Kotaku: oflc

Australia Rates Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Predator

Mike Fahey — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:40:00 MDT

We've been patiently waiting for more on Ubisoft's Ghost Recon 4 since June. Now a listing appears on the Australian ratings board website for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Predator. Coincidence?

Ubisoft announced Ghost Recon 4 way back in April, and since then we've not heard a peep. No screenshots; no concept art; and no actual title outside of Ghost Recon 4. It's probably safe to assume that the Tom Clancy name will show up in front, but what comes after it? Judging by the OFLC rating uncovered by Destructoid, it could very well be Predator.

The listing indicates that Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Predator is a multi-platform computer game, rated MA 15+ - the country's highest rating - for "strong violence." Seems to fit the bill, right?

We've contacted Ubisoft for comment on the ratings listed, but as of this writing have yet to receive a response, so we cannot confirm whether or not this is the same game mentioned back in April. There is definitely a rating there though. Make of that, and an additional rating for a game called Rabbids Lab, what you will.

TOM CLANCY'S GHOST RECON® PREDATOR [OFLC via Destructoid]

EA Spokeswoman Hits Back at Australian Classification Board

Owen Good — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:00:00 MDT

Electronic Arts, the retail distributor for Left 4 Dead 2 weighed in against The Australian classification board's refusal of Left 4 Dead 2, and it's not as mild as the "pretty bummed" Valve offered last week

EA spokeswoman Tiffany Steckler, speaking to GameSpot Australia, implied Left 4 Dead 2's violent content is not beyond the pale of Australia's home grown entertainment fare.

"It's funny that a place like Australia, which has come up with some pretty violent material in the past with something like Mad Max, can effectively ban video games for the same reason," she said. "EA believes that adults should have the right to make their own choices when it comes to the content they consume."

She declined to comment when asked if any changes were coming to the game, following the board's refusal to classify it at MA 15+, its highest rating. The games industry has for some time now pleaded for Australia to adopt a higher classification rating to permit more mature content to be sold Down Under. Last year's original Left 4 Dead was given an MA 15+

EA Responds to L4D 2 Banning Down Under [GameSpot AU via Game Politics]

Valve Appeals Australia Ban of Left 4 Dead 2

Owen Good — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:00 MDT

Couched in an update of Left 4 Dead's ratings status in 11 locations is news the publisher on Wednesday appealed Australia's refusal to classify the game, effectively banning it for sale there.

No other comment was given in the announcement. I've emailed Valve to ask for a little more detail on the case they've presented down under. Should it make any comment, I'll update here.

In all, only three regions are still in process of rating (or reconsidering, in Australia's case) Left 4 Dead 2, due for release on Nov. 17. The United Kingdom and New Zealand are also still reviewing the game. Elsewhere - PEGI, ESRB, Japan, Germany, etc. - the game has all received M or equivalent ratings. Ireland's board hasn't rated it but has approved it for classification.

Sonic Adventure DX Getting Another Remake?

Owen Good — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:00:00 MDT

Australia's Classification Board has listed a new rating for Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, suggesting that the GameCube game might be ported to current systems.

The rating says "multiplatform," which further vagues up whatever Sega's plans are here. That Gaming Site, which saw the listing earlier today, figures it could be a new control scheme on the Wii, an XBLA release, or part of some new compilation.

Sonic Adventure DX debuted on the Dreamcast in 1998; the Director's Cut was the version brought to GameCube and PC in 2003.

Sonic Adventure DX to be Remade Again? [That Gaming Site]

For Some Reason, Australia Is Getting An Uncut GTA IV On PC

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:30:00 MST

In perhaps the most glaring example of the OFLC's utter disregard for consistency, Grand Theft Auto IV will be released in Australia on PC completely uncut. Even though the console versions were cut, cut, cut.

According to Rockstar, the Aussie PC version "is unedited in any way and identical in content to the international version". Why the Office of Film & Literature Classification thinks it's OK to let people bang hookers on a PC but not a console is anyone's guess.

On the bright side, if the OFLC is letting an unedited PC version into the country, it may mean Rockstar can start shipping in unedited console versions as well. Not that you'd care, since the cuts were minimal and you've all finished the game by now, but progress is progress, regardless of how late it's made.

