Another one has been forced to bite the proverbial dust as the OFLC has refused Bethesda's hotly anticipated post-apocalyptic action/RPG, Fallout 3, classification here in Australia.

Earlier this week we pointed out D3P's Dark Sector had finally been allowed a rating after having questionable sections of the game (by the OFLC's standard) removed. And unfortunately today we're here to tell you Fallout 3 may have its artistic vision and integrity torn asunder to sate the powers that be at the OFLC. This is just another blow to the Australian games industry where we're being forced to play unintended versions of many a great game here in Australia because of a lack of proper parental control and that ever elusive R18+ rating.

We've contacted Fallout 3's Aussie publisher, Red-Ant, to see what they have to say so stay tuned.

As pointed out in the existing thread, it's not the OFLC's fault, it's just that they can't give it a rating that the government doesn't allow.

ah, but they could help lobby and push for said reform, right

Bit of a shame really.

Did they give any reasons why the OFLC wouldn't give it classification? (ie: due to nudity, violence, etc?)

Also, avatar is still broken Steve.

Excuse me if this has been suggested B4 and if it is already in play and if it is can you post the link

As Gamers on a gaming forum/website maybe we should take the power into our own hands and start a petition and have it submitted to the government so that we can get a R18+ rating for games .... Would Ausgamers consider hosting this?

As Beanith stated in another thread "No webform to make things easier but here are the details for bitching at the AG - http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/About_the_DepartmentMaking_a_complaint "

I already sent a email complaining about the OFLC and how its ruining our economy, thus they need to include a R18+ otherwise people will just download it or buy it overseas, really they are only hurting the local game sellers and the companies involved in promoting/developing the game.

the funniest thing is that there is more violence and nudity on TV and news and they worried about some animated game... pffft

Attempting avatar fix #1

@sip@dor

Thanks m8 ... I'll be doing the same myself

oooh, an online petition!

that would rattle some cages

Did they give any reasons why the OFLC wouldn't give it classification? (ie: due to nudity, violence, etc?)

From Kotaku

The game contains the option to take a variety of "chems" using a device which is connected to the character's arm. Upon selection of the device a menu selection screen is displayed. Upon this screen is a list of "chems" that the player can take, by means of selection. These "chems" have positive effects and some negitave effects (lowering of intelligence, or the character may become addicted to the "chem"). The positive effects include increase in strength, stamina, resistance to damage, agility and hit points.

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.

The report then states that "material promoting or encouraging proscribed drug use" is grounds enough to refuse classification. Furthermore, the use of morphine is highlighted, as well as its in-game effect: allowing the player to ignore damage.

The only way a 18+ rating would be introduced if the big gaming companies got together and started breathing down the governments neck, or something to that extent.

Jesus christ, next thing you know they will ban WoW because chugging mana pots is like hitting up the yardie at a 21st party.

^^ No, because they don't classify MMOs.

Fallout 2 had Psycho, a drug that was taken to boost speed and ignore damage and whatnot and was highly addictive, really expensive and had withdrawal symptoms. The item icon clearly was a syringe device and their was no mistaking that it was used by injecting.

It wasn't refused classification.

we had a chance to get an R category for games and instead the tards voted in a government who has a religiously conservative leader that is so far out of touch with real australia that he finds many things australians enjoy abhorrent, including art and our habbit of having a few too many drinks and occassionally ending up at a strip club.

an online petition will do nothing. The previous government's review of our rating system acknowledged the overwhelming support for R18+ category in the large petition they were sent and it did squat.

doesn't that mean BioShock should have been in trouble for the same reason? alcohol and performance enhancing drugs injected via a syringe...

Steve, you're not supposed to be applying logic to government decisions.

finds many things australians enjoy abhorrent, including art

If you are referring to what I think you are... children naked isn't art. If you enjoy this you are a paedo.

Anyway as I said in the other thread... Get it on the interweb from overseas.

ctd is the ultimate authority on what is art and what isn't.

ctds post would look rather suspicous outside of this thread.

Play-Asia has the PC version listed at $60 and the PS3 at $65. Add on $5 postage ($20 if you want that sucker asap) and you still s*** over any offer that EB will make.

Or you can shell out full price for a censored version :)

The pirating issue should be more rampart too given its on the PC as well as the consoles.

