Soldier of Fortune: Payback banned in Austrailia

by Justin McElroy { Oct 18th 2007 at 9:50AM }

When Soldier of Fortune: Payback blows off assorted limbs this November (as seen in the above video), it won't be doing it Down Under. The game has been denied classification by Australia's Office of Film & Literature Classification. Apparently, being "denied classification" -- while great if you're a genre-bending singer-songwriter with a fresh, bold sound all your own -- means that you're banned if you're a video game.

But why, OFLC? Why? Well, according to The Melbourne Herald-Sun, "(The decision was based on) the different ways a player could maim and injure (other characters)." Well, good job, Australia, you've protected your people from violence. Hopefully you can look back at this moment the next time Crocodile Dundee cuts off a man's head with a Bowie knife.

[Via GamePolitics]

Tags: activision, soldieroffortune

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

WiNG @ Oct 18th 2007 10:03AM

Although this game should not be banned, you have to be pretty sick to enjoy this twisted murder porn.

Player1 @ Oct 18th 2007 10:27AM

Yes, those poor character models. They had families. Sorry it's not Sonic the Hedgehog.

WiNG @ Oct 18th 2007 11:14AM

Look I have played, beaten, and enjoyed hundreds of very violent games. But ultimately I personally am not going to go out of my way to play a game where the scenarios are designed for the "fun" to be gained by the "hero" slaughtering his enemies as gruesomely as possible. A lot of people claim it is for "realism" but really it's for sensationalism. If it were for realism you would also be dismembered by a single bullet!

And whoever said "finally dismemberment", this was also in SoF 2, which I did play and beat tyvm.

Player1 @ Oct 18th 2007 12:11PM

Well, let's see. What's more real? When I play Rainbow Six Vegas, and I shoot a bad guy in the foot several times and he falls down dead, or you play SOF and shoot a guy in the foot where it blows off and he falls to his knees? It's the same in Gears of War, you can shoot Locusts in the legs and they go down to their knees. And you can dismember them just the same on a turret. Yes, the bodies in SOF do come apart awfully easily, but all things considered, it is a tad more realistic that they respond to where they are being shot. As far as the gore level, it's just way exaggerated, as it is in any movie.

I just don't find it necessary to say there's something wrong with people who find this amusing. It's the same as horror movies. It's just comical fantasy.

WiNG @ Oct 18th 2007 12:29PM

I just think this constant elevation of gore is not comical. Yeah in Team Fortress you blow someone apart, and it's pretty funny, but mainly due to the contrast with the lighthearted cartoon atmosphere.

What is gonna be in Soldier of Fortune 5? You shoot a guy in the gut, and he falls to the ground crying, and begging for mercy as he coughs up bile and cries more? And then you lean over to finish him off and he keeps screaming "Forgive me Lord forgive me oh it's so cold!" and a passerby recognizes him, and runs over and vainly attempts to help him? Man that sounds like comic fantasy to me?

They should give you a box of tissues and skin care lotion with every purchase.

Player1 @ Oct 18th 2007 12:35PM

For someone seems to think they are better than everyone else, you are the only one that is linking the violence in this game and sexual arousement. It reminds me of government officials who oppose gay marriage then get caught toe-tapping in men's rooms.

Maybe you are projecting a little?

WiNG @ Oct 18th 2007 1:06PM

Mario I am gonna kick your ass so hard in Brawl.

HineyWipe @ Oct 18th 2007 10:06AM

OMG! You see that??? He like, blew his head clean off! BOOM! Headshot!

I think the Aussie's got a clue here.

chomp @ Oct 18th 2007 10:10AM

Unfortunately we don't have an 18+/17+ rating for games, unlike movies so anything unsuitable for 15+ gets denied.

This really does look over the top though.

Bender @ Oct 18th 2007 10:21AM

Yes, there has been a long, ongoing campaign from gamers over the years to improve the inconsistencies in the Australian rating system.

Films are allowed R18+ ratings however as Chomp already mentioned games ratings stop at 15+.

If maiming appeared on film in this manner it would be rated R18+ without a doubt, so it's no surprise that this film is banned.

Australians do not have a law protecting free speech in the same way as Americans do. Our media can be censored by the OFLC and is on a regular basis.

I couldn't possibly enjoy watching or playing that game myself, it's far too violent for me, but I do think I should be able to decide that for myself.

