Australian censorship board bans new Aliens vs. Predator game

[AstroManLuca]

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/australian-classification-board-vs-aliens-vs-predator/

It may not have acid blood or infrared vision, but the Australian Classification Board has won its battle against Rebellion's upcoming Aliens vs. Predator game. "The game contains first-person perspective, close-up depictions of human characters being subjected to various types of violence, including explicit decapitation and dismemberment as well as locational damage such as stabbing through the chest, mouth, throat, or eyes," the board reports. Apparently, the game's excessive gore and violence exceeds the requirements for a MA15+ rating. Without an option for an R18+ rating, Aliens vs. Predator becomes the latest title to join the ever-growing list of essentially "banned" games in the territory.

Sega is left with two options should it want to pursue an Australian release: Attempt an appeal with the board, or censor the game's content to meet Australian standards. Should AvP follow in the footsteps of the edited Left 4 Dead 2, Australian gamers should get ready to be disappointed yet again.

The game is also not being released in Germany.

And I like their rebuttal:

In a statement released this morning by Rebellion's Jason Kingsley, concerning the Australian Classification Board's so-called "ban" of Rebellion's Aliens vs. Predator game, the CEO expressed his studio's disappointment with the board's ruling, but added, "as we understand the law in that country the authorities had no choice as we agree strongly that our game is not suitable for game players who are not adults."

The subtle swipe at the Australian ratings system, which tops out at an MA15+ classification, turned into a full-on blow as Kingsley concluded, "We will not be releasing a sanitized or cut down version for territories where adults are not considered by their governments to be able to make their own entertainment choices."

Ouch! You feel that too, Germany? "It is for adults," Kingsley insisted of AvP, "and it is bloody and frightening, that was our intent." Clearly, that's why PEGI assigned an 18-rating.

Sucks that the Australian government doesn't allow video games to use an 18+ rating. Aren't there already a whole lot of games that are either watered down or outright banned there?

 

[Glitchny]

Both the German and Australian review boards who decide this stuff are inept. It's kinda sad how they wont add an age range for 18+ games when movies etc are generally just as bad.

 

[Pheran]

"We will not be releasing a sanitized or cut down version for territories where adults are not considered by their governments to be able to make their own entertainment choices."

This might be the single most awesome thing I have ever heard from a game developer. Right on Rebellion! I wish every game company would do this, maybe the gaming public in those countries would get pissed enough to try to do something about their ridiculous laws.

 

[RaiderJ]

How much of an issue is this really for Australians? Can't they just by a US copy from Amazon or something?

 

[AstroManLuca]

It's probably a bigger issue for Australian Xbox 360 owners. PS3 games and obviously PC games are region-free, but I believe the 360 is region-locked.

 

[cyphilis]

Sweet... I will definatly be buying this game. Not only because I'm looking forward to it, and loved the original versions, but they are standing behind their product. Right up my alley!

 

[d4mo]

Haha love the response.

 

[mmntech]

How much of an issue is this really for Australians? Can't they just by a US copy from Amazon or something?

Well, there is a much bigger issue behind that. It's state censorship of a form of expression. It's something you couldn't get away with here in North America. Canada and the United States have never censored or banned games. Namely because it's unconstitutional to do so. (remember we're just talking games here, I'm aware of other issues)

Australia seems to have, in my opinion, a disturbing authoritarian streak. Especially for a country that is considered to be a western democracy.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Interesting how on prime time tv here they will shows tits, sex, cursing, violence. Heck they've even showed violent crime scenes, blood everywhere, dead people. But they wont allow a video game to come through.

 

[Dumac]

Screw Australia

 

[RaiderJ]

Well, there is a much bigger issue behind that. It's state censorship of a form of expression. It's something you couldn't get away with here in North America. Canada and the United States have never censored or banned games. Namely because it's unconstitutional to do so. (remember we're just talking games here, I'm aware of other issues)

Australia seems to have, in my opinion, a disturbing authoritarian streak. Especially for a country that is considered to be a western democracy.

Ah, I definitely agree with you on the political front. I was just thinking about how an Australian could still get a hold of the game. I imagine it really drives the torrents & newsgroup memberships there when something is banned!

 

[BW86]

wow, Australia sucks.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Well, there is a much bigger issue behind that. It's state censorship of a form of expression. It's something you couldn't get away with here in North America. Canada and the United States have never censored or banned games. Namely because it's unconstitutional to do so. (remember we're just talking games here, I'm aware of other issues)

Australia seems to have, in my opinion, a disturbing authoritarian streak. Especially for a country that is considered to be a western democracy.

Not to change the subject but Australia was originally a prison colony for the British Empire. I wonder what happened to all the thugs...

 

[fbrdphreak]

Man I've been behind on this game, didn't realize it was coming out so soon! Damn I'm psyched!!!

 

[DAPUNISHER]

The pussification of western style civilization continues. Never mind respecting an adult individual's right to decide if such a game is something they choose to buy or not. And, completely ignore that keeping it out of the hands of children, should be done through responsible parenting. No, let us rely on the nanny state to do it in our stead.

Question for Australians: Are you guys also as uptight about the human form and human sexuality as we are here in the states?

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Not at all. We are generally way less restricted and uncensored as far as popular culture goes, at least that is the impression I got the last time I visited the US. You can see tits on prime time TV, no one cares. Censorship never makes it into the news either.

I'd imagine the only people here that would care about something like that are fat nerds. Then again they are showing Aliens on TV this weekend.

 

[Dumac]

Not at all. We are generally way less restricted and uncensored as far as popular culture goes, at least that is the impression I got the last time I visited the US. You can see tits on prime time TV, no one cares. Censorship never makes it into the news either.

I'd imagine the only people here that would care about something like that are fat nerds. Then again they are showing Aliens on TV this weekend.

Or questions about government ethics...

WTG.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Not at all. We are generally way less restricted and uncensored as far as popular culture goes, at least that is the impression I got the last time I visited the US. You can see tits on prime time TV, no one cares. Censorship never makes it into the news either.

I'd imagine the only people here that would care about something like that are fat nerds. Then again they are showing Aliens on TV this weekend.

Thanks for the reply. It is good to hear you guys are not as uptight as the faux prudes here are.

Censorship never makes it into the news either.

That is a bad thing, IMO.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

It probably never makes it into the news because it's not on the top of our priority list. Most people are pretty happy with the government plus our country isn't run by Christains, that and we love taking the piss from everyone and everything. Nobody really gives a damn about government except those directly involved.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Luckily we live in a democratic country

http://www.news.com.au/technology/a...deo-game-ratings/story-e6frfro0-1225810592521

 

[AstroManLuca]

Great news! I wonder, if this passes quickly enough, would Valve release an R18+ patch for L4D2 to bring it up to parity with the rest of the world? Or is the process slow enough that it's more likely to apply to L4D3 (or shall we say, HL2: Episode 3 or Duke Nukem Forever)?

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Games can always be impoourted. There are many stores that import games here for reasons like this. Also digital distributions can be bought from the US, I have bought a couple, you just have to pay a bit more.

 

[Dari]

Not to change the subject but Australia was originally a prison colony for the British Empire. I wonder what happened to all the thugs...

They're still there...today...right now.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2033050

 

[gorcorps]

Games can always be impoourted. There are many stores that import games here for reasons like this. Also digital distributions can be bought from the US, I have bought a couple, you just have to pay a bit more.

360 games are region locked, so importing is rarely an option

 

[Tristicus]

And this is why I live in the USA.