Australia's restrictive ratings classification system for games has struck again. This time, Activision's upcoming first-person shooter Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back has been hit, with Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) effectively banning the game from sale down under.
The OFLC has refused classification for Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3, making it illegal to sell in Australia. Under Australian law, the highest rating that can be slapped on a game is MA15+. Films and DVDS, on the other hand, can carry up to an R18+ rating, which prohibits sales to anyone under the age of 18. Any video games that do not fit under the OFLC's definition of MA15+ are refused classification.
An OFLC spokeswoman said the OFLC board ruled that Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back's "playing impact... was a high impact which exceeded the MA15+ classification". Some specific examples included "close range shooting with substantial blood spray, blood splatters onto the ground and walls, [the ability to] target various limbs of the opponent which can result in dismemberment, and large amounts of blood sprayed which comes from the stump but victims sometime stay alive".
Activision Australia declined to comment on the banning. Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back was due for release in Australia in early 2008.
Soldier of Fortune: Pay Back is by no means alone when it comes to games being banned in Australia. Earlier this year, the OFLC refused classification for Blitz: The League due to its representation of drug use within the game. In 2006, Eidos' Reservoir Dogs was refused classification, as was Mark Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure. Other games to be banned in Australia include BMX XXX, Manhunt, Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, Postal, Postal 2, Narc and more. The two GTA games listed made it back onto the market after some content changes.
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bishy69
18/10/2007 02:12 PM
Oh shoot was looking forward to getting this game, oh well looks like ill have to get a copy from overseas of ebay or similar.
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Dean
18/10/2007 02:13 PM
Perhaps someone should point out to the OFLC that the average age of gamers, even back in 2005, was 33: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060517-6855.html
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kwapz
20/10/2007 08:27 PM
thats fine i just download it hahahaha
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Cybrosis
25/10/2007 03:35 PM
Maybe the OFLC should realise that Most people just buy it online for HALF of what it costs for a retail copy here
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Ian
29/10/2007 12:44 PM
The classification system is a great help to parents like myself who dont have time to play every game from start to finish to determine whether it is suitable for young children. Unfortunately it is still largely perceived that computer games (and cartoons for that matter) are automatically for kids so there is often a lack of diligence regarding the checking of classification on the part of parents and game sellers when it comes to buying the games. I think that is why the OFLC has the rule regarding MA begin the highest allowed rating.
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soxyoneline
30/10/2007 08:11 AM
how is this game different to what was on the 6 oclock news every day for the last 2 years???
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ozmars
05/11/2007 12:44 PM
this game more closely represents the real world than does the 6 o'clock news! ;) Seriously, isn't there some sort of lobby for this? What would happen if the OFLC suddenly banned the R rating for movies?
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marble
12/11/2007 06:48 PM
What gives OFLC the right to ban these types of games in the first place, who are they to say what i can and can not watch. I will do as i wish and get it sent from overseas. BAN THAT
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m@
20/11/2007 09:47 AM
Ban the OFLC!
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lummox
20/11/2007 12:48 PM
Why is there no R rating for games? Surely Australia isn't that far behind to think that only teens play video games. I have been playing them since I can remember...way back to the Atari 2600!!!
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zappy
21/12/2007 06:04 PM
stupid people can never let us have fun! it is amazing that with the current rise in violence, stabbings, and etc that these games aren't given to us we might us well watch the sbs news and get our violence fix lol but on the other hand just a few weeks ago i caught my seven year old cousin playing grand theft auto and within minutes he had a bandanna and was asking me for my wallet*GET ON THE FLOOR *%&#$!##%* hahaha
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Daniel Davis
26/06/2008 06:59 PM
The OFLC is sooooo crap if people dont like the blood and guts dont get the dam game. Cause they just turned the best gory game into the most shittest game ever and that gives soldier of fortune a bad reputation so GIVE US THE BLOOD !!!!!!!!!!
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Savaged062
07/08/2008 11:58 AM
They banned it? Why would they do that,most people enjoy games with blood and gore,its what makes them fun.Do they expect us to go and play bloody pacman or something?... stupid.
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