Fallout 3 banned Down Under
by Alan Tsang 
{ Jul 9th 2008 at 5:00PM }
It seems like the the inability to harm children in Fallout 3 didn't win it any brownie points with Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification, since the office has refused to give the game a rating. The highest rating allowed in Australia for video games is MA 15+. Hence, any game with material the OFLC deems inappropriate for children under 15 will not receive classification. No classification means it is illegal to sell or promote the game. Bethesda can, and probably will, resubmit the game with edits to try and meet the MA 15+ rating's guidelines. We are guessing those PS3 owners who really want their game experience intact can just import the game, since all PS3 games are region-free.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phantom @ Jul 9th 2008 5:05PM
Would it be legal to import a banned game ?
Popfrogs @ Jul 9th 2008 6:00PM
Probably so. I imagine that it can't be sold from Australian businesses to Aussies, but someone outside Australia that exports it can sell it to them.
Averna @ Jul 9th 2008 10:06PM
Indeed. Isnt stopping me from importing it. Thank the lord for region free gaming.
Back in the day I had to import from the UK, which is far more expensive than US importing.
dabamf @ Jul 9th 2008 5:06PM
That sucks for Yahtzee...hopefully he can find it somehow for review purposes.
will @ Jul 9th 2008 7:47PM
he'll probably play the 360 version, since he hates the PS3 anyway.
Averna @ Jul 10th 2008 11:31AM
I think youll find that the 360 version has been RC as well.
Senecal @ Jul 9th 2008 5:12PM
I like how that god forsaken country is basicly saying that only persons of 15 years of age and younger play games. Guess adults aren't aloud to enjoy video games with content made just for them.
Dan Davis @ Jul 9th 2008 5:17PM
...but are they "allowed" proper grammar?
Sorry, Grammar Nazi signing off.
Senecal @ Jul 9th 2008 5:19PM
Sorry I "basically" can't spell. =-o
MartyK2500 @ Jul 9th 2008 5:57PM
Man people who exagerate grammar spelling suck!!!Lett peepol paust de way dey want...
Kamma @ Jul 10th 2008 3:18AM
"God forsaken country" - You're a retard, seriously. If you think it's up to the entire country that this game gets banned, then you truly are one of the stupidest people I've ever encountered.
I think it's actually great that this game has been banned, because it'll fuel the firey debate about whether we should have a R18 rating for games. Either way, I still would've imported it from somewhere cheaper.
Senecal @ Jul 10th 2008 9:39AM
Yeah I'm a retard and you think as an adault you have to sneek around to play a game! LMFAO... I abreviated just for you, so your parents, er, uh government won't delete this message before you read it(then have to import it).
Averna @ Jul 10th 2008 11:35AM
Here in Australia the games industry has been shot in the leg by censorship, putting us behind the rest of the world with what we can view.
Ive submitted a few official comments to the OFLC here about that fact. Its the only way its ever going to change. Its already one of the most (officially) complained about topics with the OFLC.
xrich @ Jul 9th 2008 7:02PM
this makes absloutely no sense:
"Hence, any game with material the OFLC deems inappropriate for children under 15 will not receive classification. No classification means it is illegal to sell or promote the game."
So, if the government deems a game inappropriate for children under 15 then it is illegal to sell the game to anyone?!?! If it is inappropriate for children under 15 then wouldnt the game get a 15+ rating be eligible to sell to people over 15 years old? I hope this article is confused, I can't imagine australia has laws so ridiculous as to ban games from adults because it is inappropriate for children.
J-San @ Jul 9th 2008 7:02PM
Gamer from down under. Yeah, life is a bitch for us. Not only does everything get released 2 years after everywhere else, but we have to put up with this shit.
Anyways, thank god for imports.
Gate @ Jul 9th 2008 6:16PM
Dammit. I hope this doesn't mean NZ will get an edited version as well, like with GTA IV. We have an R18 rating over here! Don't give us Aussie leftovers.
Gate @ Jul 9th 2008 6:16PM
Dammit. I hope this doesn't mean NZ will get an edited version as well, like with GTA IV. We have an R18 rating over here! Don't give us Aussie leftovers.
dblakenz @ Jul 9th 2008 7:54PM
Just do what i did with GTA, import from www.play-asia.com. I get most of my games from then now, works out cheeper importing ($70-$80 average inc shipping) them than walking down the road and buying them from EB or whoever!! NZ is a rip for games.....
JimyD @ Jul 9th 2008 6:36PM
This is dumb. Just buy it off of Ebay.
Trickob @ Jul 9th 2008 6:41PM
So, which is worse:
Living in a country that the rest of the world thinks is full of ignorant, aggressive rednecks or living in a country that the rest of the world thinks is full of sensitive pussies?
Senecal @ Jul 9th 2008 6:44PM
I'd rader be da rednick dan one dem aussie poosy.
kentuckyfried @ Jul 9th 2008 7:35PM
As much as I love Australia, I'm glad I don't live there for this reason.
