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.]
