Fallout 3 Banned in Australia

[Andy Chalk]

Fallout 3 Banned in Australia

The rumors are true and it's bad news once again for gamers Down Under: Bethesda's hotly anticipated post-nuclear RPG Fallout 3 [http://fallout.bethsoft.com] has been refused classification in Australia.

The website for the government's Gamasutra [http://www.classification.gov.au/special.html?n=46&p=156&sTitle=fallout+3&sMature=1&sMediaGames=1&sDateFromM=1&sDateFromY=2008&sDateToM=12&sDateToY=2008&record=228415], which uncovered the decision, the denied rating could be the result of the country's "inflexible" regulations regarding in-game displays of drug use.

Bethesda can apply for a review of the decision at a cost of just under $8000, but appeals and reversals of classification refusals in Australia seem quite rare; most developers faced with similar obstacles opt to modify their games in order to make it more palatable for Australian release. While Grand Theft Auto IV [http://www.rockstargames.com] in order to get it past the country's censors.

Bethesda Softworks has declined to comment on the Classification Board's decision.


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[TheDanwich]

That is terrible... this might actually be a game worthy of recognition and Australian gamers don't even get a chance to try it out.

 

[Wulfenlord]

So, does that mean Yahtzee has to rely on GAME TRADERS ROBINA again?

 

[unangbangkay]

Likely. Australia's so willing to jump onto the BANNED-wagon that it's banning things no one else is banning.

 

[Exterminatus]

Goddamn, I hate my country sometimes. No, scratch that, I hate it ALL the time.

Then again, I also hate Bethesda after Oblivion, so I'm not quite sure how to feel about this...

 

[jezz8me]

Meh so we can't buy the game in stores but who can stop up getting a legal download of it. Now hopefully there are online stores that offer it as a legal download, or steam.

But our crappy censorship of games sucks.

 

[SomeBritishDude]

Oh well, Yahtzee will just have to find another way to get hold of it. He did with Manhunt so...muh. God I'm glad I don't live in Australia.

 

[UpInSmoke]

I thought we were the puritans. Sucks to be you guys.

 

[UpInSmoke]

Are Australian movie releases subject to the same level of censorship? If not, why not?

 

[Andy Chalk]

They're not, because the OFLC in Australia has an 18+ rating for every entertainment medium except videogames, which have a maximum rating classification of 15. So while a movie like Buttfuck Sluts Go Nuts would have no problem getting a classification and being sold in Australia, games like Fallout 3, GTA4, the Punisher and numerous others end up either censored or banned altogether. The whole system is based on the premise that videogames are kids' stuff, so there's no need for videogame rating higher than 15 - and if a game does demand a rating higher than 15, then it's not welcome in the land of Oz.

 

[Spleeni]

...BWAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHH

HHA
ha

aaahh

That is the most evil thing I've heard all week. I feel a tiny morsel of sorrow in my spleen; but it is washed over by my sea of assholism.

 

[Reasonable Doubt]

I wonder how Yahtzee is going to get his hands on Fallout 3 now that is quite puzzling.

 

[Reasonable Doubt]

I wonder how Yahtzee is going to get his hands on Fallout 3 now that is quite puzzling.

GAME TRADERS ROBINA!

Sorry didn't read anyone else's post I just posted my own and no all caps it makes my eyes hurt.

 

[bustns]

well im glad i live in canada and dont have to worry about the games i want getting banned

 

[Andy Chalk]

You know, guys, there are greater concerns here than whether or not Yahtzee has to make another trip to GAME TRADERS ROBINA!

 

[cleverlymadeup]

well for those saying "use steam" that would be blocked, they can block you based on ip, if it's banned there they check via your ip

that being said, ebay is your friend OR get a friend that lives somewhere else to buy the game for you and then mail it to you, problem solved

 

[stompy]

well for those saying "use steam" that would be blocked, they can block you based on ip, if it's banned there they check via your ip

that being said, ebay is your friend OR get a friend that lives somewhere else to buy the game for you and then mail it to you, problem solved

Or order it online, like what I was gonna do with my copy of GTA4.

Alright, as an Aussie, and one that was interested in this, I'm pissed. Really pissed. I hate how our government is alright with everything but video games. Hell, they still call them 'computer games', a tell-tale sign of not knowing what's going on. It's about time we replace those old idiots, that have no idea what they're doing, and get some people in who've actually played video games.

**mumbles inaudibly**

 

[UpInSmoke]

Can't you import the games from Britain? Do they have the same PAL region stuff on their consoles as Australia?