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This is bound to be an ongoing issue until Grand Theft Auto IV finally releases in April. It's guaranteed to be a controversial title - any GTA game always is - and that typically translates to video game rating boards looking carefully at every potentially offensive facet of the production. It seems GTAIV just got the 18+ rating from the USK in Germany, which means the game will be uncut for that region.

And according to European gaming site Cynamite.de, Take-Two has confirmed the game won't be edited anywhere in the world. Every region will get the same version of the game, which is something we've heard before. However, we're starting to wonder if Rockstar and Co. will be risking a deadly restrictive rating that keeps the game off store shelves in major gaming countries. For example, if a title gets slapped with the "AO" (Adults Only) rating by the ESRB here in the US, few retailers will even carry the game, and some console manufacturers won't even release "AO"-branded titles. This happened last year with Rockstar's Manhunt 2, and they were forced to edit the game and re-release it at a later date with the more accessible "M" (Mature) rating.

So the real question is, if all regions are getting the full, uncut edition of Grand Theft Auto IV, will some ratings boards force the developer into another Manhunt 2 position? Remember, some boards are stricter than others, and 16+ is a lot different than 18+... It'll be interesting to see what transpires as time goes on.