As we
reported last month, Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) refused classification for the highly-anticipated shooter
Fallout 3, effectively making the game illegal to sell in the island country. Apparently, this was due to the nature of the drugs used in the game, which allowed a player to enhance themselves at the cost of a corresponding negative effect. Bethesda then resubmitted the game with edits, and now the OFLC has classified the game MA 15+, the highest rating allowed on any video game in Australia.
So what was taken out? The OFLC stated "the reward and incentive for in-game drug use had been significantly toned down." Does this statement imply gameplay changes? It is bad enough when this type of unwarranted censorship occurs, but if there are indeed changes to the gameplay elements, maybe it is best for those of you Down Under to import the game from elsewhere.
[Via
Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SimplyB @ Aug 13th 2008 10:08AM
If I was an Aussie I would be importing this one for sure. God I thought we had a problem in the US because of the AO ratting, but ya'lls rating system is absurd to the extreme.
MCHEVA @ Aug 14th 2008 12:25AM
I agree completely we had this same problem with GTA4 a friend of mine tried to import a copy but our customs here picked it up he was sent a warning letter saying do that again and you will be up for criminal charges.
adolson @ Aug 13th 2008 10:12AM
Do they have doctors who rely heavily on big pharma down under? Why don't they worry about fixing that problem before they worry so much about a video game...
"Ask your doctor if Coxabloxin is right for you."
Shouldn't my doctor know what is right for me? He's a DOCTOR.
Bad Mojo @ Aug 13th 2008 10:15AM
FINALLY!!! This looks like an awesome Chuck Norris game.
Popfrogs @ Aug 13th 2008 11:56AM
Chuck Norris? Hahaha, it looks like an Aborigine Chuck to me. I guess they really did change it for Oz.
farfisa @ Aug 13th 2008 11:14AM
They should just call it "vaccine" use and get around the whole thing. Crikey!
Twinturbo120 @ Aug 13th 2008 1:02PM
WOW thats fucking stupid
JaseH @ Aug 13th 2008 7:35PM
The man who is responsible for the continued opposition of the R18+ rating is Michael Atkinson. He is the Attorney General of South Australia.
No matter how many times we Australians ask for a R18+ rating, he keeps shutting the idea down.
Think of him as an even worse version of Jack Thompson (if that's even possible)...
Thankfully, 88% of Australians are asking for it. And rightfully so, considering a R18+ & X rating exists for films in Australia, it should be the same for games as well.
There's going to be a referendum in the coming months concerning the issue & the signs look good. However, the only person standing in the way of the whole thing from going to plan is Michael Atkinson, a lot of gamers want his head on the chopping block nowadays. But eventually the poll will put a zip on his mouth once and for all.
__________________________
JaseH.
MakaiOokami @ Aug 13th 2008 9:20PM
Every single damn country in the world needs to just abandon the ESRB and do this....
Hey this game isn't for kids. Let's slap this sticker on it. "Must be a legal adult to purchase this title due to content"
There we go.... Problem solved. Remember only the really uber super christian parents and a few WAY overprotective parents even give a damn about the stickers in teh first place. My parents didnt' when they bought me MKII back in the day. they didn't know video games had violence like that.
The only parents that SERIOUSLY care about the ESRB are probably doing major emotional and psychological damage to their children anyway. There's no ifs ands or buts about it. The only thing that this system has is the ability to censer titles. If there are 6 year olds playing Saints Row right now then who gives a flying fuck if a kid is playing Jak II or 3 instead of Jak and Daxter and who really cares if a 8 year old is playing an E 10+.
When I was a kid I was watching Jason movies and my parents were letting me rent R Rated movies. I didn't like most of the R rated movies I rented so I generally opted out of them for something more entertaining except the occasional Spawn rental. I turned out 98 percent better than the public because my parents didn't use rating systems as baby sitters they taught me how to be a respectful human being instead.
AMG @ Aug 13th 2008 9:29PM
Michael Atkinson can shov it. Im gonna import, cheaper too. What an ass, whats is this guys address so i can go and personally egg his house??
SkreeHunter @ Aug 16th 2008 9:07PM
It's not that big of a deal. Drugs aren't necessary in Fallout anyway. They help in the short term but they knock down your stats unless you keep taking them so I didn't use them much.
Remember, smoking weed lowers your INT and PER by 2. Though PCP raises your END to 11.