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{{Infobox country
{{Infobox country
|native_name              = Australia
|conventional_long_name  = Commonwealth of Australia
|common_name              = Australia
|common_name              = Australia
|image_flag              = Flag of Australia.png
|image_flag              = Flag of Australia.png
|image_coat              = Australian Coat of Arms.png
|official_languages      = None{{Ref|official languages|N2}}
|official_languages      = [[wp:English language|English]]
|languages_type          = [[National language]]
|languages                = [[wp:English language|English]]<br />([[wp:de facto|de facto]]){{Ref|official languages|N2}}
|capital                  = [[wp:Canberra|Canberra]]
|largest_city            = [[wp:Sydney|Sydney]]
|currency                = [[wp:Australian dollar|Australian dollar]]
}}
}}
'''[[wp:Australia|Australia]]''' is a country in the southern hemisphere, a neighbour to [[New Zealand]].
'''[[wp:Australia|Australia]]''' is a country in the southern hemisphere, a neighbour to [[New Zealand]].


The country's [[OFLC]] provides the age classification of all media in the country, including [[Grand Theft Auto]] releases. The majority of the GTA series is rated MA15+, however some editions of the games have drawn the RC rating ("Refused Classification"). [[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]] was famously re-rated after the [[Hot Coffee]] debacle, the OFLC changing its original MA15+ rating to RC. The re-release of San Andreas saw it obtain the the MA15+ rating again, after the Hot Coffee material was edited out. Rockstar produced a different version of [[GTA IV]] for retail in the Australian/New Zealand market to meet Australian OFLC MA15+ guidelines -- no blood pools form beneath dead bodies, prostitute 'services' are shown from an obscuring angle (and no options are available), and injury decals are not shown on the protagonist or on NPCs when they are wounded. Copies of the game acquired from online retailers (Steam, Gamestop etc) are the international version of the game, even if downloaded within Australia. The international version of GTA IV was eventually submitted for rating in New Zealand by a retailer, and was passed with an 18+ rating, allowing the uncensored version to be sold there.
The country's [[Australian Classification Board|classification board]] provides the age classification of all media in the country, including video game releases such as [[Grand Theft Auto]]. The majority of the GTA series is rated MA15+, however some editions of the games have drawn the RC rating ("Refused Classification"). [[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]] was famously re-rated after the [[Hot Coffee]] debacle, the OFLC changing its original MA15+ rating to RC. The re-release of the game saw it obtain the the MA15+ rating again, after the Hot Coffee material was edited out. [[Rockstar]] produced a different version of [[Grand Theft Auto IV]] for retail in the Australian/New Zealand market to meet Australian OFLC MA15+ guidelines - no blood pools form beneath dead bodies, prostitute 'services' are shown from an obscuring angle (and no options are available), and injury decals are not shown on the protagonist or on NPCs when they are wounded. The [[PC]] version of the game, however, remains uncensored. The international version of GTA IV was eventually submitted for rating in New Zealand by a retailer, and was passed with an 18+ rating, allowing the uncensored version to be sold there.


Media that receive a "Refused Classification" rating are banned from sale; it is particularly easy for games to receive this rating, as there is no 18+ classification for games. Games which do receive this rating must be edited to meet MA15+ standards to obtain an Australian release.
Media that receive a "Refused Classification" rating are banned from sale in the country; it has historically been particularly easy for games to receive this rating, as there was no 18+ classification for games. As of 2013, however, the R18+ rating has been available for video games. Games which do receive the RC rating must be edited to meet MA15+ standards to obtain an Australian release.


Note that the OFLC do not decide ratings policy, but merely enforce it -- changes to the classification system, such as providing an 18+ rating for games, must be authorised with a unanimous vote from all state attorneys-general. Attorney General [http://www.agd.sa.gov.au/about_us/ministers.php Michael Atkinson] of South Australia is the lone dissenting vote regarding an 18+ category for video games.
Note that the classification board do not decide ratings policy, but merely enforce it - changes to the classification system, such as providing an 18+ rating for games, must be authorised with a unanimous vote from all state attorneys-general. Attorney General [http://www.agd.sa.gov.au/about_us/ministers.php Michael Atkinson] of South Australia was the lone dissenting vote regarding an 18+ category for video games for a very long time.


