Fallout 3 unbanned in Australia, edited down under

by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 13th 2008 at 2:00AM }

The Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) has reclassified Fallout 3 with a MA 15+ rating, essentially unbanning it in the territory. The title was previously refused classification, which meant it could not be sold in the territory, thanks to the Australian government's [insert expletive here] notion that any video game unsuitable for a 15-year-old should be illegal for all ages -- there is currently no R 18+ rating for games.

Gamespot reports that Fallout 3's "reward and incentive" for in-game drug use had been toned down to receive the MA 15+. The OFLC originally objected to the use of "chems" -- substances that would give characters positive and negative effects -- as the board felt the chemicals and their delivery methods were too close to the real, pre-apocalypse world.

Tags: australia, bethesda-softworks, fallout-3, oflc

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Taco_Hell @ Aug 13th 2008 2:19AM

So wait, does this mean that all Fallout 3 copies are edited down, or only the ones that are going to Australia?

Cal @ Aug 13th 2008 2:53AM

It's only edited in the countries that use the OFLC rating system. Though in most cases games that are refused classification by the OFLC still make their way over to New Zealand unedited due to the fact the country can use an R18+ rating.

Ihavepants @ Aug 13th 2008 4:47AM

New Zealand is being edited as well, so was their GTA4.

I live in Australia and I'm importing it.

LaughingTarget @ Aug 13th 2008 5:25PM

Didn't GTA4 recently get an R18+ in New Zealand after a fan submitted the uncut version?

Darthweder @ Aug 13th 2008 2:24AM

Only the ones in Australia. At least that's how the story makes it sound. And it's the logical thing to do

Johnny @ Aug 14th 2008 1:55AM

Yeah only us Aussies get the edited version. Being a man of 40 and effectively treated as a 15 year old is pretty demeaning. Study after study has shown the average gamer age to be mid twenties and still we have no R rating.

GalileoAce @ Aug 13th 2008 3:07AM

The OFLC is an Australia government department. It's decisions affect only Australia and her territories.

Anticrawl @ Aug 13th 2008 3:11AM

Thank god I live in the US, where violence is held with high regard. Sex though, sex is evil and taboo here. Show a nipple and you'll go straight to hell. But were you to kill someone, well that's quality enterainment.

Cal @ Aug 13th 2008 3:26AM

Problem is that it isn't the violence that got Fallout 3 banned.

Any game that contains drug use with positive side effects is immediately refused classification. From their Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games:
"Interactivity includes the use of incentives and rewards, technical features and competitive intensity. As a general rule:

· except in material restricted to adults, nudity and sexual activity must not be related to incentives or rewards

* material that contains drug use and sexual violence related to incentives or rewards is Refused Classification.

Impact may be lessened where reference to a classifiable element is verbal rather than visual. For example, a verbal reference to sexual violence is generally of less impact than a visual depiction. Also, some visual impacts have less impact than others: for example, an incidental depiction may have less impact than a direct one."

ice~ @ Aug 13th 2008 4:02AM

poor Aussies, Always gettin games banned...at least the Australian girls are verrry verrery hot

Foetoid @ Aug 13th 2008 4:40AM

Coming from someone who lives in Australia, i don't mind adding another VERY VERY VERY to your comment. We also have one of the best welfare systems in the world and fairest tax systems. Heck my partner gets $1700 a month from the government just for us having two kids, and thats fairly close to US dollars. Not to mention the $1200 once a yr bonus (dont have to pay it back), another $500 once a yr bonus, a $250 bonus when your child is fully immunised at 12 months, 2 more $250 a yr bonuses and all new parents get $5000 per child when the child is born ($10,000 for the 3rd child). AND ITS TAX FREE. That and our economy is booming, and our Fords/GMs are FAR nicer than the US models. God Bless Austalia.

ice~ @ Aug 13th 2008 5:19AM

I wanna move to australia :( besidesu don't have insane terrorists trying to destroy your country, and America sucks right now, I can't get a job. Just tell me u guys have dunkin donuts :)

Foetoid @ Aug 13th 2008 5:22AM

Yeah we're terrorist free. We've been threatened, especially since the 3 main countries serving in Afganistan and Iraq are the US, Britain and Australia, but no action against us yet. Sorry but what is a dunkin donut? LOL. That was a serious question BTW.