ADULT CONTENT: In the world of Grand Theft Auto IV, players can car-jack and kill passers-by. The MDA likened the game to the movie Pulp Fiction, which also has coarse language and violence, but won acclaim for its innovative story-telling and dark humour. -- PHOTO: ROCKSTAR GAMES

Grand Theft Auto IV, a controversial and much-awaited video game, hits the shelves today after getting the green light from censors.

Previous editions of Grand Theft Auto (GTA) were banned here - likely because they glamorised crime, drugs and prostitution.

But under a new rating system that comes into effect today, GTA IV will be put on shelves with a Mature 18 (M18) sticker that warns of adult themes and coarse language. The game is to be sold only to those 18 and older, and retailers will have to check the age of buyers.

The title was widely expected to make it past the censors at the Media Development Authority (MDA) and shops were already filled with posters advertising the game.

But its release is still seen as a step towards a new era where older gamers get more choices while the young are protected from objectionable content.

The MDA's head of video games, Mr Ernest Khoo, likened GTA IV to the movie Pulp Fiction, which also has coarse language and violence, but won acclaim for its innovative story-telling and dark humour.

He said: 'We're recognising that games as a medium are not just games for fun or kids. It's a medium that is more complex. The classification allows for titles that deal with complex themes.'

Games with, say, mature themes, nudity and realistic violence will be sold with an M18 rating.

A less strict rating, called Age Advisory, is used for games with implied sexual activity and a moderate level of violence. These games are meant for those 16 and above.

Some games, such as those containing rape, language offensive to religion and sadistic violence, will continue to be banned.

More games, which could previously have been banned, may make their way here under the M18 label in future.

But the controversy aside, fans of GTA IV have always maintained that its 'sandbox' world, where players can roam freely and interact with computer characters, is the real attraction.

Said information technology manager Johann Pang, 35, who has pre-ordered the game: 'Yes, there is sex and gore, but it's the whole freedom of playing the game that is the appeal.

'You don't have to complete a whole set of missions to move along, so you don't get boxed in like other games,' he added.

GTA IV is expected to earn publisher Take-Two Interactive US$400 million (S$545 million) worldwide in the first week, say some analysts. The best-selling video game to date is Microsoft's Halo 3, which grossed US$300 million.

In Singapore, distributor Infocomm Asia Holdings plans to sell 20,000 copies.

So hot is the game that Microsoft is dropping the price of its Xbox 360 game console from $459 to $399 for a basic set today to attract gamers.

The game can also be played on the Xbox's chief rival, the Sony PlayStation 3, which costs $599.

siewtha@sph.com.sg