Yesterday it was reported that Saints Row IV has been refused classification in Australia due to “interactive, visual depictions of implied sexual violence which are not justified by context.”
Today, we’ve learned exactly what those depictions are. And in the context of the game, they’re kinda funny.
“The game includes a weapon referred to by the Applicant as an ‘Alien Anal Probe’, said the Australian Classification Board in a statement. “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 dildo 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: The Third famously featured a dildo bat (pictured below), but you could only hit people around the face with it. Amusingly, the creation of the weapon provided a breakthrough in the development of the game.
But vack to Saints Row IV. In addition to taking issue with the Alien Probe, the Australian Classification board also cited narcotics references as a reason for the refusal.
“The game contains an optional mission which involves the player obtaining and smoking drugs referred to as ‘alien narcotics’. Smoking the ‘alien narcotics’ equips the player with ‘superpowers’ which increase their in-game abilities allowing them to progress through the mission more easily.”
Deep Silver and Volition have elected to rework the game for resubmission.
