Australia Isn’t About To Let Its New 18+ Rating Keep It From Banning Games

So, for years Australia didn’t have it’s own “M” rating for video games. The country’s highest rating was MA15+ (essentially a “T” rating). What this meant was that a lot games that received the equivalent of an M most other places, were heavily edited or refused classification (effectively banned) in Australia.

But Australian gamers fought long and hard to bring the issue to the attention of lawmakers and finally this year a new rating category, R18+, was introduced. Finally, the end of censorship and game banning! Right?

Ha ha, no such luck mate. Even with the new rating it seems as if the Australian classification board is up to their old tricks

In the last couple days Australia has refused to rate two games — Saints Row 4 and State of Decay. So what about these two games are too much for even adults to handle according to the Aussies?

Well, apparently Saint’s Row 4 was denied classification because you can “smoke alien narcotics” and because players can wield an “alien anal probe” weapon. Here’s an erotically charged description of said weapon courtesy of the Australian classification board…

“The lower half of the weapon resembles a sword hilt and the upper part contains prong-like appendages which circle around what appears to be a large dildo which runs down the centre of the weapon. […] After the probe has been implicitly inserted into the victim’s anus the area around their buttocks becomes pixelated highlighting that the aim of the weapon is to penetrate the victim’s anus.”

Mmmm, I like it when you talk dirty Australian classification board.

The banning of State of Decay on the other hand had nothing to do with anuses (sadly). Apparently the game has you using painkillers and some illegal drugs to restore your health. That’s it.

So yeah, seems like Australian gamers were fighting for the wrong thing all along. The lack of an 18+ rating wasn’t the issue — the issue is that the Australian classification board is clearly entirely made up of uptight assholes who think video games are out to destroy society. Good luck fixing that guys!

via Kotaku here & here

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