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Aussies gather in Brisbane to promote R18+ rating

by Alexander Sliwinski { Dec 8th 2009 at 12:30PM }

A "rally" in Brisbane, Australia in support of an R18+ rating for video games attracted approximately 50 people -- so maybe more along the lines of a "gathering," then. But let's not dwell on the meager turnout, let's focus on the intent and message, which GamePolitics reports was uploaded to YouTube (1, 2, 3, 4). Speaking at the event were Nicolas Suzor of Electronic Frontiers Australia and Ethan Watson of Treat Us Like Adults. Thankfully, it appears nobody was doing cosplay, a tactic that a previous rally considered implementing.

The first priority of the groups is to have Commonwealth Minister of Home Affairs, Brendan O'Connor, release the R18+ discussion paper that the "censorship ministers" have been slow to make public. Yes, a report on censorship is being censored. South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson had previously tried a political maneuver to bury the report and put the debate on an R18+ rating on indefinite hold.

[Via GamePolitics]

[Image: Andrew Wade]

CrimeCraft's 'drug use' prevents Australian classification

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 30th 2009 at 2:00PM }

Vogster's freeish-to-play MMO, CrimeCraft, has been effectively banned from Australia. The beleaguered publisher's online title won't make it to the country in its current form due to "drug use related to incentives or rewards." The same complaint was aimed at Fallout 3 last year.

Gamespot UK reports the Australian Classification Board's main objection was to the use of "boosts," the drugs used in the game. The board declared there was "insufficient delineation between the 'fictional drugs' available in game and real-world proscribed drugs." On the bright side, Vogster can thank Australia's lack of a mature classification for video games -- and Attorney General Michael Atkinson's opposition to an R18+ rating -- for getting the game some press.

Gallery: CrimeCraft

OFLC rating reveals Q-Games' Reflect Missile, Nintendo publishing

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 27th 2009 at 4:00PM }

Q-Games and Nintendo had a recent partnership in the release of Digidrive, but it doesn't seem like they're letting their relationship cool off any time soon. According to a new OFLC rating, Q-Games is developing -- and Nintendo is publishing -- a game called Reflect Missile. No platform was announced, but the safe money's on either a DSiWare or WiiWare release.

Now, let's get to determining exactly what a "Reflect Missile" is. Is is just, like, a really shiny missile, in which one might see themselves? Or is "Reflect Missile" a command in weird, broken English? For instance, "Captain Douglass, reflect [that] missile?" Or is the command being issued directly to the missile itself -- "Reflect, Missile!" The possibilities are as endless as they are nonsensical.

[Via GamerBytes]

After Burner Climax rated by OFLC and Korean board, possibly coming to PSN

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 25th 2009 at 4:00PM }

Though it might lose some of its magic without the full chair-and-tinted-window-equipped arcade cabinet, we're still pretty pumped about the possibility of getting our hands on a port of Sega's classic flight combat sim, After Burner. According to the OFLC and the Korean Game Rating Board, it's only a matter of time before our wish is fulfilled -- GamerBytes recently noticed that both groups have rated Sega's After Burner Climax for home console distribution.

According to the Korean board, the rating was applied for by Sony, leading some to believe the title's planned launch platform is the PSN. However, considering the multi-platform release of Outrun Online Arcade, we wouldn't be surprised if Sega decided to share the aerial dogfighting love with the 360 as well. We've contacted the hedgehog-loving developer to find out exactly what its plans are for the title.

Video: Censored Left 4 Dead 2 right 4 classification

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 3rd 2009 at 1:20PM }

Footage allegedly taken from Australia's censored version of Left 4 Dead 2 has made its way online ... and we feel it's inadequately preparing citizens down under for the future! Though the game will get Aussies used to facing down a charging zombie horde, it does nothing to desensitize them to the revolting gore that inevitably follows.

The censored version lacks exploding heads, dismemberment (courtesy of the new melee weapons) and burning corpses. Sadly, for those of us who have built up a considerable hatred for the undead scourge threatening our civilization, the fallen undead just fade into the ether. Check out the full video after the break and pray for Australia's survival when the zombie apocalypse comes.

