search technology reviews, news, features, group tests
Popular Searches:   sony , free , canon
 |  Register
 |  Newsletters  | 
Sitemap  |  RSS
RSS
Tuesday December 2, 2008 12:46 PM AEST
Skip Navigation LinksPC Authority > News > Aussie game censors under fire

Search News

Aussie game censors under fire

Aussie game censors under fire
Jul 16, 2008
 | 8 Comments 
Tags: censor
The Australian system for rating games is under fire after censors banned one of the year's most anticipated releases, Fallout 3.
The Classification Board refused to issue it an age rating, claiming that the game promoted drug use. What got the censor's miffed was that players can use drugs to boost their characters' abilities such as stamina, health and intelligence.

Since there is no R18+ classification for games in Oz, those games that don't meet the MA15+ standard are banned from sale.

Gameplayer.com.au points out that there are shedloads of games out there which have a similar or higher level of drug use including Battlefield Bad Company, BioShock, Haze and Grand Theft Auto IV. However the censors have waved these games through.

The Classification Board said computer games may include depictions of drug use but could not provide incentives or rewards to players for doing so.

It was really miffed that using morphine in the game had the positive effect of enabling the character to ignore limb pain.

As Ben Mansill, who is the associate publisher at Gameplayer.com.au, points out that morphine was not a street drug but a painkiller portrayed in countless films and on the telly as a way of easing pain.

It creates a weird message that killing people is acceptable in games, but applying first aid to yourself when hurt was not, he said.
Ads by Google

Comments: 8
steve_666
Jul 16, 2008 2:49 PM
This is really bad for gaming and gamers and it needs to stop. There is not reason why we cant have R18+ games, we have R18+ movie which are more realistic then a game. Australian censors need to get this rating asap. An they wonder why people download games....


Comment made about the PC Authority article:
Aussie game censors under fire?
The Australian system for rating games is under fire after censors banned one of the year's most anticipated releases, Fallout 3.

What do you think? Join the discussion.
Slatts
Jul 16, 2008 9:55 PM
It's farcical. The government is fighting a loosing battle. This is not the 1980s
There's this elephant in the room called the internet.
They can ban or refuse classification till there faces are blue but it's not going to stop a technologically savvy person from getting there hands on whatever they want.
our government would like us to live in a nanny state but the genie is out of the bottle. It's about time our rulers pulled their heads out of the sand.
microUgly
Jul 17, 2008 9:34 AM
Australia really needs to catch-up.

And when they censor these games, the people who really shouldn't be playing them want them more :)

Thank god for NZ imports.
.:Cyb3rGlitch:.
Jul 17, 2008 1:45 PM
Meh, it's cheaper to buy from overseas anyway. ;)

Nevertheless, the government have no idea.
kidicarus
Jul 17, 2008 6:33 PM
Although this was posted in April visit http://www.kotaku.com.au/games/2008/04/r18_classification_video_games_what_you_can_do.html It claims that the government is looking for advice on an R18+ classification.
eat_the_flag
Jul 21, 2008 12:58 AM
i say that they should have r18 games.. then we could have allot more game titles in aus...

cyberglitch do you want to buy us all games from overseas?


.:Cyb3rGlitch:.
Jul 21, 2008 10:20 AM
Nup. I still support R18+ games in Australia regardless.
Jim.Dude
Jul 23, 2008 8:19 PM
Yeah I'm inclined to agree. It seems odd that you can buy a porno over the counter of the paper shop, but a computer game is banned because someone gets their head cut off? What's up with that?
Login or register to submit a comment.


Post a review to WIN $3000 worth of tech prizes - Register now!
 
 
PC Authority Lifestyle - Home Cinema

PC Authority Magazine

Issue: 133 | December, 2008

Australia's premier computer magazine, PC Authority gives you the facts, opinions and insight to make informed PC and tech purchasing decisions.


PC Authority Magazine