Mortal Kombat and the annoyances of being an Australian Gamer.

Thanks to RandomBullseye for getting me to write this


I'm not sure how many know but the upcoming mortal kombat is banned in Australia, now this is only technically true. Upon review to the Australian Classification Board, it was refused classification as there was no proper way to categorize it within the current rating the ACB has at its disposal. To put it simply IF they have the R+18 rating they could have used it, but they don’t all other media that is classified by the ACB has it but games simply don’t have the rating,



Here are the current ratings they can issue to films, tv, dvds games, except, the two in black don’t apply to games, to many its confusing, its like having 3 cars that work fine but one doesn’t have headlights you theoretically could get headlights for it, but don't. As far as I can see there is no reason NOT to have it, I recall someone (former premier for South Australia Michael Atkinson) saying having it cut off at the MA15 rating was to protect the youngins So limiting the very system that was put in place to regulate such media and protect them in the first place is protecting them more?



The system isn’t perfect that we can be sure of that; an example of this is the case of Alien vs. Predator, initially refused classification as the board couldn’t rate it in the first place, if you look at the game, yes it should be an R18,

I was informed by Australian Gamer’s Matt Burgess (not personally) that the games engine or skins what have you were fine tuned so that you could see skin ripping as you ripped someone’s head off, while impressive from a technical standpoint is also horrifying from a visual standpoint.

But then again that’s what is game is trying to be, instilling shock and awe and the general feeling of “dude did you see that, oh my good that was gross” while playing, if that’s what the game does so be it, I don’t mind, but the ACB did, and it was refused classification since basically it couldn’t. However oddly enough after simply reapply the games to the board, it was accepted, with no edits or changes at all to the game, it was downgraded to the MA15 rating instead. It was deemed acceptable as it was in a sci-fi setting.

"The violence is fantastical in nature and justified by the context of the game, set in a futuristic science-fiction world, inhabited by aliens and predators," the Board said.

Then what of Mortal Kombat? Its obviously more fantastical due to the high level fantasy elements such as magic, monsters and different dimensional planes. Its fair to debate that that AvP is closer to home as its simply set in the future, but MK9 is further away from reality as we can expect. But other games that were refused classification are edited for other reasons as well. Fallout for its drug references and L4D2 for the copious blood and guts it contained. Have a look between the two versions of L4D2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH7QCtuaXgI

The rating is there for a reason and its simply not being put to use, don’t think “its banned because its gory”, no its banned because it can’t be classified and it can't be classified because.....



therefore it cannot be sold, therefore it is banned, an ouroboros of government and departmental mismanagement..



And now with recent announcements made that games that have been refused classification are now on the list of good prohibited in Australia, the standard stuff is on their, pocket knives, fireworks and narcotics are just as illegal to own/be in possession of as Mortal Komnbat and Deadly Premonition, customs have said they will seize any copy that is send via mail, bought online or simply brought into the country, with fines up to $110,000 for offenders it kinda doesn’t seem worth it?


But there is hope, as I have an idea



No retail purchase, imports, of bringing it from out of the country, but what about downloads? Xbox Live’s games on demand service ( I don’t know if Sony does something similar) could put Microsoft in the good books of Australian gamers for years o come, they would be the only way to buy the game, only people with XBL accounts could buy it, only those with credit cards could buy it (you can’t use points with games on deamand) and due to the technicalities of EULA and digital distribution, we would not own the game,


Only a license to play it.


Using EULA for good, I must say I’ve outdone myself.




Tell me what you think please, I know this was rather poorly written but then again this is a first attempt
(not a first draft). And if you like my idea for it being digital only could infact work in some crazy way let others know, in fact let Microsoft, Sony, Warner Brothers and Netherrealm know.

Thank you for reading my first Destructoid C-blog, I hope you liked it!


sources:

http://www.news.com.au/technology/aliens-vs-predator-game-ban-overturned-for-ma15-australian-release/story-e6frfro0-1225812391001

http://www.news.com.au/technology/aliens-vs-predator-game-banned-will-not-be-sanitized-for-australia/story-e6frfro0-1225807850199

http://www.cnet.com.au/aussie-customs-to-seize-mortal-kombat-imports-339311426.htm