Uncut GTAIV PC coming to Australia [GameSpot]

Sega (And THQ?) Planning New OutRun Game

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:40:58 MST

According to a new rating from Australia's Office of Film & Literature Classification board, there may be a new OutRun game in the works. The OFLC has rated a game titled OutRun Online Arcade for a multi-platform release, one published by Sega and, oddly enough, "produced" and "authored" by THQ. The two companies had enjoyed a publishing agreement on Game Boy Advance titles in the past, but development duties on the OutRun series has largely been handled by internal Sega teams and UK-based indie studio Sumo Digital.

The last entry, OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast, hit the PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox and Windows PCs. Whatever OutRun Online Arcade is — we see no mention of it in our web snooping — we hope it showers us with magical sound.

OutRun Online Arcade [OFLC]

Silent Hill Homecoming Refused Classification In...

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:40:00 MDT

...Australia or Germany? Go on, guess! OK, well done, the correct answer is indeed Australia. Still hamstrung by the South Australian state Attorney-General's refusal to amend the country's classification laws (currently games don't have the R18+ rating movies do, and all six state AGs need to agree to change the law), Silent Hill: Homecoming has become the latest high-profile game to be refused classification in Australia, a move that practically bans the game from these antipodean shores. Those that have already played the game will suspect the decision was due to quality control concerns, but in reality it'll have been down the game's gore. Or, sorry, "gore".

No Homecoming [Screen Play]

Animal Crossing City Folk Given Pointless Australian Renaming

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 01:00:00 MDT

Great, another unnecessary name change for a Nintendo game in Australia! Earlier this year, Advance Wars: Days of Ruin was renamed Advance Wars: Dark Conflict down under (and in Europe), for no reason. Now, Animal Crossing: City Folk is getting the same treatment! The game's listing on the Office of Film & Literature Classification has it titled Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City. Maybe "City Folk" sounded too American for Nintendo Australia. Maybe it sounded too much like "City Fuck" for the trigger-happy classification board. Who knows. We certainly don't (Nintendo Australia didn't respond to a "please explain").

OFLC [via Go Nintendo]

Disaster: Day of Crisis Still Exists, Gets Rated In Australia

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:40:00 MDT

Oh, hey, Disaster: Day of Crisis. Man, it's been awhile. We thought you were dead. Fortunately, the Monolith Soft developed action game for the Wii just got an M rating in Australia, so we know it's alive and... well, alive. The Office of Film and Literature Classification lists the game as potentially objectionable for its "Violence, themes and infrequent coarse language." Nowhere is tardiness mentioned.

Keep in mind that OFLC rating applies only to Australia and that we have no idea when it will be released — or if the rating is an indication it will be released any time soon. Perhaps we'll see it at Games Convention next week? Nah, doubt it.

Disaster: Day of Crisis [OFLC via Vooks]

Revised Fallout 3 Edition Drugs "Justified By Context"

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:20:00 MDT

For the rest of the world, Fallout 3's being released as intended. Nothing to worry about. But in Australia, as you're aware by now, the game's had to see some changes, thanks to the Office of Film & Literature Classification's strong stance against in-game drug use (Midway's last Blitz game was refused classification for similar reasons). While Bethesda are keeping quiet on just what those changes were, the OFLC's official report on the revision is a little more helpful.

While it doesn't get into specifics, the report does contain the following three statements:

- The drug references within the revised version are justified by context and lend a strong playing impact to the game.

- The drugs depicted are fictional; drugs are depicted as stylised icons on a menu with the drug use itself not depicted. Whilst navigating a post-apocalyptic futuristic landscape, players can invoke the use of a variety of "chems" listed by fictious names which include "Buff", "Rad-X", "Psycho" and "Ultrajet".

- The Board noted that the "Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games 2005" states that "as a general rule ... material that contains drug use ... related to incentives or rewards is Refused Classification" and found that relationship [sic] between drug use and the incentives and rewards is not such that it promotes or encourages the use of proscribed drugs. Therefore the game does not warrant to be Refused Classification and can be accommodated at MA15+ with a consumer advisory of "strong drug references".

So it's OK if the drugs are contextual within a fictional universe. It's OK if they're fictional drugs. It's OK if the game doesn't promote the use of proscribed (or, real) drugs.

Sounds like the game's use of morphine was the sticking point. By referencing only fictional drugs in this report, and reminding us that the encouragement of the use of "proscribed" drugs is a no-no, it looks likely that all that's been removed from the Australian version of the game is the morphine. Or, more realistically, that morphine has been given a fictional rebranding.

