You may have heard that the Australian arm of the retailer Target has removed Grand Theft Auto V from sale in all of its stores. Their reason, is that the game’s dark and gritty content – much of it featuring less than lovely treatment of women – is something their customers don’t want to see in store.
This isn’t all too surprising. When it comes to videogames, Australia’s been a bit of a nanny state and only recently allowed mature games to be sold in shops. It seems people just aren’t ready for graphically violent or mature-themed (though arguably still immature) games to be sold in stores.
“We’ve been speaking to many customers over recent days about the game, and there is a significant level of concern about the game’s content,” said Jim Cooper, Target’s general manager of corporate affairs. “We’ve also had customer feedback in support of us selling the game, and we respect their perspective on the issue.
However, we feel the decision to stop selling GTA5 is in line with the majority view of our customers.”
The odd thing is that Target will continue selling other games, movies and the like that feature similar, if not worse violence.
“While these products often contain imagery that some customers find offensive, in the vast majority of cases, we believe they are appropriate products for us to sell to adult customers,” added Cooper. “However, in the case of GTA5, we have listened to the strong feedback from customers that this is not a product they want us to sell.”
And I think that Target itself is one of the reasons people are so up in arms. Target, like many people, still see games as toys, as things for kids. Here’s how the company advertised the game before they yanked it from shelves (via Kotaku Australia)
You see the problem? “The best toy prices in Australia… guaranteed!” Yes, that’s an R18+ rated video game featured in an advert right next to Peppa Pig and Barbie. There’s still a pervasive attitude here and in places like Australia that games are for kids. Yes, they can be, and often are – but ratings exist for a reason; they’re there so that you can make informed choices and not for some sort of moral policing. Removing a game from stores because people complained, however, is moral policing. And now, another Australian retailer, KMart, has done the same.
“Following a significant review of all content in Grand Theft Auto Games Kmart has taken the decision to remove this product immediately,” KMart management says, according to Kotaku Australia. “Kmart apologises for not being closer to the content of this game.”
Take 2 boss Strauss Zelnick has responded to Australian stores pulling the game.
“We are disappointed that an Australian retailer has chosen no longer to sell Grand Theft Auto 5 – a title that has won extraordinary critical acclaim and has been enjoyed by tens of millions of consumers around the world.
“Grand Theft Auto 5 explores mature themes and content similar to those found in many other popular and groundbreaking entertainment properties. Interactive entertainment is today’s most compelling art form and shares the same creative freedom as books, television, and movies. I stand behind our products, the people who create them, and the consumers who play them.”
I mostly agree. While some of GTA’s content made me feel uncomfortable, I think creators should be free to make the games they want to make. People, likewise, should also be free to criticise those games. What people shouldn’t be able to do, is get games removed from stores under some sort of moral self-righteousness. They’re games for adults, and as a (sometimes) adult, I’d like to believe I can make my own informed choices.
Last Updated: December 4, 2014
Ryanza
December 4, 2014 at 13:37
Throw some GTA on the barbie.
Captain JJ the fair
December 4, 2014 at 13:38
I find it funny that the country wherein pretty much anything this side of a slice of toast can kill you is afraid of violence in video games.
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2014 at 13:48
Quick phone, the Australian Embassy. They haven’t removed South Park: The Stick Of Truth yet. It’s got aborted Nazi fetuses for one thing. Then there’s the part where your parents bang and you are a gnome fighting on their bed and you constantly have to dodge your moms boobs and your dads balls
Rock789
December 4, 2014 at 13:57
Wasn’t that banned in Aus? I’m almost sure I saw something about it being banned there (or they were at least debating banning it).
Aus love a good game-banishment. 😉
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2014 at 13:58
http://www.target.com.au/p/south-park-the-stick-of-truth-r18-ps3/55784245
Rock789
December 4, 2014 at 14:02
Wow… It actually got through? Guess the politicians were distracted that day. 😉
Viking Of Divinity
December 4, 2014 at 15:29
It got through, yes, but was Censored. as such: http://i.imgur.com/K3CgKf9.jpg
HvR
December 4, 2014 at 15:36
Political Correctness … Koala.
WitWolfy
December 5, 2014 at 08:15
Thats why I imported the American version.
Sean Carbutt
December 4, 2014 at 14:01
LOL. But isn’t this the country that also brought us them non violent 80’s movies called Mad Max?
Rock789
December 4, 2014 at 14:09
True dat! But, whatever you do, don’t tell them that!! **insert fake shock face here**
Imagine what they’ll say when the new Mad Max comes out. It won’t be “That is too violent – begone evil doers!”. It’ll be, “Crikey mate, those fellas made that movie in South Africa… Where they don’t even have dingos. Originals were betta!”
WitWolfy
December 5, 2014 at 08:49
Mad Max 2015
WitWolfy
December 5, 2014 at 08:17
YES… Mad Max.. Where a Woman gets killed by a bike while running with her new born in her arms.. Or where they show how a innocent women gets raped while the men laugh… NOW THATS CINEMA!!!
But God forbid them showing a digital prostitute giving you head in first person mode…
Fnuik
December 4, 2014 at 13:48
I think since the Australian people are mostly descendants of convicts they are afraid of what the game will do to the now dormant side of the convict mind…
Viking Of Divinity
December 4, 2014 at 13:50
I Can’t Believe that pointless and Stupid Change.org Bullshit is working. FFS Australia….
Sgt. M
December 4, 2014 at 13:53
I find this comletely idiotic. This argument is just an extension of the “videogames make people violent” which is utter crap. Parents will let their kids watch the walking dead and the like with all the gore and killing but God forbid there be some sex, then we gotta cover up the kids eyes and ears. We as a society as saying something natural like love making is worse than weilding a hand basooka(Rick Grimes Primary weapon) and blasting peoples, alive and dead, brains out? This game was made for people aged R18+ , people who i hope could have made up their own damn minds!?!?!
