The Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) has banned Activision's forthcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 shooter, Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back for being, 'too violent'.
Just when you were thinking that the UK had some daft ratings systems - with the BBFC able to censor Manhunt 2 right off the shelves - things get even more stupid in 'the Lucky Country'. Australian game ratings stop dead at MA15+. There is no Restricted (R) rating.
Bear in mind that the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia (IEAA) states that the average Australian gamer is 28, and over 50 per cent of gamers are over the age of 18.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that, "Blitz: The League, BMX XXX, Manhunt, Reservoir Dogs and 50 Cent: Bullet Proof are just a few recent titles the OFLC has prohibited.
"The latest to be banned was Blitz in January because, according to former chief censor Des Clark, it "contains drug use related to incentives or rewards"
"In its board report on Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back, dated October 16, the OFLC said frequent high impact violence made the game unsuitable for those aged under 18 years.
"Successfully shooting an opponent results in the depiction of blood spray," the board said.
"When the enemy is shot from close range, the blood spray is substantial, especially when a high-caliber weapon is used, and blood splatters onto the ground and walls in the environment.
"The player may target various limbs of the opponents and this can result in the limb being dismembered.
"Large amounts of blood spray forth from the stump with the opponent sometimes remaining alive before eventually dying from the wounds."
Let's hope that if someone brings out Nurse of Fortune: No Pay At All the blood and death won't send the Australian authorities mad with lust...
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
Just when you were thinking that the UK had some daft ratings systems - with the BBFC able to censor Manhunt 2 right off the shelves - things get even more stupid in 'the Lucky Country'. Australian game ratings stop dead at MA15+. There is no Restricted (R) rating.
Bear in mind that the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia (IEAA) states that the average Australian gamer is 28, and over 50 per cent of gamers are over the age of 18.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that, "Blitz: The League, BMX XXX, Manhunt, Reservoir Dogs and 50 Cent: Bullet Proof are just a few recent titles the OFLC has prohibited.
"The latest to be banned was Blitz in January because, according to former chief censor Des Clark, it "contains drug use related to incentives or rewards"
"In its board report on Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back, dated October 16, the OFLC said frequent high impact violence made the game unsuitable for those aged under 18 years.
"Successfully shooting an opponent results in the depiction of blood spray," the board said.
"When the enemy is shot from close range, the blood spray is substantial, especially when a high-caliber weapon is used, and blood splatters onto the ground and walls in the environment.
"The player may target various limbs of the opponents and this can result in the limb being dismembered.
"Large amounts of blood spray forth from the stump with the opponent sometimes remaining alive before eventually dying from the wounds."
Let's hope that if someone brings out Nurse of Fortune: No Pay At All the blood and death won't send the Australian authorities mad with lust...
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
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Comments
SuperSaiyan4 18 Oct 2007 10:23
1/8
I think Australia fail to realise that this is ONLY a game, rather amusing considering the country was and is still known as country of Convicts...
However in regards to Manhunt 2 I totally understand its reason for being banned, but not a game like this.
However in regards to Manhunt 2 I totally understand its reason for being banned, but not a game like this.
TimSpong 18 Oct 2007 11:58
2/8
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
I think Australia fail to realise that this is ONLY a game, rather amusing considering the country was and is still known as country of Convicts...
That's less of a point and more of an asinine non sequitur.
Convict settlement ended in 1868...
So, working on that principle, England is 'known' as a country that still employs children under 10 in factories... (that wasn't repealed until the Factory Act of 1878!)
So, what point are you actually trying to make aside watching letters appear on screen as an affirmation of your own existence.
What needs to happen now is for gamers to start framing their opinions in a way that can be taken seriously (and I've seen some of your posts that can be). In the event that we - as video game fans - present ourselves as the kind of idiots who pull out disconnected thoughts and call them opinions, the powers that be (Byron Review etc) will treat us like dribbling village idiots who can't be trusted to look after ourselves... and that means a lifetime playing "safe", "decent" games rather than ones that challenge and involve us...
Blimey... this pulpit is an awful long way up? Can someone help me down please?
Cheers
Tim
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SuperSaiyan4 18 Oct 2007 12:10
3/8
Can you word that again in English please? As its hard to follow just like the other article about the new PS3 eyetoy....
TimSpong 18 Oct 2007 12:24
4/8
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Can you word that again in English please? As its hard to follow just like the other article about the new PS3 eyetoy....
1) There is no connection between something that ceased over 100 years ago and the censorship of video games.
2) Let's not enable government reviews, such as the Byron review, to see video gamers as people who mistake half-understood, inane disconnected factoids for valid opinion. They've got enough ammunition for "gaming makes people disconnect from reality in a bad way" as it is.
Now, fair's fair - back to you: What exactly was your point regarding Australian convict settlement and video games censorship?
Cheers
Tim
SuperSaiyan4 18 Oct 2007 15:08
5/8
My point was that ironically a country where convicts were sent is the one place that is now becoming very strict with certain weapons like crossbows and knives and now games...
Games of all things and they only go upto a 15 rating...
I am not attacking Australia but just happened to mention that how the government is behaving there to ban such a game - Manhunt 2 I can understand but not this.
Games of all things and they only go upto a 15 rating...
I am not attacking Australia but just happened to mention that how the government is behaving there to ban such a game - Manhunt 2 I can understand but not this.
Joji 18 Oct 2007 15:25
6/8
Another ridiculous decision. You can do all thiskind of stuff in RE4 on Wii, but I see no ban on that. The wind of double standards blows into town once more.
Once again, Soldier of Fortune is an adult game for adult gamers, but out of fear, the powers that be feel we need to be mothered. I'm sure they also have that same non gamer conception that 'games are for kids', and we can't allow this game to be on sale.
No matter, I'm sure many gamers will just import it from the U.K once its out.
I'm already due to import Manhunt 2, so bans do little but create forbidden fruit, and this Soldier biz will be no different.
Once again, Soldier of Fortune is an adult game for adult gamers, but out of fear, the powers that be feel we need to be mothered. I'm sure they also have that same non gamer conception that 'games are for kids', and we can't allow this game to be on sale.
No matter, I'm sure many gamers will just import it from the U.K once its out.
I'm already due to import Manhunt 2, so bans do little but create forbidden fruit, and this Soldier biz will be no different.
SuperSaiyan4 18 Oct 2007 15:29
7/8
Is Manhunt 2 coming to the 360? Would be funny if the developers didnt region lock the PS2 version.
Joji 18 Oct 2007 15:59
8/8
Manhunt 2 will be available in the U.S on 360, PS2, PC, Wii etc. I plan to import a PSP cut of it though, as I know that will run fine. Praise the lord for Ebay and the net