Course that's just speculation on our part, as with Bethesda refusing to comment on the matter until the game's out we're unable to confirm it, but that's certainly what it looks like.

The Classification Board's Report On Australia's Edited Fallout 3 [Kotaku AU]

Fallout 3 Cleared For Australian Release [Update]

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:20:00 MDT

In its original state, Fallout 3 was deemed no good for the Australian market. Too many drug references for the Australian Office of Film & Literature Classification's liking. But now, well, now it's all good! A revised edition of the game has been cleared for release, and has been classified MA15+ by the OFLC, a rating based on the title's "Strong violence, drug references and coarse language". For the record, an MA15+ rating - the highest Australian law permits - means persons under the age of 15 can't legally purchase the game. What's unknown at this stage is the extent of the edits made; it could be a few simple name changes to the in-game drugs, it could mean a more fundamental overhaul of the game's menu/icon system, we don't know yet. It's the middle of the night in Australia. We'll update when we do know.

Fallout 3 [OFLC]
Fallout 3 [EB Games Australia]

UPDATE - We contacted Bethesda to ask what had been edited/cut and - just like Rockstar with GTAIV - they could/would not comment on the changes.

Here's Why Fallout 3 Was "Banned" In Australia

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:30:00 MDT

Last night, we heard that Fallout 3 had been refused classification in Australia by the Office of Film & Literature Classification. Which is a lovely, legalese term for "banned". But just what was it about the game that caused the decision? What content was deemed too explicit to be given an MA15+ rating, the highest the OFLC are allowed to give? Turns out it had nothing to do with gore, or cannibalism. It was the drugs. Specifically, the game's "chems", or power-ups:

Corresponding with the list of various "chems" are small visual representation of the drugs, these include syringes, tablets, pill bottles, a crack-type pipe and blister packs. In the Board's view these realistic visual representations of drugs and their delivery method bring the "science-fiction" drugs in line with "real-world" drugs.

Our advice, Bethesda: add some antenna and tesla coils to those crack pipes.

OFLC Report: Why Fallout 3 Was Banned In Australia [Kotaku AU]

Fallout 3 Refused Classification In Australia

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:20:00 MDT

And by "refused classification", we really mean banned, since without classification it's illegal for retailers to sell the game in Australia. In an unsurprising move, the Australian Office of Film & Literature Classification have, hands bound once again by Australia's refusal to allow games to be rated R18+, deemed elements of Bethesda's upcoming RPG a little bit much. There's no word yet on just what the board found unsuitable, but seeing as the game involves drug use (Blitz) and extreme gore (Soldier of Fortune) - two things games have previously been refused classification for - you could probably take your pick.

It's Official: Fallout 3 Refused Classification In Australia [Kotaku AU]

Mega Man 9 Rated, Surely Coming

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:20:00 MDT

Yesterday, amongst the usual assortment of motion pictures, reality television programs and comic books the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification usually sift through and classify, one item stood out. It's this one. Says that Mega Man 9, by Capcom, has been given a G rating, and is good to go for a local release. Mega Man 9? Never heard of it. Must be real/coming, though, because last I checked the OFLC don't review and classify rumours. If it's not at E3 next month you can join me in being deeply shocked.

[via Evil Avatar]

Yes, Guitar Hero : On Tour Is A DS Game

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:20:00 MST

Was there ever any doubt Guitar Hero: On Tour was a DS version of the game? There was? Shouldn't be now: Australia's Office of Film & Literature Classification have just rated the game, and in the process blown its platform cover. It clearly says Guitar Hero: On Tour on the OFLC's site, and it clearly says Nintendo DS, with the game earning itself a G rating earlier this week.
GUITAR HERO ON TOUR Game (Nintendo DS) [OFLC, via NeoGAF]

DARK SECTOR - I played Dark Sector at TGS....

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:50:00 MST

DARK SECTOR - I played Dark Sector at TGS. Thought it sucked. Anyway, word's come through that the game's been refused classification in Australia, mostly because it's a "violent and sometimes gruesome game with a sinister storyline and ominous outcome. The violence and aggression inflicted upon the protagonist is of a high level, naturalistic and not stylised at all". It's expected the game will be edited and resubmmitted for classification at a later date. While the loss of Dark Sector itself isn't going to cause too many sleepless nights, it is troubling that the OFLC have found it unacceptable, since while violent, it wasn't particularly more violent than something like, say, Gears of War.