The Australian government seems absolutely draconian about what games can be sold in their country.
dave @ Jul 9th 2008 10:27PM
As WAcky mentioned, it's just one person that's keeping Australia from having an R rating for games. Michael Atkinson, Attorney-General for South Australia, will not let go of his prejudices. All other states are in favour of introducing the rating, except for him.
But still, the rating can be introduced on a Federal level, instead of a State level, so there's still hope yet. Plus, the South Australian AG will not stay in office forever, so once he's gone, then we can finally go forward.
In the meantime, we import, so we're not missing out on much.
WAcky @ Jul 9th 2008 8:07PM
Theres only one asshole in government who is stopping us from getting an R18 rating for games. In the most recent get together of all the states premiers, there's only one of them who keeps knocking it back and it has to be a unanimous decision.
This will be the first game I import. There's no way im playing cut games anymore when it's even cheaper to get the full game. I worship Sony for making the PS3 region free.
The_Doctor @ Jul 9th 2008 10:12PM
who is that? I want to burn down his house...
WAcky @ Jul 9th 2008 10:19PM
South Australian Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Multicultural Affairs Michael Atkinson
Kross @ Jul 10th 2008 12:40PM
If Interplay would've done Fallout 3, they would've kept PC only so there wouldn't be any of this legal stuff.
Sure it would still be banned from Australia, but you can always download it lol.
If Bethesda 'edits' the game in any way, shape or form, it's Strike 1.
MCHEVA @ Jul 9th 2008 11:39PM
Yep its illegal as all fuck to import it, but they will send you a warning the first time usually a lot of ppl I know got letters when GTA4 came out. A big fuck you goin out to the OFLC (office of fucking losers cunts) get r18 rating
hedpe @ Jul 10th 2008 12:59AM
here we go once again with the bullshit censorship laws. have any of these old folk read the local news lately? simple solution, create 2 versions of your game; a lame ass version and the way it was meant to be. all it takes is one corrupt kid to destroy all the so-called "innocent" (+ any school's playground). video games didn't teach me all the shit i know about this world.
Haladox @ Jul 10th 2008 1:01AM
"Hence, any game with material the OFLC deems inappropriate for children under 15 will not receive classification."
This statement is incorrect. As the post mentions, Australia has an MA15+ rating (restricted to people over the age of 15, and the highest level of classification), so media featuring inappropriate content for people under 15 can still be classified in Australia as MA15+.
However, due to a lack of an R18+ classification, content that is unsuitable for 16 year olds yet suitable for 18 year olds will still be refused classification.
LT.ShinySides @ Jul 10th 2008 7:29AM
I am SO sick of this crap!! How old is the Attorney-General anyway...he cant live forever right?...He has no heart so i guess he could though....
It's bad enough with the game prices..but to refuse us a game the rest (well most) of the world can have is just pathetic...
And yes NZ you will probably get the aus version...unless that guy who got GTA4 classified does the same for this...
Luke J @ Jul 17th 2008 6:36AM
This is what i just sent to the aterny gen
Dear Sir,
Don't you think this little "game" of yours has gone on to long now.
The fact that you are pushing your own personal view or very sheltered view of a minority (as it seems) on to the entire nation shows a direct ignorance to the very people you are meant to be listing to. The average gamer is over 21 and many gamers now in there 40s just encase you didnt know. Because if you did you are not only insulting thousands of Australians by saying that they are unable to look after there own children, we are also too weak minded to play mature games. Humans have already been looking after there children since the dawn of time who do you think you are to pass judgment on this.
We have R18 Movies and books that are just as "bad" we are legally meant to produce ID to purchase, what is the difference.(should i get rid of everything? I mean every single item on the plant? because its all potently dangerous!) You may not like video games or see the point in them thats fine, that is not the opinion of the masses (we dont just play games with the kids we play them our selfs. I will put it this way - what parent would watch porn with there children?)
Its an opinion that whether you like it or not is getting very old and outdated. Don't keep Australia in the dark ages. I have read your official statement and that kind of logic is not only insulting, ignorant its down right dangerous! I hope to god thats right god you don't apply the same methodology to every decision. This could be the down fall of your very safe seat I hope not for your sake, I hope you come to a better understanding of the people who pay your wages. There is now allot of people and a lot of money involved in this industry which can not be ignored as one of the fastest growing in the entertainment sector. Its seems to me a very bad place for you to be, your brewing hatred. Going against and insulting the entire adult gaming community just amazes me.
here is an idea how about R21+
I hope to here a reply when you can, as I'm sure your in box is getting full.
Just dont think its goin to get any better as as time goes on and as you remain directly (no R18) responsible for banning more and more award winning games .
Cant you see that when you get to stopping up to 5 -10m top line games per year how crazy this will get for you. Also the line between movies and games is getting smaller every day, this is natural progression you cant stop this it will kick you in the butt.
As technology gets better and opens up more options and techniques to entertain people your mind will boggle at the things that you will have to ban while the rest of the world laughs at you and little old dark age Australia.
Looking forward to a reply
Luke J