Grand Theft raises R rating prospect - The Australian

The Australian writes:

"The (Australian) Government could approve an R rating category for the computer and video game industry by the end of the year in the wake of debate over the censorship of the contentious game Grand Theft Auto IV.

The Office of Film and Literature Classification ordered sex scenes to be cut from the game for it to meet the highest available rating for computer games, MA15+. While the sex scenes have been edited out of the Australian version, graphic violence and drug use - a central element of the GTA series - remain untouched.

Greg Bondar, chief executive of the Game Developers Association of Australia, said he believed the furore over the rating of the game had taken the debate to a new level that would force the Government's hand.

In March, more than two months before the release of the game, Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus announced a review of the games classification system to be administered by the Victorian Attorney-General.

A discussion paper on the review is expected to be released in coming weeks."