Multiplat Saints Row 4

[HBK619]

Have to agree with this - we have MA15+ and R18+ rated movies and tv shows that have either depict sexual violence or drug usage (or both) as well as a bunch of other mature adult themes. It just seems like double standards for different media IMO.

But that's the thing, they are different forms of media and thus they need their own specific rules within them.

I don't agree with what their guidelines are, but having no unique rules across wildly different forms of media wouldn't be the right way to deal with things.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

It shouldn't actually mean everything gets through.

There are still things that get turned down in other media streams (TV & Movies).

There will still be games which go over the boundaries. Whether this one has or not is another thing.

But that's the thing, they are different forms of media and thus they need their own specific rules within them.

I don't agree with what their guidelines are, but having no unique rules across wildly different forms of media wouldn't be the right way to deal with things.

Yep I agree with you both that just because we have an R18+ rating doesn't mean everything should be allowed and that there should be some limitations.

It's hard to say if the classification board made the right call without knowing specifically what the content in question was but maybe it's just my general distrust of conservative politicians and authoritative figures who hold the belief that 'video games are bad' 'violent video games lead to more violence in society' etc etc. I find that normally the people who legislate and make these decisions are very rarely people with a good grasp of the subject matter - I think it wouldn't be a huge surprise if Donald McDonald (chair of the classification board) hadn't played a video game in recent years.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Further to that - IGN just revealed this as the reason for the game being refused classification - the alien @nal probe' and use of drugs in the game. Seems a bit excessive IMO. Deep Silver mentioned they will remove the content though so it should gain classification eventually you would think.

I also saw State of Decay (an upcoming xbox game) got banned for drugs as well - god forbid, at this rate I don't like GTA 5s chances...

http://au.ign.com/articles/2013/06/...ts-row-iv-refused-classification-in-australia

 

[PP34]

I think people need to read the text in regards to why the game was banned.

Remember, SR3 and SR4 are DIFFERENT games. Just because one passed through and had x amount of stuff in it, doesn't mean the next one should when it's a different game. Obviously Volition have made changes that affected the rating of the title.Neither of the 2 bolded items above were in SR3. There you have the reason why one was given a rating and the other was refused classification.

What was bannable before is still now, R18+ doesn't just give everything a free pass.

We don't live in bloody China.

There's no point acting like editing things the classification board doesn't like out will stop people from acting certain ways.

It's a joke.

 

[LegendakaRICHO]

thank god. it looked shithouse and stupid

 

[Upgrayedd]

I support the stand to ban shitty video game franchises.

 

[Mighty P]

Pretty amazed that it's been refused classification, especially if it's the drug use thing that pushed it over the edge. R18+ shouldn't really ban drug related things should it? How about all the games that have you injecting crap all over the place with a MA rating (Far Cry 3 anyone?)?

If this is R18+ then it is a joke.

 

[Fuzzy Wuzzy Bear]

The board probably just realised that it's glorified Saints row 3 DLC.

 

[lewigie]

Pretty amazed that it's been refused classification, especially if it's the drug use thing that pushed it over the edge. R18+ shouldn't really ban drug related things should it? How about all the games that have you injecting crap all over the place with a MA rating (Far Cry 3 anyone?)?

If this is R18+ then it is a joke.

It was banned over an alien anal probe IIRC

 

[benchwarmer5]

I think people need to read the text in regards to why the game was banned.

Remember, SR3 and SR4 are DIFFERENT games. Just because one passed through and had x amount of stuff in it, doesn't mean the next one should when it's a different game. Obviously Volition have made changes that affected the rating of the title.Neither of the 2 bolded items above were in SR3. There you have the reason why one was given a rating and the other was refused classification.

What was bannable before is still now, R18+ doesn't just give everything a free pass.

It would in a society that let adults make decisions for themselves

 

[Glenno23]

It would in a society that let adults make decisions for themselves

Adults have proven they're not very good at making decisions

I had a kid, maybe 8-9 years old come up to the counter with a copy of MK and Resident Evil Raccoon City. I told him i couldn't sell them to him

His mum comes in 3 mins later and buys them, i ask her if she is aware of the content and she says "I don't care what he plays, as long as he's happy"

Now that aint right. R18 games are meant for people over the age of 18. Its the same as drinking, i know its illegal for people under 18 to do it, but it happens, but under 10 years old, thats just a joke

What happens if we let rape games in (as Adults should have the right to choose their games for themselves) and parents just don't give a shit?

Its worrying

 

[benchwarmer5]

Adults have proven they're not very good at making decisions

I had a kid, maybe 8-9 years old come up to the counter with a copy of MK and Resident Evil Raccoon City. I told him i couldn't sell them to him

His mum comes in 3 mins later and buys them, i ask her if she is aware of the content and she says "I don't care what he plays, as long as he's happy"

Now that aint right. R18 games are meant for people over the age of 18. Its the same as drinking, i know its illegal for people under 18 to do it, but it happens, but under 10 years old, thats just a joke

What happens if we let rape games in (as Adults should have the right to choose their games for themselves) and parents just don't give a shit?

Its worrying

The answer to this is government censorship ?

To me this is just an example of bad parenting. She probably feeds him junk food 24/7 so I guess a ban on junk food is necessary to prevent the health implications.