Rock789
December 4, 2014 at 13:54
Meh… It’s Australia. They’ve always had an anti stance when it comes to gaming (in terms of the politicians and anyone else who shouts loud enough) – particularly as it’s gained popularity over the years. Seems like it’s their go-to entertainment medium with regards to blame for anything that’s wrong in the world.
Germany, too, are incredibly strict with what is and isn’t sold in stores when it comes to gaming – but at least they’re consistent with their approach. Back in Aus, it’s usually the ‘flavour of the month’ game that everyone picks on that ends up being conveniently banned / unstocked by stores.
Captain JJ the fair
December 4, 2014 at 13:55
Why, just last night after I played Skyrim I went out and shouted at people before decapitating them.
CAE9872
December 4, 2014 at 14:01
And they came back as Zombies no doubt aka Dead Island. I don’t get why some countries find zombies OK – they WERE f’ing human at one point…theoretically at least.
RinceThis
December 4, 2014 at 14:01
Me too! Gah! I had a level killing bug last night that had me fucking around for an hour before turning it off and on again. It worked when I did…
Rock789
December 4, 2014 at 14:04
Dude, we’ve spoken about this before – you’re supposed to do that IN-GAME, not in-world… 😉
Captain JJ the fair
December 4, 2014 at 14:11
I’ll be honest, it was very disappointing when nothing moved after I shouted Fus Ro Dah
RinceThis
December 4, 2014 at 13:54
Really? You so much as look at a dingo wrong and the country eats your fucking baby but you can’t buy GTAV?
Rock789
December 4, 2014 at 14:05
Careful – you might get banned in Australia for that! 😉
RinceThis
December 4, 2014 at 14:09
GOOD! Not interested in going to a country that was made to kill!
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2014 at 13:56
Is it still available online? Granted it’s 51 bazillion gigs
CAE9872
December 4, 2014 at 13:59
I read this yesterday and checked if it was April 1st…apparently not! Man those Ozzies and there gaming. Reminds me of American mid-west (so-called Bible belt). Man TV sucks in USA and you show a hint of nudity! End of the line.
Sgt. M
December 4, 2014 at 14:00
Maybe Rockstar and Target should spin it this way then. GTAV – a story of a young up and coming business man who under the tutelage of; a seasoned veteran who has now left the life of fast paced equity distribution and his estranged business partner, tries to navigate issues like his career, his love life and family.
Maybe that’ll put it back on the shelf?
Nikola
December 4, 2014 at 14:09
and banging sheep is ok? but playing GTA hell no thats horrible!!
Reid
December 4, 2014 at 14:17
So maybe someone can mod it into the PC version of GTA5
Nikola
December 4, 2014 at 14:18
hahaha lol great idea then I am sure GTA5 will be the most sold game in Australia:)
Anon A Mouse
December 4, 2014 at 14:32
I love how Kmart is advertising it as a kids game although there is a huge R18+ printed on the left bottom. Now suddenly it’s the game’s fault.
Tell you what. Let’s all start making a list of things that make us feel uncomfortable and we get those in power to remove all of it.
Here’s my list:
Humanity (or people actually as some human beings shouldn’t really qualify as humans.)
HvR
December 4, 2014 at 14:44
“When it comes to videogames, Australia’s been a bit of a nanny state”
No pretty much when it comes to everything, Australia has been nanny state.
It is ridiculous how much restrictions and regulation that government puts on its citizens.
Anon A Mouse
December 4, 2014 at 14:47
But the country is good and clean and fresh, tra la la.
HvR
December 4, 2014 at 15:09
like all the other high security prisons in the world
Ross Woofels Mason
December 4, 2014 at 14:45
In all honesty, I know legitimate strippers and sex workers (escorts, hookers, what ever you wish to call them) who have more class than 95% of the women you see by just turning on MTV, or typing in “female celebrities” into google.
So yeah, well done Australia. Great place to start attacking the negative depicition of women in a video games whose biggest purpose basically is do see how much havoc you can wreak by shooting people in the head with rocket launchers and tripping your balls off into thinking you are an animal. /sarcasm
boondocksaint87
December 4, 2014 at 15:02
I think the unrealistic depiction of women found in Barbie Dolls are much worse than the realistic (more often than not) depiction of women in modern society found in GTA.
Anyhow, first world problems in AUS, pulling games from the shleves. Screw the aussies, we live GTA every day in SA. #proudlysa
Ir0nseraph
December 4, 2014 at 15:10
So last year this wasn’t a problem , what pushed the game over the edge the first person view or brilliant graphics ?
Viking Of Divinity
December 4, 2014 at 15:28
Why don’t they then just pull Tomb Raider from shelves, Lord Knows Lara Suffers some gruesome deaths in that if you mess up…
Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)
December 4, 2014 at 15:33
Better get rid of all things cricket as well my friends down under!
Death by video games this year in Oz: 0
Death By Cricket: 1
RIP
Darren Peach
December 4, 2014 at 19:55
Bad taste……but true.
Marc O Polo
December 5, 2014 at 06:00
over a year since the games release… fucking sheep shaggers
Brady miaau
December 5, 2014 at 07:51
What about the cannibalism in Skyrim? I found that worse than all the crap in Fallout 3 and New Vegas combined, judging the way I feel.
So I am sure that Target sold Skyrim. Seems like a case of a bandwagon has been made it will be ridden upon.
hannah
December 6, 2014 at 18:00
nice