Sean @ Oct 18th 2007 10:22AM

I'm sure the Aussie's are crushed that they will be missing this gem.

naes @ Oct 18th 2007 10:33AM

As twisted as this may be, the way the hitboxes are utilized is pretty wicked...shooting guys in the jugular may be more fun than you can imagine.

I don't see how there's no M type rating in Australia though, poor kids wtf m8!

Psaakyrn @ Oct 18th 2007 11:28AM

You mean poor adults. Or at least, I hope that's what you meant.

naes @ Oct 18th 2007 12:30PM

yeah, adults ^_^ I tend to call everyone kids

Maddles @ Oct 19th 2007 8:49AM

We do have an M rating (recommended 15 years or older). But the kind you are talking about correlates to our R.

The closet thing we have when it comes to video games is MA (restricted to 15 years and over).

MrLiamSir @ Oct 18th 2007 10:37AM

I know it's gonna suck big time like the first two, but I quite enjoy OTT violence, and I'm annoyed that we won't be getting it due to our "no-one in Australia is over 16" censorship laws.
Oh, and it's spelt A-u-s-t-r-a-l-i-a, Justin ;).

booboo @ Oct 18th 2007 10:44AM

this game is insane man! I love it since I saw the first demo.

http://www.spymac.com/details/?2285189

mac @ Oct 18th 2007 10:49AM

Finally. Dismemberment.

Mr. P @ Oct 18th 2007 10:51AM

I guess Aussies can kiss Ninja Gaiden 2 goodbye as well.

Luis Zapata @ Oct 18th 2007 11:48AM

This sucks. Those would have to be extremely high caliber weapons to dismember at first shot. I get the pieces blowing out when using a rocket launcher. But Heads coming off instantaneously with rifles. With today's technology that doesn't cut it anymore. We should at least see partial dismemberment or losing part of a limb or body, not just the whole limb in one blow. Forget the violence, this isn't even close to reality anymore.

ScottG13 @ Oct 18th 2007 12:11PM

Not for kids. But speech and content should be allowed to be communicated, even if it is speech you disagree with.

Savok @ Oct 18th 2007 1:09PM

As people have said, no R rating for games (we have an R rating for everything else) in Australia. It's a disgusting state of affairs, especially since our classification system was only redone a few years back.

But hey, that's why New Zealand refused our offer to become part of Australia back at federation, so a hundred years on Australians could import games from them (since they do have an R rating for games).

Apollo @ Oct 18th 2007 1:47PM

My whole issue is that once again government is telling the people that they are too dumb to decide for themselves what is too violent for them and if or not they should buy. OTT violence will will always turn off alot of people. While I don't commend any sensational violence in games and also think that the game should at least be given a adult rating(sorry I don't know what the rating system is down in Australia) so parents can be informed, but people should still have the right to choose what they do or do not purchase and not have the Government resort to a ban of the game all together.

Lemmiwinks @ Oct 18th 2007 5:01PM

Yikes! That poor dude with the book bag near the end looked so helplessly confused.

This kinda stuff ain't for me, but it sucks that a lot of those who'd like it will be denied by a convenient oversight in Aussie law.

Pat @ Oct 18th 2007 10:35PM

Austra_l_a? Why did you buy 2 vowels?

indi23 @ Oct 19th 2007 5:15AM

Beautiful day for all user

http://www.spymac.com/details/?2285281

EmoSlayer @ Oct 21st 2007 8:13AM

hahahahaha woooooo! VIOLENCE!!!!

HAVIC @ Oct 21st 2007 9:35AM

Yeah this is just another case of our government being a bunch of pompous wankers.
Screw them, I'll be ordering it online somewhere, somehow :)

xMotherx @ Nov 15th 2007 7:06PM

Normally I'd be saying "ooh man that's aw3som0rz I can't wait for this game and all you people justifying it being banned should go burn books".

But ... my brother is about to be deployed to Iraq with the Marines, at 20 years old he's one of the oldest of his platoon.

I don't need another way to imagine what might happen to him or one of his friends that I've met that look like they are too young to drive. I don't need to see someone fall down after being shot, beg for their lives, and be shot in the face ... for fun.

I understand, however, where the guys that are defending the game are coming from. But realize for some of us, the violence can't be enjoyed when we've seen it in real life, or have a family member who is likely going to see it. It's a game and this post is a little dramatic, but I think most people that don't care for the gore have reasons that likely were dramatic.