See I thought that was a part of it, because I know that the series has always been big on consequences of one's actions.GothmogII said:
Fallout 3 Banned in Australia
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
- Start date
Since the "drugs" element is a fairly meaty part of the game Fallout 3 will either stay banned or be terribly neutered for Aussie release. My money is on the latter but I'm hoping for the former. Now bear with me on this.
If Fallout 3 is banned it will be the first high-profile and massively popular game to ever be banned (I'm talking about the Fallout series and fan love here, not the game itself); until now it's been Leisure Suit Larry, Manhunt, Dark Sector, Soldier of Fortune. All of these were hardly mourned. Fallout 3 might just be big enough already to get gamers properly mad. I'd have preferred GTA 4 to do this job- can you imagine the uproar?- but Fallout 3 could be the proverbial straw to break the hypothetical camel's imaginary back.
If Fallout 3 is banned it will be the first high-profile and massively popular game to ever be banned (I'm talking about the Fallout series and fan love here, not the game itself); until now it's been Leisure Suit Larry, Manhunt, Dark Sector, Soldier of Fortune. All of these were hardly mourned. Fallout 3 might just be big enough already to get gamers properly mad. I'd have preferred GTA 4 to do this job- can you imagine the uproar?- but Fallout 3 could be the proverbial straw to break the hypothetical camel's imaginary back.
So, here's something I noticed during the Mass Effect controversy here in the States (people got pissed because of 30 second PG13 sex scene, for those unfamiliar with it): Games get flak in America for sex, in Britain for violence, and, I've just learned now, in Australia for drug use, and violence to a lesser extent looking at Dark Sector (good game btw, but didn't quite live up to hype. Still, too bad for you).
The funny thing is, I've never played Fallout, and Fallout 3 didn't interest me until I came into this topic and saw how many people loved it.
For that guy organizing the protest, it might be good to know that the guy from Dark Sector is named Hayden Tenno.
This makes me glad that when Congress started getting uppity about games, the industry created the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) of their own free will. Now no games can be outright banned, although they can still get the AO kiss of death.
The funny thing is, I've never played Fallout, and Fallout 3 didn't interest me until I came into this topic and saw how many people loved it.
For that guy organizing the protest, it might be good to know that the guy from Dark Sector is named Hayden Tenno.
This makes me glad that when Congress started getting uppity about games, the industry created the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) of their own free will. Now no games can be outright banned, although they can still get the AO kiss of death.
No, actually we're worse than that. We don't have a Bill of Rights, so we don't have 'Freedom of Speech', 'Freedom of Artistic Expression', ect. So, yeh, we're really behind.Cheeze_Pavilion said:
I'd be a very interesting situation...Saskwach said:
**Breaking news: More arrests occur today as more copies of the illegal video game, Fallout 3, are being found. Politicians come under increased pressure by the gaming community to introduce a R18+ rating for video games.**
Hopefully Bethesda doesn't crack under the pressure, and we Aussie gamers can solve the problem...
Like a cliff. Since religion has backed up the 'game hate' side, I think it will be a long while before Australia sees its first R rated game. Even then, there will be a lot of angry mums.stompy said:
You guys get my sympathy vote too. It's just downright ridiculous.
Oh and for those asking, yes UK games will play on Australian consoles, they're both PAL and the region coding's the same. Have had Australian games traded in my shop before, and they've worked fine. Not sure if it would be costly to import though, and not sure on the legalities of it all, but yes it will work!
Oh and for those asking, yes UK games will play on Australian consoles, they're both PAL and the region coding's the same. Have had Australian games traded in my shop before, and they've worked fine. Not sure if it would be costly to import though, and not sure on the legalities of it all, but yes it will work!
Unfortunately, a friend and I were going to do this, but the article at IGN kinda puts an end to it. There's a clause which states the importation of anything is illegal if it's been banned for promoting drug use, which is the reason Fallout 3 was banned. So, while importation is usually an option, it isn't this time around.LilMissEvil said:
Though, of course, if you're willing to stick your finger up to Australian law, best of luck to ya...
Wow, folks. Sucks to be you.
I'm vaguely curious about how AUS folk decide one which games to admit in stuff. I remember, back when I was a Sony fangirl, Official Playstation Magazine (I know, I know, propaganda, I was young and stupid) they had a fascinating feature on how the American ratings board worked. If I recall correctly, the decision makers never actually played the games. They were just shown reels of the most questionable content and decided from that what the ESRB rating would be. There was no context or extra information about the game given. That's hardly fair to the games, I would think, but c'est la vie.
Good luck with RL trolling the government on this issue, Aussies.
ETA: Oh, hey, why don't ya'll push for a better rating system? There is sure to be a strong argument for adding a +18 rating to your system.
I'm vaguely curious about how AUS folk decide one which games to admit in stuff. I remember, back when I was a Sony fangirl, Official Playstation Magazine (I know, I know, propaganda, I was young and stupid) they had a fascinating feature on how the American ratings board worked. If I recall correctly, the decision makers never actually played the games. They were just shown reels of the most questionable content and decided from that what the ESRB rating would be. There was no context or extra information about the game given. That's hardly fair to the games, I would think, but c'est la vie.
Good luck with RL trolling the government on this issue, Aussies.
ETA: Oh, hey, why don't ya'll push for a better rating system? There is sure to be a strong argument for adding a +18 rating to your system.
