I officially have a new problem with the OFLC in Australia. They claim that they are there to protect young children against harmful material, even though the average age here is Australia is 24 from last check of people who play games regularly. These are the same guys who say that there is no need for an R18+ classification for games.
I would like to point out one of the inconsistencies of the OFLC, and I think they really need to sit down and have a discussion about the guidelines of what gets classified here in Australia, and what doesn't. I would like to bring 3 games to the table in these discussions, which all have one thing in common. Bioshock, Fallout 3 and GTA Chinatown Wars DS please come on down!
First Bioshock. This guy was aloud in Australia with no issues at all. Apparently a guy who shoots up (ie: Sticks a needle in his arm) every 30 or so seconds is appropriate content for the OFLC to warrant an MA15+ rating, the highest possible rating in Australia for games. Ok, no problem.
Guest no 2. Fallout 3. It was well documented that Fallout 3 was refused classification here in Australia. Why? 'Realistic Drug Use'. Ok, Bethesda saw this, and saw that apparently 'morphine' was not appropriate to fit into Australia's MA15+ rating, but blowing people's heads off in slow motion was. Everyone in the world felt this effect, as morphine was removed from the game, and replaced with 'med-x'. Now, I don't recall seeing anyone 'shoot up' as you use this item. So, the verdict is that you can shoot up and inject yourself as much as you want, but you can't use a drug that is used in many medical procedures.
Guest no 3. GTA Chinatown Wars. Hell, why not GTA4 why we are at it?! I don't know if the OFLC even saw this, but in Chinatown wars has a drug dealing minigame in it. Even though I personally haven't gotten up to that part (and please comment if you have), it quite clearly shows in the manual that you can deal in Ecstasy, Coke, Weed, Downers (depressants), and 2 others I can't remember as I can't find the book at the moment. It SHOWS REAL WORLD DRUGS in the game. God, even in GTA 4, you did drug runs for the Little Jacob character that was constantly high on weed, and within 30 min of playing the game, you see an NPC snort coke!
I would personally love for someone from the OFLC see this post (and please if you know someone there, please direct them here) just to explain what exactly constitutes a game getting refused classification here in Australia. You refuse Fallout 3 because of realistic drug use, but allow others in for what it seems to be the same thing! Now, I'm not complaining because these games made it in. No, I'm complaining and trying to prove a point that our OFLC is NOT working the way it say it is, and I believe that it needs a good over hall and kick up the ass, starting with that idiot Atkinson.
Let me throw something at you. I've been in game stores when a parent goes to the counter and wants to purchase an MA15+ game for their kids (lets use GTA as a prime example). I hate to burst your bubble, but MA15+ is NOT a deterrent for parents! The retailers try to do the right thing by telling them about it, and that it's not appropriate for them to buy it. I remember one guy told a parent that "It's the worst possible game for your child to play. It has drug use, murder, swearing, criminal activities..." the parent?s response was "Oh; I'll just get him to turn the sound down so he can't hear the swearing". Sorry Atkinson, the current mould DOES NOT WORK! Most retailers (mainly the specialist ones, because the majors are TERRIBLE for enforcing the ratings system) will do the right thing, and tell parents that the game is not suitable, but many of them don't see it as an issue!
Let's look at it from the other point of view. I would love for the OFLC to randomly go to game stores, and then ask parents what they bought for their kids. If it was any MA15+ game, don't ask them why they bought it for them, but ask them if they would let their kids see an R18+ movie. If the answer is no, then you know that the R18+ rating has a STRONG impact on adults decisions on what media they will allow their children to watch. Introducing this rating, you can pretty much take games that have these 'realistic drug references' in it, and just put them straight into the R18+ category, ensuring that they wouldn't ever get into the hands of minors.
Just try it; I think you will be suppressed.
EDIT: Forgot to spell check
I would like to point out one of the inconsistencies of the OFLC, and I think they really need to sit down and have a discussion about the guidelines of what gets classified here in Australia, and what doesn't. I would like to bring 3 games to the table in these discussions, which all have one thing in common. Bioshock, Fallout 3 and GTA Chinatown Wars DS please come on down!
First Bioshock. This guy was aloud in Australia with no issues at all. Apparently a guy who shoots up (ie: Sticks a needle in his arm) every 30 or so seconds is appropriate content for the OFLC to warrant an MA15+ rating, the highest possible rating in Australia for games. Ok, no problem.
Guest no 2. Fallout 3. It was well documented that Fallout 3 was refused classification here in Australia. Why? 'Realistic Drug Use'. Ok, Bethesda saw this, and saw that apparently 'morphine' was not appropriate to fit into Australia's MA15+ rating, but blowing people's heads off in slow motion was. Everyone in the world felt this effect, as morphine was removed from the game, and replaced with 'med-x'. Now, I don't recall seeing anyone 'shoot up' as you use this item. So, the verdict is that you can shoot up and inject yourself as much as you want, but you can't use a drug that is used in many medical procedures.
Guest no 3. GTA Chinatown Wars. Hell, why not GTA4 why we are at it?! I don't know if the OFLC even saw this, but in Chinatown wars has a drug dealing minigame in it. Even though I personally haven't gotten up to that part (and please comment if you have), it quite clearly shows in the manual that you can deal in Ecstasy, Coke, Weed, Downers (depressants), and 2 others I can't remember as I can't find the book at the moment. It SHOWS REAL WORLD DRUGS in the game. God, even in GTA 4, you did drug runs for the Little Jacob character that was constantly high on weed, and within 30 min of playing the game, you see an NPC snort coke!
I would personally love for someone from the OFLC see this post (and please if you know someone there, please direct them here) just to explain what exactly constitutes a game getting refused classification here in Australia. You refuse Fallout 3 because of realistic drug use, but allow others in for what it seems to be the same thing! Now, I'm not complaining because these games made it in. No, I'm complaining and trying to prove a point that our OFLC is NOT working the way it say it is, and I believe that it needs a good over hall and kick up the ass, starting with that idiot Atkinson.
Let me throw something at you. I've been in game stores when a parent goes to the counter and wants to purchase an MA15+ game for their kids (lets use GTA as a prime example). I hate to burst your bubble, but MA15+ is NOT a deterrent for parents! The retailers try to do the right thing by telling them about it, and that it's not appropriate for them to buy it. I remember one guy told a parent that "It's the worst possible game for your child to play. It has drug use, murder, swearing, criminal activities..." the parent?s response was "Oh; I'll just get him to turn the sound down so he can't hear the swearing". Sorry Atkinson, the current mould DOES NOT WORK! Most retailers (mainly the specialist ones, because the majors are TERRIBLE for enforcing the ratings system) will do the right thing, and tell parents that the game is not suitable, but many of them don't see it as an issue!
Let's look at it from the other point of view. I would love for the OFLC to randomly go to game stores, and then ask parents what they bought for their kids. If it was any MA15+ game, don't ask them why they bought it for them, but ask them if they would let their kids see an R18+ movie. If the answer is no, then you know that the R18+ rating has a STRONG impact on adults decisions on what media they will allow their children to watch. Introducing this rating, you can pretty much take games that have these 'realistic drug references' in it, and just put them straight into the R18+ category, ensuring that they wouldn't ever get into the hands of minors.
Just try it; I think you will be suppressed.
EDIT: Forgot to spell check