[Via Destructoid]

Continued →

Aussie Borderlands fixed, requires another Steam download

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 28th 2009 at 1:30PM }

GamesonNet reports that the uncensored version of Borderlands is now available for Australian Steam users. 2K Games is asking all users who preloaded the game to delete the previous content and re-download the eight gigglebyte title. That should fix the issue of Aussie Steam users receiving the "low violence" version of the game, a laughable mistake after the OFLC granted the "high violence" edition entry into the country.

Forum users are commenting that there are alternative fixes available out there, but let's all just agree that re-downloading the game is probably the safest and most "official" way of handling the issue. Of course, redownloading 8GB is not going to make Aussies who have a download limit from their ISP happy.

[Via Big Download]

Aussie Steam users get low-violence Borderlands by accident, fix incoming

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 27th 2009 at 4:00PM }

Oops! Australia has become so synonymous with censorship that even distributors are starting to get confused. Despite the unedited version of Borderlands passing the OFLC's ratings board successfully, it turns out that a "low-violence" version was accidentally uploaded for Aussies on Steam.

2K Games Australia is apparently working on getting the correct version onto Steam before the game launches in a few days. This does not affect the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game, which will be presented in what can only be described as "full violence" mode. Now, with luck, Australia will have the exact opposite problem with Left 4 Dead 2's launch.

[Via Big Download]

Australia's OFLC wants to classify iPhone, mobile games

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 22nd 2009 at 7:25PM }

Australia's ~~Censorship~~ Classification Board wants to rate games released on iPhone and other mobile devices. iTnews reports that Donald McDonald (really?), director of the OFLC, sent a letter to the "commonwealth censorship minister" (really, really?!) that he's concerned games offered on mobile devices aren't being submitted to the classification board.

Let's just try to ignore that the task of classifying all the games released on the App Store would be overwhelming -- but, bless the OFLC for trying. The US's ESRB is also currently trying to get mobile games under its purview, however, the difference is that the ESRB accepts that games can be for adults.

[Via Edge]

Unedited Left 4 Dead 2 refused Aussie classification for second time

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 22nd 2009 at 10:31AM }

On this day of reckoning, Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification has denied Valve's appeal to sell the unedited Left 4 Dead 2 down under. The three-member board determined unanimously that the game "could not be accommodated within the MA 15+ classification," which is the highest rating allowed for video games in the region.

The board believes that there is "insufficient delineation between the depiction of general zombie figures and the human figures." The inability to clearly distinguish the humans from the "clearly fictional 'infected'" was a "major consideration" of the board.

The unedited version of Left 4 Dead 2 is classified RC (refused classification) and "cannot be sold, hired, advertised or demonstrated in Australia." Sorry, mates. An edited version of the game has been approved by the OFLC for consumption in Australia -- censoring "decapitation, dismemberment, wound detail or piles of dead bodies lying about the environment."

[Thanks, Adam]

OFLC rating outs 'Ghost Recon: Predator'

by David Hinkle { Oct 20th 2009 at 9:30PM }

Ubisoft's tentatively titled Ghost Recon 4 may just be "Ghost Recon: Predator" -- that is, if this OFLC classification is any indication. The classification itself is pretty barren, save for the title of the game, the fact that it's multiplatform and it's rated MA 15+. Still, given the title, it's a pretty safe bet that this will be a Ghost Recon game more in line with the roots of the series and not another Advanced Warfighter -- mostly because it doesn't have "Advanced Warfighter" in the title.

Hopefully, Ubisoft will confirm sooner rather than later. We definitely encourage the company to do so, especially if it still hopes to get the game on shelves by March 2010.

[Via VG247]

Left 4 Dead 2 trying 2 approaches 4 sales in Australia

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 7th 2009 at 2:00PM }

Valve is working two angles to get Left 4 Dead 2 on Australian consoles and PCs, following the Aussie ratings board's refusal to classify the zombie shooter. One version of L4D2 making its way through the OFLC is an "Australia specific" (i.e. edited) take on the game, while the other is the gore-lovin' original, which Valve currently has on appeal.

