Was just reading this article on IGN and wondered what our Aussie dopers felt about it. I’m not sure what ‘the classification board’s reasons for refusing to classify the game for Australians’ means in real terms wrt buying the game (once it’s released) in Australia, but the title of the article seems to indicate our buddies down under may have some trouble getting the game (though I guess they are asking the manufacture to roll out a drug reference free version just for them).
Anyway…thoughts? (feel free to talk about the game in general if you like as well, though I assume there are other Fallout 3 game threads about).
It’s ridiculous. I don’t know what Aussies are thinking. For such a progressive country, to be banning video games because of drug references seeems just so absurdly off kilter.
Are they not aware that the average gamer is 33+ years old? That there is no scientific link between violence/drug use in video games and teens doing the same? Or do they figure that all Aussie parents are just incompetent and won’t bother to check what kind of games their 12 year olds are playing?
I hate it when governments make it a point to ban things, simply because they are undesired, misunderstood. Like Canadians making holocaust denial a crime. What the hell? Do they just assume that the average Canadian is so stupid as to be swayed by such nonsense? Oh and of course, Germany’s ban on violent video games, and any nazi imagery as well. Right, because pretending it never happenned is the enlightened thing to do!
Bah! Just as video game makers, nazis, and holocaust deniers should have the freedom to express their thoughts and opinions, we have the freedom to play the games we want to play, or to look down our collective noses at the troglodytes who promote ignorance and violence/bigotry.
An Aussie on the message board on which I’m admin has a sister who is living in New Zealand right now. Since there won’t be any regional issues, he’s planning on her getting it for him since the Kiwis are apparently more enlightened than the Ozzies.
The funny thing is we’re generally very liberal with censorship stuff, but occasionally we get stung with something becasue someone on the censorship board will get a bee in their bonnett about something. Despite their being numerous contrary examples which have passed before.
In this case there are two problems: #1 - Reports are the issue with Fallout is the graphic and realistic portrayal of drug use. Which I understand stems from the fact that, that rather than generic “stimpacks” as per previous incarntions of the game, #3 has gone to specifically calling them Morphine. (Big deal says I)
#2 - There is no R rating for computer games. Due to a quirk in our classification systems, Computer Games don’t have an R 18+ rating, the highest is an mature 15+ rating, so every game must fit in that category. Of course explain to me how a game like Manhunt, or simliar can get that rating but because Fallout 3 shows someone injecting Morphine it doesn’t? :dubious:
I will be holidaying in the States early next year, so here’s hoping I can get a copy while over there.
There is also a good preview on GameSpy…yeah, I’m totally psyked for this game. Even the first person shooter aspects don’t worry me so much now that I’ve read a bit about how the combat system will work. Sounds way cool.
Glad our Aussie pals will be able to get hooked up with the game via alternative means as well.
It’s a blog entry about a letter from the AG of South Australia as to why he opposes adding an R18+ rating for games, which would presumably allow for some of the more adult content that’s permitted in other media. The salient bit seems to be that the rating of the game isn’t a part of the buying decision in 62% of the households where parents and children both game.
Of course that ignores the fact that what someone’s willing to buy and what they let their children access are two completely different issues. Furthermore, since the statistic was in reference to parents who game with their children, they’d be more in tune with what their children are being exposed to compared to older generations of parents who were less aware of what went on with video games.
::sigh:: it seems it’s up to some religious guy again.
Apparently he thinks Aussie parent’s should not have a say on what type of media their children are able to handle. He thinks it should be up to him to decide.
Self righteous bastard.
When Fallout 3 is outlawed, only outlaws will play Fallout 3.
