Why F.E.A.R. 2 Was Banned In Australia
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
- Start date
Everyone must own! Best game of the year, buy FEAR 2 now! It's so violent it was [demonic voice] banned in Australia![/demonic voice]SigmondK said:
And now you can only get it from GAMETRADERS ROBINAEldritch Warlord said:
well ok that's the first thing I thought of when I envisioned a demonic voice...although envisioned is not the right word for that. Enheard?
Huh, violence in a game, nothing new here but this does raise my eyebrow:
Hmm, I'm curious, are there any game development studios in Australia?
Someone needs to explain to your politicians and their bureaucrats that games have been played by adults for a long, long time - they seem to think games are only for kids or some such nonsense. Lets see, what are the usual methods of protest ... petition, write, phone, and make a bunch of noise outside your representative's office doors, right? Best of luck in working this one out Australia, if you can come up with the War on Everything, I'm pretty sure you can nip this one in the bud.
Hmm, I'm curious, are there any game development studios in Australia?
It's more about your choices, if the authorities can decide what is and isn't appropriate for everyone then eventually restrictions just get tighter and tighter as we get even more and more politically correct and overly protective. And the situation in Australia is a good example of this, with effectively only 1 person standing between 18+ rated games, but because he doesn't like the idea no one has a say (and if you've seen the recent interviews anyone who does speak up gets slapped down with ad hominem attacks).
And I personally like the idea of ratings on games, it gives parents clear guidelines on what they may or may not find appropriate and make an informed decision (although the situation in the UK is really terrible atm). But to disallow 18 rated games is a simply stupid move, games that would have been given 18 ratings (as they have in other countries worldwide) receive 15 ratings which really waters down the actual meaning behind ratings, and who is this 1 man to say that a 30 year old can not buy this game because it has been deemed unsuitable for children under 15? You enforce ratings through public knowledge and good conduct, this is a prime example of public misinformation and bad conduct.
First of all, surreality in violence can be enjoyable without being a sadist. Also, sadism isn't about blood and gore. It's about pain and suffering. Blood and gore is just a byproduct of causing suffering.Cousin_IT said:
Also, never bend at the knee for censorship. To use a classic movie example, Jacob's Ladder. Specifically, the hospital scene. There are bloody chunks that get run over, blood, gore, and general nastiness. Could you have done the scene without it? Technically yes. Would it have had the same effect? Not even close.
The OFLC seems to want to go "It was freaking AWESOME, guys! But uh, don't let your teenagers play it."
Why doesn't Australia have a 17+ age rating? Explain that one to this Yankee.
Why doesn't Australia have a 17+ age rating? Explain that one to this Yankee.
It's all political. They banned that Mark Ekko graffiti game because it would encourage kids to go out and tag walls, because one politician saw it and took exception to it. This internet censorship deal they're trying to push through will include a ban on online gambling, because one of the people they need to convince thinks that online gambling is Satan in the flesh. These self-righteous cocksnarks aren't protecting anyone. They're using this as a vote-generating machine. They pick a hot-button issue, ban a game, then declare to the world at large, "LOOK AT ME AND MY CHILD-PROTECTING EFFORTS!!!".
I was not planning to buy FEAR 2, but now I think I might.
Interesting how the Australian authorities have such a problem with surreal violence in video games, but has no problem with blowing up real people in Iraq as part of a "coalition of the willing".
Hypocrite much?
Interesting how the Australian authorities have such a problem with surreal violence in video games, but has no problem with blowing up real people in Iraq as part of a "coalition of the willing".
Hypocrite much?
FEAR 2 was originally named Project Origin because the original team didn't have the rights to the FEAR name (due to the terms of their deal with Vivendi or whoever it was), but then they got the rights back and renamed it to "FEAR: Project Origin" or something of that effect.Nedned said:
Wow. I feel for you, I really do. Has there been any attempt at forming a chain of protesting gamers to block this a-hole while he is biking? Not saying get violent, just really, really put a burr in his saddle and a gnat in his ear, figuratively speaking. Do you guys have any recall legislation for members of your parliament? Does he have a boss who you can make miserable so he has to resign? Any kind of protest you feel would be effective?Indigo_Dingo said:
Cool. Can you encourage any of these guys to help lobby the government for some better regulations and restrictions? They pay taxes and so do you, right?
I will admit i now understand why there isnt a 18+ rating in australia. Its because shop owners/workers (big W) dont check for ID when giving out MA15+ games. I saw a BIG W employee just hand over GTA4 to a 10 year old (looking) boy when i was in line behind him. Its retards like that that have caused this problem