DS Gets Its First 18 Rated Game In The UK

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars has been confirmed as the platform's very first 18 rated game in the UK.

MCV reports that the latest installment in the juggernaut of the GTA franchise is the Nintendo DS's first and only 18-rated game.

A sneaky peak at the BBFC entry for the game shows that it passed without the need for edits and contains nearly three hours of cutscenes, oh and apparently it contains 'very strong language and drug references'.

Whether this will open the door for more adult-themed DS games isn't clear, but it's nice to see that there is room in Nintendo's 'family friendly' policy for the occasional foul-mouthed junkie.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is released in March in the UK and North America.

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If that pic is the actual box art... they apparently want to be really sure no minors can get their hands on this o.o

I'd have thought that that would just encourage minors to want to buy it...

Yep that's usually the case with most UK games a HUGE age rating on the side. It does actually work though because it's the ratings parents assoicate with movies.

If GTA didn't have an 18 rating then it just wouldn't be GTA.

Saphatorael:
If that pic is the actual box art... they apparently want to be really sure no minors can get their hands on this o.o

And still, you're going to have little Timmy's parents on the trashy current affairs show, spouting the evils of this child's game...

As for this, it just means either us Aussies are going to get a watered down version of the game, or not getting it at all.

Wow... just looking at the box and name, why do I have a feeling this isn't going to be that great?

So what version does Australia get?

it gets the "first DS game banned in Australia" version

The "18" image takes like 1/4 of the space on that cover. xD

It's exactly the same "giant 18" symbol used on the covers of certain DVDs (not all, most get away with the traditional size that fits on the spine of a VHS tape), and on all 18-certificate games as of late. When dealing with the DS, however, and the smaller cover, it does take up a much larger relative area...

Hmm... A DS game that is 18...

Thank god.

Thank god that Nintendo hasn't forced them to cut everything out to make their family friendly console even more family friendly.

That's actually kind of sad when I think about it.

I mean, the first 18+ game in the UK? Surely there were some other contenders for the rating?

But I'm being pompous, it's not going to do much to the actual game anyway.

Dommyboy:
So what version does Australia get?

None?

Good heavens that's a big 18, look at the size of that f*#%er!

Jumplion:
That's actually kind of sad when I think about it.

I mean, the first 18+ game in the UK? Surely there were some other contenders for the rating?

But I'm being pompous, it's not going to do much to the actual game anyway.

the first 18+ game on the DS.

so what happens when people start hearing that "very strong language" in public places?

cobra_ky:

Jumplion:
That's actually kind of sad when I think about it.

I mean, the first 18+ game in the UK? Surely there were some other contenders for the rating?

But I'm being pompous, it's not going to do much to the actual game anyway.

the first 18+ game on the DS.

so what happens when people start hearing that "very strong language" in public places?

Yeah, I get that it's on the DS and all that, but I just kind of pity the ratings board for this. I don't know why though...

Jumplion:

cobra_ky:

Jumplion:
That's actually kind of sad when I think about it.

I mean, the first 18+ game in the UK? Surely there were some other contenders for the rating?

But I'm being pompous, it's not going to do much to the actual game anyway.

the first 18+ game on the DS.

so what happens when people start hearing that "very strong language" in public places?

Yeah, I get that it's on the DS and all that, but I just kind of pity the ratings board for this. I don't know why though...

oic.

i honestly can't think of any other games on the DS that even come close to a Mature (17+?) rating. (well, except hentai games. but those don't count. they never count.)

thenumberthirteen:
If GTA didn't have an 18 rating then it just wouldn't be GTA.

It wouldn't even be called Grand Theft Auto. It'd be called Loitering With Intent or Littering or something like that.

That big 18 is probably covering a nice big juicy set of Asian man-tits. You just know it.

curlycrouton:

thenumberthirteen:
If GTA didn't have an 18 rating then it just wouldn't be GTA.

It wouldn't even be called Grand Theft Auto. It'd be called Loitering With Intent or Littering or something like that.

I wouldn't put it past Nintendo to censor the swearing or something like that.

"Nico you flippin' Tuna head either you kill that Mother loving rooster brained berk or i'll cut off your nuts"

"F**k off Roman"

CoD isnt 18+ in britain? Its 18+ in my country...

It will sell by the truck loads.

Holy demons, GTA:IV was so bland and obsolete that it didn't occur to me that the games still have rating, good riddance GTA, DS-gamers are all below 15 anyway - Excuse my prejudice.

If it didn't have an 18 rating you would have many offended parents shouting bloody murder on all sorts of ridiculous claims whether it needs it or not.
I'm surprised nobody has shouted racism yet.
However, this will clearly make it sell many more copies.