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.