Yeah, I think I'll be importing the ps3 version from play asia now.

I wonder how many people will get it imported or pirate it, instead of paying full price for a non fallout version? No $'s for EB will make EB cry.

Ugh, why does the PS3 version cost more than the 360 version? Aren't they exactly the same?

such a shame, i was going to give up crack to play fallout 3.

oh well, pass me that pipe please.

here you go
/hands over pipe

heeere torrent torrent torrent

Ugh, why does the PS3 version cost more than the 360 version? Aren't they exactly the same?

They aren't the same, different licensing, different medium, different sized market. Most of the time you pay what a retailer thinks they can get away with charging you and considering the price difference between a PS3 and a 360 you are probably lucky there is only a $5 difference between US versions.

If you are going to get it via torrent because of no R rating I question if you would have purchased it if wasn't refused classification or just torrented it anyway.

Importing it would do more to bring in an R rating via Australian game distributors realizing they are losing tasty Australian shores highly marked up $'s and helping put pressure on the Government.

I would think publishers and distributors would write off torrented copies as write offs regardless of other factors.

Most aus consumers are retards, and if your still buying games locally you are part of the problem (unless its heavily discounted when you do). Fallout could just be resubmitted minus half the game edited out and the vast majority of aus games buyers (ie console players) would be totally oblivious... ie just look at all the bogans in aus buying inferior pal ps3's at twice the price of usa/jap prices.

Interesting, Torrenting may end up being the only way to get Fallout 3 afterall. IGN.au's bought up a valid point from the OFLC's guidelines in relation to importation of things:

The Classification Board may advise that importation or exportation of items should not be allowed if they:
# in relation to a computer game – are unsuitable for a person under 18 to see or play; or
# promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence; or
# promote or incite the misuse of a drug specified in Schedule 4.

The rest of the article is here, but beyond the above it's just a re-hash of everything else we've seen on this topic already.

this doesnt suprise me really.

faultout 2 had to be altered, they made it so children wernt clickable thus not being able to blow them to pieces.

now that the franchise has moved to a console market and will be nodoubtedly be getting more press coverage the drug and sexual content alone would get it refused classification (thats if bethesda actually kept to there word and kept the adult themes as close to the originals as possible)

my plan is to buy the collectors edition overseas if possible - pip boy bobble head ftw.

Play Asia here I come ... money in hand to get my copy

They aren't the same, different licensing, different medium, different sized market.

Bulls***, they're the f***ing same as far as what you're getting is concerned, and the general consumer isn't going to know about or give a s*** how the licensing or market size differs. They're going to look at the games in stores and say "Well, all of the games are $5-$10 more on PS3, so why would I get that instead of a 360?" If Sony/the publishers aren't smart enough to figure that one out, then they've got little hope.

Then those people will go, o the PS3 comes with a built in Blu-Ray player.

Isn't that what they already do? I've never seen "jet" or "mentat" available on the drugs market..

Having waited the 3rd iteration since 1998, I'm especially pissed off. It's very lucky I didn't pre-order it this year like I had wanted too.

And you're right, this will directly lead to moding the X360, which will increase the chances of pirating fallout.

The following are petitions
1. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/game-ratings-aus/index.html
2. http://www.petitiononline.com/flt3aus/petition.html

"Well, all of the games are $5-$10 more on PS3, so why would I get that instead of a 360?"

The massive price difference in the consoles themselves might just be a bigger factor.

It would certainly suck if you intend to play the game on a 360 if Fallout 3 is region locked.
For PC users though, importing is the way to go.

I asked EB if you pre-order the game and it was refused classification would you be able to get your money back, they said Yes you would.

Is it technically illegal to import a game that is refused classification in Australia?

Unless you're getting free swag, why bother preordering anyway? The game is not going to sell out.

http://www.kotaku.com.au/games/2008/08/fallout_3_cleared_for_australian_release-2.html

Yay, now we can buy fallout 3 in Australia... or better yet, buy it from Play-Asia and save $50 and get the un-censored version to boot (they even have the collectors edition so you can still have your bobble head fallout boy).

Ok so what this means is all Australians who want the game are going to pirate it so they arnt left with a limping copy of a wonderful game.