I just got the official word from Rockstar Games about why Australian gamers will be playing an edited version of Grand Theft Auto IV. The story broke last week, much to the disappointment of fans around the country.

The statement from a Rockstar spokesperson confirms what we'd recently been told - the game was edited before being submitted to the OFLC last December - and explains why the changes were necessary. Read on for the whole thing:

The Australian version of Grand Theft Auto IV was rated by the OFLC in December 2007 as MA15+. Unlike the US and Europe, Australia still lacks an R18+ rating for video games and as a result many games are edited for release in Australia, including most previous Grand Theft Auto releases. 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. We would not release the game in Australia if we believed these differences compromised the quality of the game in any way. We strongly support the OLFC and will continue to work within their guidelines; however we believe the government needs to bring games in line with other media by introducing an R18+ rating, or edits to games will continue to be necessary. We encourage consumers to let their politicians know that they support an R18+ rating for games.

So there you have it. Game companies realise that it is easier (and cheaper, and quicker) to make changes to a game before submission, compared to submitting an uncut version, having it refused and then needing to edit and resubmit, which can be a lengthy process.

If you don't like it, the problem is with the Australian legislation, not with Rockstar. Talk to your local politicians and let them know (politely) how you feel. Explain why you're unhappy with the current classifications for video games in Australia. For more details on the topic, check out our earlier news coverage.

In the meantime though, we're stuck with what we've got - an edited version of Grand Theft Auto IV, and who knows what other games have been changed before arriving on our shores...