There is a link on the right hand side for submissions, I didnt read it properly so I assume for anyone. Basically this is for the R18+ classification of video games to be introduced, so the OFLC will stop asking content in games to be cut out so they can be sold on our shores.
We can import from the UK anyway usually via ebay or whatever… but would still be nice if they could be sold locally!
Not that I am a fan of violence for violence sake… but from what I read about how valve butchered Left For Dead II australian release I think we can do with the extra classification so censorship doesn’t lead to reduction of quality.
Surprising Aus is only bringing in an 18 cert now. So they just censored games up till now or left them alone? I hear there’s a shit storm over the new Call of Duty game where it is possible, among other things, to open fire on civilians in an airport, literally mowing them down as they try to escape (with advanced A.I.).
Pretty sure COD got past the censors intact… something to do with how killing the civilians was not a part of your actual mission or some shit.
No the board refuses classification making a game illegal to sell in Australia, hence the companies need to modify the game slightly to get it past the board, or not release it here at all.
Old GTA games - ability to “sleep” with hookers removed
Fallout 3: Drug morphine was removed (ended up being removed worldwide after the aus initial refusal I think)
There’s been 5 banned this year… something called Necrovision because of excess violence…
Left 4 Dead 2 - because of violence against “Humans with a rabies type violence”
Risen - I think because you can smoke weed and sleep with prossies
Sexy Poker - no idea, probably because it had BOOBS IN IT.
Aliens Vs. Predator (new) - currently under review… initially refused due to excess violence. (gouging eyes, spinal columns attached to heads when you pull them off etc… coughmortalkombatcough)
I dont know which of the above were re-released as censored versions… I think whoever made Risen just decided not to sell it here.
AVP is going to get Re-reviewed… left for dead was severely edited so I hear… I think Necrovision may have toned down some violence I am not sure…
But yeah… no idea why there is no R18 rating yet… I think it’s a case of
nice link, i have been reading about this for a bit now. people need to understand videogames aren’t “for kids”. neither are books, and tv for that matter. i applaud any effort to put choice of entertainment consumption in the peoples hands.
I guess the concern is that “kids” will have access to these games as their parents will buy them for themselves (or just not pay attention and get them diirectly for the kids)… but the same could be said about R rated movies etc… I dont think books have ratings (well I’ve never paid attention if they do!) and some of the stuff I got from a library when I was <18 was far more descriptive in it’s violence/sex than ANY movie or video game I’ve played.
But video games are immersive, and they are trying to say thats the difference, you dont just view/read it you can cause the Predator to rip a humans head off… therefore you will be brainwashed into wanting to collect human heads as trophies so you too can be a predator champion in real life.
But surely books and tv can be just as submersive to different people? If anything a book would allow for more exaggerative (is that a word?) and personal visualisations? /shrugs