So, hey, exactly why was the Reservoir Dogs game banned in Australia? The Office of Film and Literature Classification has clarified their initial statement, pointing out specific moments of sick, wanton violence.

These moments include:

• A level where players execute hostages at point blank range with a gunshot to the head.

• Pistol whipping hostages to death.

• Burning the retinas of hostages with a lit cigar.

• Cutting off a hostage's fingers one by one, and, (we assume)...

• Cutting off their ears and pouring gasoline into the pulsating hole.

In other words, it sounds like the best game ever made.

It's actually an interesting problem: film makers can opt to release their movies unrated, sacrificing big box offices at the cineplex for more creative control over their content. Games can do this too with internet distribution and the like: the ESRB only applies to retail. But game developers going retail are powerless to use some of Hollywood's best tricks to get a passable rating while including incredible violence. After all, how do you cut dramatically away from the bloodshed when the viewer has control of the camera? Florian Eckhardt

Australian Ratings Board Clarifies Reservoir Dogs Decision [GamesIndustry.biz]
Previously: Reservoir Dogs Game Banned in Australia

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