==Australia within the Grand Theft Auto games==
==Australia within the Grand Theft Auto games==
In the [[GTA III Era]] games, references are made to a war between the [[United States]] and Australia. It is first referenced in [[Grand Theft Auto III]] when a caller in [[Chatterbox FM]] talks about his experience in the Australian-American War, which [[Lazlow]] claims it did not happen. References appear in later GTA games, usually in [[Ammu-Nation]] commercials and radio advertisements. It can be presumed that Australia lost the war -- San Andreas Ammu-Nation promotions mention weapons "from when we whooped Australia's ass".
In the [[GTA III Era]] games, references are made to a war between the [[United States]] and Australia. It is first referenced in [[GTA III]] when a caller in [[Chatterbox FM]], [[Colonel James P.]], talks about his experience in the [[Australian-American War]], which [[Lazlow]] claims it did not happen. References appear in later GTA games, usually in [[Ammu-Nation]] commercials and radio advertisements. It can be presumed that Australia lost the war - San Andreas Ammu-Nation promotions mention weapons "from when we whooped Australia's ass".


The [[GTA IV Era]] games continues the references to the Australian-American War. A commercial for Babies Overnight adoption service mentions "...an Australian baby, which loves to play war but always loses." On the website "[[Ilovetoblow.org|www.ilovetoblow.org]]", there is also another reference to Australia losing the war.
The [[GTA IV Era]] games continues the references to the Australian-American War. A commercial for Babies Overnight adoption service mentions "...an Australian baby, which loves to play war but always loses." On the website "[[Ilovetoblow.org|www.ilovetoblow.org]]", there is also another reference to Australia losing the war.


This is possibly another take on British views on American ignorance or stupidity (A recurring theme in the GTA games) in that Australia have the British flag in the corner of their flag and Americans haven't noticed that and think it's the same as the UK and actually referring to the War of Independence{{?}}
[[Category: Countries]]
[[Category: Countries]]

Revision as of 00:01, 31 August 2013

Commonwealth of Australia
Australia
CapitalCanberra
Largest city Sydney
Official language(s) NoneN2
National language English
(de facto)N2
Currency Australian dollar

Australia is a country in the southern hemisphere, a neighbour to New Zealand.

The country's classification board provides the age classification of all media in the country, including video game releases such as Grand Theft Auto. The majority of the GTA series is rated MA15+, however some editions of the games have drawn the RC rating ("Refused Classification"). Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was famously re-rated after the Hot Coffee debacle, the OFLC changing its original MA15+ rating to RC. The re-release of the game saw it obtain the the MA15+ rating again, after the Hot Coffee material was edited out. Rockstar produced a different version of Grand Theft Auto IV for retail in the Australian/New Zealand market to meet Australian OFLC MA15+ guidelines - no blood pools form beneath dead bodies, prostitute 'services' are shown from an obscuring angle (and no options are available), and injury decals are not shown on the protagonist or on NPCs when they are wounded. The PC version of the game, however, remains uncensored. The international version of GTA IV was eventually submitted for rating in New Zealand by a retailer, and was passed with an 18+ rating, allowing the uncensored version to be sold there.

Media that receive a "Refused Classification" rating are banned from sale in the country; it has historically been particularly easy for games to receive this rating, as there was no 18+ classification for games. As of 2013, however, the R18+ rating has been available for video games. Games which do receive the RC rating must be edited to meet MA15+ standards to obtain an Australian release.

Note that the classification board do not decide ratings policy, but merely enforce it - changes to the classification system, such as providing an 18+ rating for games, must be authorised with a unanimous vote from all state attorneys-general. Attorney General Michael Atkinson of South Australia was the lone dissenting vote regarding an 18+ category for video games for a very long time.

Australia within the Grand Theft Auto games

In the GTA III Era games, references are made to a war between the United States and Australia. It is first referenced in GTA III when a caller in Chatterbox FM, Colonel James P., talks about his experience in the Australian-American War, which Lazlow claims it did not happen. References appear in later GTA games, usually in Ammu-Nation commercials and radio advertisements. It can be presumed that Australia lost the war - San Andreas Ammu-Nation promotions mention weapons "from when we whooped Australia's ass".

The GTA IV Era games continues the references to the Australian-American War. A commercial for Babies Overnight adoption service mentions "...an Australian baby, which loves to play war but always loses." On the website "www.ilovetoblow.org", there is also another reference to Australia losing the war.