Where does it end ? At what point does someone become responsible for themselves (or kids)

I want to make those decisions for myself

 

[Glenno23]

The answer to this is government censorship ?

To me this is just an example of bad parenting. She probably feeds him junk food 24/7 so I guess a ban on junk food is necessary to prevent the health implications.

Where does it end ? At what point does someone become responsible for themselves (or kids)

I want to make those decisions for myself

Of course its terrible parenting

I understand choice, but at the end of the day, there still has to be a limit as to what can be accepted at whatever level of censorship we have

There can't be no restrictions, there are some sick puppies out there that could make some awful games

 

[benchwarmer5]

Of course its terrible parenting

I understand choice, but at the end of the day, there still has to be a limit as to what can be accepted at whatever level of censorship we have

There can't be no restrictions, there are some sick puppies out there that could make some awful games

At that point it would become a legal issue and not about " protecting moral standards "

 

[Glenno23]

At that point it would become a legal issue and not about " protecting moral standards "

Thats more for the S,R and P board i would assume.....

 

[Suspense]

Further to that - IGN just revealed this as the reason for the game being refused classification - the alien @nal probe' and use of drugs in the game. Seems a bit excessive IMO. Deep Silver mentioned they will remove the content though so it should gain classification eventually you would think.

I also saw State of Decay (an upcoming xbox game) got banned for drugs as well - god forbid, at this rate I don't like GTA 5s chances...

http://au.ign.com/articles/2013/06/...ts-row-iv-refused-classification-in-australia

"In the Board’s opinion, a weapon designed to penetrate the anus of enemy characters and civilians constitutes a visual depiction of implied sexual violence that is interactive and not justified by context..."

hahah.


"The game contains an optional mission which involves the player obtaining and smoking drugs referred to as “alien narcotics”. Smoking the “alien narcotics” equips the player with “superpowers” which increase their in-game abilities allowing them to progress through the mission more easily...

In the Board’s opinion, there is insufficient delineation between the “alien narcotic” available in the game and real-world proscribed drugs. The Board notes that the label “narcotics” is commonly used assigned to describe a class of real-world drugs that include such proscribed substances as cocaine and heroin."

is the fix for that just a matter of renaming the item to something besides "narcotics"?

 

[Suspense]

There can't be no restrictions, there are some sick puppies out there that could make some awful games

im not necessarily in favour of no restrictions but the restrictions in place for games (ie. what gets given refused classification) is clearly out of kilter with what is given as acceptable for other R-18+ rated forms of media.

 

[pantskyle]

"In the Board’s opinion, a weapon designed to penetrate the anus of enemy characters and civilians constitutes a visual depiction of implied sexual violence that is interactive and not justified by context..."

hahah.


"The game contains an optional mission which involves the player obtaining and smoking drugs referred to as “alien narcotics”. Smoking the “alien narcotics” equips the player with “superpowers” which increase their in-game abilities allowing them to progress through the mission more easily...

In the Board’s opinion, there is insufficient delineation between the “alien narcotic” available in the game and real-world proscribed drugs. The Board notes that the label “narcotics” is commonly used assigned to describe a class of real-world drugs that include such proscribed substances as cocaine and heroin."

is the fix for that just a matter of renaming the item to something besides "narcotics"?

Fallout did that. Made the change to new names.

 

[MarcusP2]

Fallout did that. Made the change to new names.

Yes, that's why they have Med-X instead of morphine.

It's pretty simple, the things that will still get you banned is taking real world drugs for reward/advancement in the game and rape for reward.

So I would expect no buttrape gun (oh how sad) and a renaming of the drugs.

 

[Glenno23]

im not necessarily in favour of no restrictions but the restrictions in place for games (ie. what gets given refused classification) is clearly out of kilter with what is given as acceptable for other R-18+ rated forms of media.

Of course its different. Games are interactive, the player controls what happens in a game in some cases. You can't decide what happens in a movie.....

 

[Suspense]

Of course its different. Games are interactive, the player controls what happens in a game in some cases. You can't decide what happens in a movie.....

i'm aware of the inherent differences between these forms of media. my point is that the ratings for each should be determined by the nature of the content; not by how one engages with the media.

i don't see why glorification of "real-world" drug taking/culture in movies is deemed as acceptable for 18+ adults to view but having an interactive character use an item called "morphine" in a video game is grounds for RC?

imv, it's an illogical persistent hangover from the outdated view that video games are for kids.

 

[MarcusP2]

In movies people die from injecting morphine/heroin/narcotics.

In games it gives you instant health boosts/increased accuracy/superpower.

A movie in which someone is shown to become superhuman from doing coke would probably also struggle to pass the censors.

 

[Glenno23]

Game has been re classified...... announcement should be soon

 

[LegendakaRICHO]

just cancel it already

 

[HBK619]

Interesting move. I have to give it to Volition, they really needed to just go so far the opposite of what they have had in the past with how awesome GTA V is looking while remaining fairly realistic. Volition have just gone way off the deep end on that side of things, whether it works out or not is to be seen obviously but if they had've stuck with a similar formula to SR2 or SR3 then I think this game would bomb extremely hard.