 Orange // Apr 17, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Heh heh… Wait… EA dosen’t make this game! Darn :(. * Puts away Torch and pitchforks*
4 Lono // Apr 17, 2008 at 10:08 pm
What a bunch of crap… I blame Australia. The whole dang island…
Peter Jackson is going to be pissed.
5 BAZ // Apr 17, 2008 at 10:54 pm
testing
6 BAZ // Apr 17, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Lono can you please organize a worldwide boycott of GTA. A New Zealand boycott will not get take2’s attention.
I’m sure people won’t mind canceling their pre-orders in support of New Zealand!
In all seriousness i hate Australia even more now. Why should their incompetent rating system affect us here in NZ. Screw Australia!
Do i cancel my pre-order and wait an extra 4 days to get a copy from England or do i just play the the cut version? I wish take2 would explain what has been cut!
7 RK1 WhiteKnight // Apr 18, 2008 at 12:06 am
Cheers for this bro. We really do feel like we’ve been given the royal finger with this one. For those who are interested here’s the link that explains exactly why this has happened http://www.geekpulp.co.nz/2008/04/16/gta-iv-the-rough-guide-to-nz-censorship-laws-2/
8 Doc // Apr 18, 2008 at 12:37 am
I hope you guys in NZ have a sense of humor tomorrow… I;m just sayin. (fiction Friday)
Baz just gave me an idea.
Doc
9 RK1 WhiteKnight // Apr 18, 2008 at 2:16 am
Oh god, what have I got us into lol
10 commander121 // Apr 18, 2008 at 3:12 am
@lono Australias not to blame the bloody politicians are.
im going to import the real gta4.
what realy pisses me off is that we havnt been told what there taking out
11 JakubK666 // Apr 18, 2008 at 6:22 am
You Aussies can still import it from UK/US.Apparently it’s even cheaper, too.
12 BAZ // Apr 18, 2008 at 7:19 am
Oh dear, What have i started now!
13 NZ listener #1 // Apr 18, 2008 at 7:26 am
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
14 Lono // Apr 18, 2008 at 10:06 am
No, it’s Australia’s fault. The whole fracking Island’s fault.
15 dirt junkie // Apr 18, 2008 at 10:28 am
@ Baz
So I’ve read the content that has been cut is sumtin to do wid a Knife and I quote “Private Parts”
IT SO SUCKS!!!
P.S. if there is a boycott, I’m sorry but there is no way I’m cancelling my Special Edtion of GTA IV, we’ve had to wait to long as it is!!!
I’m still not buyin that EA game, oh I forget the name now lol
16 RK1 FaMiCuS // Apr 18, 2008 at 10:31 am
Leave New Zealand Alone! Just leave them alone.
Hopefully we (US) are still able to play with them (NZ) online unlike what Army Of Two did.
17 mashedPenguin // Apr 18, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Wow that is totally retarded. All the previous 3d GTA games have been rated R18 in NZ. A rating that has the full force of the law behind it.
Australian politicians need to grow the hell up and actually realize that games are played by more adults than children and get themselves an R18 rating.
And MS needs to suck it up and not screw over NZ because of Australia’s censorship.
I never would have thought that censorship in Australia would make me glad that I live in Canada now.
18 gta4nz // Apr 19, 2008 at 7:51 pm
all that’s cut from the final game is a cutscene in which a guy gets a shotgun shoved up his ass and someone pulls the trigger, no gameplay changes to worry about
19 Pete // Apr 21, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Can we get some confirmation of what EXACTLY has been cut from the AUS and NZ versions?
Cheers…
20 JoKerNZ // Apr 23, 2008 at 11:04 pm
what’s the point we will see it in the end anyway - there’s always youtube “shakes-head-in-disbelief”
21 hickmon // Apr 25, 2008 at 7:53 am
Luckily PS3 games are region free. I’ll just order this shizzay from the US. Works out cheaper too
22 Joshua Smellie // Apr 29, 2008 at 8:55 am
Utter bull. I may be a Australian-born but goddamn if I ain’t a New Zealand gamer! This really pisses the hell outta me because I’m sick of this crap happening to bloody New Zealand.
We get all the damn slack from Australia and it’s not friggin fair. WHO THE HELL AT ROCKSTAR OR TAKE-TWO THOUGHT THIS WAS A DAMN LOGICAL IDEA?!
23 KHAOTIKA // May 10, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Poor Kiwis! What about all us Aussies with such a stupid cencorship classification system and so many Mary Whitehouse clones. It just seems that rockstar keep copping the short end here
24 Update: New Zealand finally gets its game | Sarcastic Gamer // May 22, 2008 at 6:50 am
[...] We reported several weeks before GTA4 shipped that NZ was getting the shaft. Long story short, they got a crappy censored copy of GTA4, despite any laws or regulations calling for such a travesty. [...]
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