Rockstar is pushing for an 18 and up maturity rating for GTA IV in Australia. The problem is there is no current rating in Aussieworld for 18+ so they're also pushing regulatory boards to create the new rating. As it stands the game has been modified to adhere to their highest MA15+ rating.

Rockstar isn't specific about how the game was changed but they did issue this P/Rspeak statement: "While there are some minor differences between the Australian and US/EU versions, they are not significant and we do not believe they take away from the level of scope and detail that make GTA IV such an incredible experience."

C'mon, if you're removing the objectionable content from a GTA game to placate a ratings board, you're probably removing all the fun parts of the game that make it GTA. Might as well just put out Table Tennis II and call it a day. (How were the prostitutes in Table Tennis, by the way, I never played it?)

I want to be in the stodgy, old government committee that gets to sit around and review these games weeks before their actual release date. I picture them all sitting around a big boardroom table in a darkened conference room, buying prostitutes, killing cops, shooting rockets at the military, just having a grand ole time. Then the light switches on and they all clear their throats. There's a heavy silence until the fattest most suitiest guy in the room says, "Well, our kids can't play this."

eurogamer.net: Rockstar wants 18 rating in Australia