Gamespot spoke with Valve's Gabe Newell, who explained that the next step for the unedited version won't occur until October 22, which means the timing gets tight in terms of manufacturing and other hurdles before a November 17 launch. Valve project manager Erik Johnson finds the OFLC's issues with the sequel to be "inconsistent" because of Left 4 Dead's unedited release in the region. We wish Valve (and the gamers of Australia) all the best in working out those Michael Atkinson issues.

Source -- Valve to resubmit two versions L4D2 (Gamespot)
Source -- Newell discusses ban on video (Gamespot)

Gallery: Left 4 Dead 2

Australian attorney general refuses to support 18+ game rating

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 30th 2009 at 4:44PM }

Australia has a long, sordid history when it comes to banning the sale of mature games. Titles which exceed the limits of the Office of Film and Literature Classification's MA15+ rating are refused classification, preventing them from being sold in the Land Down Under. Following such a ban on Valve's Left 4 Dead 2, the introduction of an R18+ rating has been feverishly debated by the nation's officials -- however, a South Australian attorney general named Michael Atkinson is holding up the proceedings by vehemently opposing the adoption of the mature rating.

Atkinson told Australian news outlet News.com.au that he's uncomfortable with the interactive nature of the medium. "People are participating and 'acting-out' violence and criminal behaviour when they are playing a video game," he explained, later adding, "it certainly does restrict choice to a small degree, but that is the price of keeping this material from children and vulnerable adults. In my view, the small sacrifice is worth it."

Rarely can governmental actions be attributed to just one person, but the OFLC's refusal to rate mature titles is a direct result of Atkinson's opposition. Remember, this is the same guy who tried to censor a public document which canvassed Australians on the issue in an attempt to better advise the nation's ratings officials. He censored the study on censorship. Consider our mind truly boggled.

[Via GamesIndustry]

L4D2 rated in other violence sensitive regions, Valve appeals Aussie ban

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 25th 2009 at 5:00AM }

In the wake of its Australian "banning," Valve has seen fit to send out an update of Left 4 Dead 2's ratings across this zombie smorgasbord we call a planet. We knew that Valve was "bummed" about the ban, but the letter that the company sent out could be interpreted as it saying, "Hey, wait up, places like Germany and Japan gave us '18+' ratings ... and you know how sensitive they are about violence."

Valve is still awaiting a rating in the UK (BBFC) and New Zealand, and submitted its appeal regarding Left 4 Dead 2's non-classified status in the land down under on September 23. With any luck, Aussies will be able to play the game -- with some edits, perhaps -- when the zombie sequel launches November 17.

Gallery: Left 4 Dead 2

Valve is 'bummed' by Australia's Left 4 Dead 2 ban

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 19th 2009 at 7:00PM }

It seems Australian zombie enthusiasts aren't alone in their dismay over the OFLC's recent ban on the sale of Left 4 Dead 2 in the Land Down Under -- Valve's Doug Lombardi recently told Shacknews that the ban came as quite a surprise for the developer as well. "Obviously, everyone at Valve is pretty bummed," Lombardi explained, as a grief-wracked Gabe Newell wept openly into his shoulder.

It's a real shame that the OFLC added L4D2 to its expansive list of titles prohibited from being sold in Australia -- not only because Aussies will be robbed of one of the most promising multiplayer titles of 2009, but because it effectively invalidates the two parties' pre-existing peacemaking efforts.

Gallery: Left 4 Dead 2

OFLC: Two more Street Fighter games on Virtual Console

by JC Fletcher { Sep 10th 2009 at 5:48PM }

With the slowing pace at which Nintendo releases Virtual Console games, it's taking longer and longer for our Virtually Overlooked columns to be revealed as prescient -- but it's happening. The Australian OFLC ratings board has just revealed two classic Street Fighter games heading to Wii soon: Street Fighter II' Champion Edition and ... Fighting Street, the Turbografx-16 CD version of the very first Street Fighter.

The Champion Edition could be the arcade game, but is probably the PC Engine version, which is surprisingly faithful for an 8-bit port of the arcade game. It's another port, but, like Fighting Street, it holds value as a curiosity.

[Via NeoGAF]