Thing is we are, but in order for an R18+ rating to be in place, all our state Attorney Generals have to unanimously agree on it. The problem stems from one Attorney General, Michael Atkinson, from refusing. The reason is absurd too: "If a R18+ rating is introduced, there's no safe guard that children can't obtain the content." I think it's pretty hypocritical, seeing as he isn't pushing for a ban in the sale of alcohol.LadyZephyr said:
Unfortunately, and I've said this a few times, but we Australians can't import the game. It's illegal because our law states that something can't be imported if the reason it was banned was because it promoted drug use, which is why Fallout 3 was banned.MrHero17 said:
DOES NO ONE READ MY POSTS! Sorry, but it gets me mad... ultrajoe, you do realise that importing Fallout 3 is actually a prosecutable offence, seeing as the natire of the ban prevents the object from being imported legally? I wouldn't actually be surprised if most of the more renown websites refuse sale to Australian addresses...Ultrajoe said:
If you do, as I've said before, good luck.
Banning Fallout 3 here in Australia only shows the level of moronity which has infected the Nanny State.
Here is the attitude of those do gooders who believe we need to be protected from ourselves:
It's perfectly obvious that people buying FO3 will become crazed drug taking murderous psychopaths after playing the game for 5 minutes.
Ahem... excuse me while I just vomit in utter disgust at the ridiculousness of this ban.
Now that I've purged myself, I can comment freely.
As it has been pointed out, people will be able to purchase the game via ebay or Amazon etc and I do not doubt there will be a few game stores that will sneak in a number of copies to sell under the counter.
What is more important though is the power the moral minority exert will bludgeoning malice over the rest of Australian society and how the walking douchebags we laughing call politicians sycophantically pander to this brain dead minority. Its revolting to see them use the video games as yet another strawman to install fear in the ignorant by saying these games will drive your children and perfectly normal adults to become heroin snorting goat sodomisers who love the smell of eviserated entrails in the morning.
What absolute twaddle!
I remember back in the early 1980's when D&D was becoming popular and the moral minority started fanning the flames of paraniod hysteria. These prophets of doom spuriously claimed that this game would lead to satanism, child molestation and drug taking. All these claims were complete and utter bollocks. However, if you stand up and try to criticise this decision, the mainstream media will portray you as defending deviant behaviour and label you as being soft on drugs and in favour of sniffing little girls bicylce saddles.
The only thing that gives me comfort is the irony that many of these narrow minded holier than thou oxygen thieves forget: the road to hell is paved with good intentions. All of them, by their persistant meddling and pretense that its for the greater good, are going to be cast screaming into the inferno that they firmly believe in. Good ridance!
Thought like that make me glow with happiness!
-edit- I just read Stompy's post and does seem that most reputable online stores [ebay, amazon etc] will not sell to an address in australia. This is just so brain numbingly frustrating and I am even more determined now to get hold of a copy of the game as an act of civil disobediance. I urge all australian gamers to give the finger to this riduclous law and procure a copy of Fallout 3.
Here is the attitude of those do gooders who believe we need to be protected from ourselves:
It's perfectly obvious that people buying FO3 will become crazed drug taking murderous psychopaths after playing the game for 5 minutes.
Ahem... excuse me while I just vomit in utter disgust at the ridiculousness of this ban.
Now that I've purged myself, I can comment freely.
As it has been pointed out, people will be able to purchase the game via ebay or Amazon etc and I do not doubt there will be a few game stores that will sneak in a number of copies to sell under the counter.
What is more important though is the power the moral minority exert will bludgeoning malice over the rest of Australian society and how the walking douchebags we laughing call politicians sycophantically pander to this brain dead minority. Its revolting to see them use the video games as yet another strawman to install fear in the ignorant by saying these games will drive your children and perfectly normal adults to become heroin snorting goat sodomisers who love the smell of eviserated entrails in the morning.
What absolute twaddle!
I remember back in the early 1980's when D&D was becoming popular and the moral minority started fanning the flames of paraniod hysteria. These prophets of doom spuriously claimed that this game would lead to satanism, child molestation and drug taking. All these claims were complete and utter bollocks. However, if you stand up and try to criticise this decision, the mainstream media will portray you as defending deviant behaviour and label you as being soft on drugs and in favour of sniffing little girls bicylce saddles.
The only thing that gives me comfort is the irony that many of these narrow minded holier than thou oxygen thieves forget: the road to hell is paved with good intentions. All of them, by their persistant meddling and pretense that its for the greater good, are going to be cast screaming into the inferno that they firmly believe in. Good ridance!
Thought like that make me glow with happiness!
-edit- I just read Stompy's post and does seem that most reputable online stores [ebay, amazon etc] will not sell to an address in australia. This is just so brain numbingly frustrating and I am even more determined now to get hold of a copy of the game as an act of civil disobediance. I urge all australian gamers to give the finger to this riduclous law and procure a copy of Fallout 3.
I'd love to... I've got a few problem with it though. First of all, I don't think my parents will be too pleased with the Federal Police knocking on their door, charging them a fine of something in the thousands, maybe even hundred thousands. Secondly, how are we gonna get copies into the country? I'm all for civil disobedience, but I'm not so happy about smuggling...Evil Genius for a Better Tomorrow said:
I seriously doubt that people will be arrested and charged with this [bringing in copies of the game] and if so, it will be a media circus and all you would need is to ask for a high profile QC like Geofrery Robinson who is in favour of civil liberties to come on and defend you pro bono. It'd be just like th infamous Oz trials and the governemt office of cliassification, and the current government, will be made into a complete laughingstock because of their head up their arse attitude.stompy said:
This ban is like the ban on the book, "Lady Chatterleys Lover". It's utterly pointless and I for one am willing to take a stand on this. Since the game will not be released till October 7 in the US [according to Amazon.com], that gives us plenty of time to organise a protest movement and to find other examples in other games which have gained a classification which depict beneficial drug taking.