Australia knocks down Marc Ecko's Getting Up
by Ross Miller 
{ Feb 15th 2006 at 6:00PM }
Marc Ecko's foray into video games
has been one laden with controversy. The fashion
designer's premiere title, Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure revolves around the world of
graffiti and government corruption. You play as Trane (voiced by Talib Kweli), a graffiti artist who is working towards
a revolution to end the political tyranny around him. Unfortunately, Australian gamers may never get to play this
game.It seems that The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) has taken issue with the game for its glorification of graffiti artists. Originally, the OFLC gave Getting Up a Mature rating back in November, but has since changed its mind and refuses to give the game a rating--a move that essentially bans the title from Australia. Atari, the title's publisher, is naturally quite perturbed, and has issued a statement expressing their discontentment for the OFLC's decision.
The game was released in the US this past Tuesday. The reviews have trickled out slowly, and really don't say anything about the game--GameSpot gives Getting Up an unusually high 8.7, while GamePro trashes the game with a lowly 2.5/5.0 score.
Sega's cel-shaded venture in graffiti, Jet Set Radio and Jet Set Radio Future received a Mature rating.
[Update: I misspelled Talib Kweli's name--as a result he and Mos Def have refused to return any of my phone calls. I'm quite vexed right now.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jose @ Feb 15th 2006 6:17PM
That's "Talib Kweli"
mrk @ Feb 15th 2006 7:01PM
Mos Def! Talib Kweli!
Tom Tuttle from Tacoma @ Feb 15th 2006 7:18PM
wow, a crap game doesnt get sold in Aussie-land. I see only good news here.
funnelbc @ Feb 15th 2006 8:43PM
There's a few elements to this that bear mentioning. One of which is that there's a push by our conservative government (on a local and national level) to "be seen" to be taking a stance against graff in general. Melbourne, Australia will be hosting the commonwealth games and there's a big push to clear up street art in general - at least until the games is over.
It's symptomatic of a wider change in cultural attitudes and the level of conservative thought in the mainstream media - but as another forum user put it: "violence, murder, theft and war is all cool but don't go decorating the place"
Which sums it up perfectly. We can sell mature games with all sorts of content that people might find morally objectionable, but the push to ban this game downunder is absolute hypocracy at it's worst.
Another factor worth taking into account is that there's been a push in Print media to give an R18+ to magazines that have pictures of graff. Which is insanity, but there you go. Because there is no video games rating above MA15+ here in Australia, maybe the Office and Film and Literature Classification didn't have any options with the recent precedent of the rating of the Magazines... Maybe not.
At any rate, the game isn't *that* fantastic, and you can be damn well sure the kids will be getting the game out of curiosity just so they can see what the fuss is about. And because they cannot pay for it here, they'll be downloading it. You can be sure they'll feel more justified pirating it to boot. Which also hurts the games retailers - I'm sure they'll be fine, but its a point worth bearing in mind.
KilgoreTrout XL @ Feb 15th 2006 9:10PM
For an excellent discussion on censorship in Austrailia, Check out
Libertus.net
uh, unless you're PRO-censor, in which case you're better off staying away.
Tom Tuttle from Tacoma @ Feb 15th 2006 11:06PM
One only needs to look at the 'distinguished' history of Irene Graham to know the true meaning of hypocrisy.
Bender @ Feb 15th 2006 11:38PM
The OFLC are convinced games are only played by children. I'm 26 damnit - i'd like to choose which games I play!
S @ Feb 16th 2006 12:13AM
What the hell is wrong with NOT selling crap games!?
Jet Set was a decent series apparantly so...
If I wanted a game like that I'd probably turn to SEGA not ATARI...
Stop selling us crap and start selling us something decent!! We are always the ones to be left out...
...
...apart from Europe, but...
*Savage*
Lynk @ Feb 16th 2006 12:28AM
The OFLC wants an R rating for videogames... the problem is that the government won't let it happen.
As for this game.... meh
Merus @ Feb 16th 2006 1:04AM
Note the "essentially bans". Technically, it's a "refused Classification" which is more like giving the game an AO rating. The OFLC doesn't mind if you buy the game from overseas, it just won't let you buy it within Australia. It's a protecting the kiddies thing more than a freedom of speech thing.
Still, somewhat embarassing.
chris @ Feb 16th 2006 6:50AM
It's sad to see that censorship has reared its ugly head in an otherwise modern and civilized country. This is inexcusable! This game has no guns or sex or violence. "Protect the kiddies" or not, if the Australian government can "effectively ban" a game like this, what's next? Banning Need for Speed because players break the speed limit?