Quote:
Bonkers open world adventure Saints Row 4 will not see an Australian release in its current form due to the inclusion of an "Alien Anal Probe" weapon.
The extraterrestrial device fell foul of censors at the Aussie Classification Board, Kotaku reported.
Its depiction in Saints Row 4 implied sexual violence that was "not justified by context", the ACB report stated:
Saints Row: The Third famously included a ***-shaped baseball bat weapon.
"The game includes a weapon referred to by the Applicant as an 'Alien Anal Probe'. The Applicant states that this weapon can be 'shoved into enemy's backsides'. The lower half of the weapon resembles a sword hilt and the upper part contains prong-like appendages which circle around what appears to be a large *** which runs down the centre of the weapon.
"When using this weapon the player approaches a (clothed) victim from behind and thrusts the weapon between the victim's legs and then lifts them off the ground before pulling a trigger which launches the victim into the air. After the probe has been implicitly inserted into the victim's anus the area around their buttocks becomes pixelated highlighting that the aim of the weapon is to penetrate the victim's anus.
"The weapon can be used during gameplay on enemy characters or civilians. 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 and as such the game should be Refused Classification."
Saints Row 4 also includes an optional mission involving "alien narcotics", the ACB noted. Smoking these drugs grants "superpowers", something which the Board also looked upon disapprovingly.
The game is the second title in as many days to recieve a ban in Australia. Xbox Live Arcade success State of Decay will also not be released there in its current form, due its inclusion of real world narcotics as medication.
"We are still planning on releasing Saints Row 4 in Australia and we hope to have more news on that front soon," Volition wrote on its official Twitter account.
The extraterrestrial device fell foul of censors at the Aussie Classification Board, Kotaku reported.
Its depiction in Saints Row 4 implied sexual violence that was "not justified by context", the ACB report stated:
Saints Row: The Third famously included a ***-shaped baseball bat weapon.
"The game includes a weapon referred to by the Applicant as an 'Alien Anal Probe'. The Applicant states that this weapon can be 'shoved into enemy's backsides'. The lower half of the weapon resembles a sword hilt and the upper part contains prong-like appendages which circle around what appears to be a large *** which runs down the centre of the weapon.
"When using this weapon the player approaches a (clothed) victim from behind and thrusts the weapon between the victim's legs and then lifts them off the ground before pulling a trigger which launches the victim into the air. After the probe has been implicitly inserted into the victim's anus the area around their buttocks becomes pixelated highlighting that the aim of the weapon is to penetrate the victim's anus.
"The weapon can be used during gameplay on enemy characters or civilians. 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 and as such the game should be Refused Classification."
Saints Row 4 also includes an optional mission involving "alien narcotics", the ACB noted. Smoking these drugs grants "superpowers", something which the Board also looked upon disapprovingly.
The game is the second title in as many days to recieve a ban in Australia. Xbox Live Arcade success State of Decay will also not be released there in its current form, due its inclusion of real world narcotics as medication.
"We are still planning on releasing Saints Row 4 in Australia and we hope to have more news on that front soon," Volition wrote on its official Twitter account.
Ridiculous..
