Every time I think that Europe has it bad when it comes to videogames, along comes Australia to display the might of its indescribable stupidity. Australia's ratings board has no adult rating for its entertainment, and swiftly bans any game that is unsuitable for those under the age of fifteen. Dark Sector, with its "high impact violence," is the latest victim of this repression.
Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification has defended its refusal to rate the game by discussing finishing moves that include "decapitation, dismemberment of limbs accompanied by large blood spurts, neck breaking spurts, neck breaking twists and exploded bodies with post-action twitching body parts." Sounds like fun to me, but then I'm not a total moron.
"Obviously we're disappointed in it [the decision]," stated Adam Zweck, sales and product manager for local distributor AFA Interactive. "We feel there is justification for an appeal. However, we're exploring several avenues at the moment to see what we can do to get the game on Australian shelves."
For now, it sucks to be an Aussie, so my condolences to them. I can only hope your ratings board one day grows both a set and a brain and actually dares to have a reasonable, more mature rating system.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
9:26 AM on 02.14.2008
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Methinks that more Aussies should start investing in either modchips, or consoles from countries that don't suck ass so they can import.
I've been waiting on Dark Sector for years dammit.
The game is 100% utter crap that the glaive won't save!
sickening.
Turk, I disagree. Dark Sector had its problems during previous shows and development, but much if not all of them have been ironed out, since its been held back from release (bravo to D3 on that). Its looking much better for it and I can't wait to play it at the end of March.
Ruddy's in power now, he's already ratified Kyoto, set a date for withdrawing all our troops from Iraq (and told Bush to STFU), apoligised to the stolen generation, scrapped all of howards multi-billion dollar ID card programs and scrapped funding to dozen's of other equally crappy programs.
I'm sure adding a 18+ rating to games will be coming soon, afterall he's had more important stuff to deal with since he took office. Until then, continue to pirate every game that gets banned, or more ethically, just order them from New Zealand, the 15% exchange rate bonus pays for the shipping :-).
What happened to my pretty picture? :(
Did you know that the Aussie term for the sprinkles you put on ice cream is "hundreds and thousands"? Blows my mind.
So true. I'm sure the US is the reason that there's barely any sexual content in games anyway. Game developers simply dont want to risk having their game banned in such a big market.
(In spite of this I do support the notion that we should have an R18+ rating)
Censorship is epic fail
I'm still a big skeptic on Keven 07 and his team. Don't get me wrong I f**king hated the Howard government, but Rudd is a slippery as the rest of them.
(for what it's worth, I'm glad a PM finally said sorry)
poor aussies
Oh, right.
Papercut them to hell!
It'll be interesting to se how they treat NMH. We'll probably get the censored version so fuck it, whatever.
Its worse than the UK ffs.
I couldn't care less about Dark Sector, it looks pretty shit tbh, but I have a problem with the government telling me what I can and can't watch or play, especially when I am in my late 20s
allthough, if gameshops would learn to NOT SELL TO MINORS, the problem would not nearly be as bad I think...
they just ban these games because they know that if its available in the stores, youngsters ARE gonna buy them...
We've had games modified before (pretty much all the GTA series) but the only games actually banned that I can think of are Manhunt (about 8 months after it had been on sale), Manhunt 2 (natch) and Reservoir Dogs because "people under 18 can't see the movie, so they shouldn't be able to play the game, either."
As for Dark Sector, i can't say i was awaiting it with baited breath, but outright bannination is a joke. Seems kind of ridiculous to me , as from what I've seen of the game, it doesn't appear to be any more violent than say, Gears of War.
I really hope the OFLC pulls their collective heads out of their collective arse and realise an R (restricted to 18+ for our international friends) rating for games is needed. Not only do we have crap like this happening, but there's also the occasional game that slips through with an MA (15+) rating when it probably should have been rated R.( The original Manhunt springs to mind.)
Without wishing to get on the soapbox, I urge everyone in Australia who's bothered by this to write a letter (not email) to the OFLC.
Office of Film and Literature Classification
Locked Bag 3
HAYMARKET NSW 1240
Keep it civil, concise and respectful.
Consider that the game development community in Australia is thriving at the moment and IIRC has been pushing for the introduction of a R rating for a while now. If enough pressure is applied by both the developers and consumers, it will be enough to facilitate change.
You might not care about not being able to play Dark Sector, but what about Ninja Gaiden 2 ? Silent Hill V ? GTA 4 ? If we keep acquiescing to censorship, shit like this is going to continue unabated.