UPDATE: The classification is in - fortunately for all of us, the OLFC have rated Half-Life 2 as "MA15+". Yay!

You won't believe this s***.

Apparently, according to Sumea, many European countries' ratings bodies have given Half-Life 2 an R(18+) rating.

Thus, if the OFLC follows suit, Half-Life 2 will not be sold on Australian shelves.

Unbelievable. I'm sitting here in the capital of the most awesome country in the world, and if I choose, I can zip down to Fyshwick, buy a big sack of X-rated porn, hire a prostitute, and happily tell an RBT unit all about it on the way home, yet someone can decide that a goddamn computer game is bad for me.

Keep your eyes on the OLFC website to see if they're going to force us to buy this game over (ptui!) Steam.

I doubt it'll be bannded if games like Soldier Of Fortune 2 wasn't. (I believe it was R18+)

last edited by Ecstasy at 01:39:02 27/Oct/04

*weren't.

Steam is awesome and HL2 over Steam is cheaper...

last edited by Bumster at 07:52:39 27/Oct/04

like Soldier Of Fortune 2 wasn't. (I believe it was R18+)

Sorry, you're wrong. Any game that is releases in Australia MUST have a rating of M15+ or less as there is no rating for computer games above that. I.e. R18+ does NOT exist for computer games. Any that are getting sold, are getting sold illegally and any that people own, may be imports.

This is one of the most rediculous situation and unfortunately this sort of thing will always happen when you have a bunch of old conservative arse holes sitting over at the OFLC determining what is and isn't suitable viewing for me.

What happenened to my right to make the choice? Next thing you know, we'll all be put in pods of pink goop, fed the liquified bodies of the dead and not even know it's happening. Wait a second, the problem here isn't that I have the choice, it's that I DON'T!!!

Yup.
Highest game classification in Austraila is MA15+

So how do they plan to stop people who have downloaded it through Steam? All that is needed now is the access codes to unlock the game. I was looking forward to buying the box version but if the only means of getting the game is through Steam, it's a good thing Steam servers are free content.

Manhunt got released here on PS2 and a demo for the PC version. It was out for ages till some killjoy decided that it should be banned. I did own manhunt for a while but I didn't get into it and traded it in.

From what I have seen of HL2, I can't see any reason for a R18 rating. Why don't they ban Halo 2 and really piss off the gaming public.

OLFC, not really independent are they!

Kaz

Sorry, you're wrong. Any game that is releases in Australia MUST have a rating of M15+ or less as there is no rating for computer games above that. I.e. R18+ does NOT exist for computer games.

What do you think I'm trying to say.

I doubt it'll be bannded if games like Soldier Of Fortune 2 wasn't. (I believe it was R18+)

SOF2 could NOT have been released in Australia if it needed a rating of R18+ because a rating of R18+ for computer games does NOT exist. Hence if the OFLC determine that HL2 is not suitable for a rating of MA15+ (i.e. it requires a higher rating) it will not be released for retail sale in Australia as there is no higher rating for games available.

You tell us what you were actually trying to say.

I think he was trying to say that if the level of violence and gore in SoF2 was acceptable then what we have seen of HL2 ought to be as well.

From what I know: PEGI gave Soldier Of Fortune 2 an R18+ rating.
But oviously it was released here in Australia with a MA15+ rating.

Was it really that hard to comprehend? Oooh wait...

Edit: Yes Adam, that was the other point I was hinting at. :)

last edited by Ecstasy at 12:17:42 27/Oct/04

Unfortunately (or fortunately) the OLFC hasn't yet worked out how to deal with services like Steam. If it does rate the game as unsuitable for an Australian classification the people most likely to be hurt are Australian businesses like retail shops and LAN Cafes.

It will also mean that ACTGN might have to think about how to enforce their policy to ensure the LANs remain free of the OLFC's wraith. Here's hoping that it doesn't come to that. (we have copies on back order already)

wow, that is going to seriousley going to bite some ass. here i was putting my hard earned bling aside, not spending it on my car or alcohol (omfg its true no grog and im even in darwin >_< ) but, if this is the case, its gonna be an import game :D

Unfortunately the OFLC usually reflects the views/standards of the Government of the Day rather than The Community...

The real problem is that computer games don't come under the same rules as the other categories.
For a film, book or game to be Refused Classification it needs to fit/fail certain criteria (Listed Here)
but the computer games category has an extra rule "(d) are unsuitable for a minor to see or play." which DOESN'T apply to the other two categories.

If a movie is inappropriate for a minor to see it doesn't automatically get refused, but a game does...


I hope it doesn't come down to it, but as for dealing with Steam - easy. If the game is refused classification they are liable for fines if they sell to people in Australia. ("In NSW, individuals could face fines of $11,000 or 12 months jail, while in Victoria fines are as high as $24,000 or 24 months imprisonment.") Large corporations are usually sensitive to this sort of thing from a publicity point of view and will implement some form of location testing.

Try visiting the Guinness site and telling them you come from Iraq... http://www.guinness.com/ this is an honesty based system just to let you VIEW the site... it wouldn't take much to make it an enforced system for anything involving sales and payments...

heh. it'll get through fine when they see an employee trying to rate a game with a headcrab gnawing away at him ^^

I even have a voucher all ready too :(..

lol, thats very politically sensitive; www.guiness.com that is

yeah, well, i say we become some random distributor.... and sell it under the counter.

You know... what are they going to do?

fine us, but i mean with all the money we've made from selling it... its like giving a dollar to a bum in civic (whilst holding 100 bucks in the other hand for him to see)

The fine is PER OFFENCE.

For each copy you sell... you lose between $10,900 and $23,900. Repeat offenders face time in prison... at least it will be a nice new ACT prison...

(Any other economic geniuses in the forum... )

i dont think anyone from labor is here is there? :P lol

*shrug* i really dont care if HL2 doesn't get here because... im not keen on HL2 at all.


SO HAHHAHAHAH TO ALL OF YOU! ;)

It's unfortunate that the latest Leasure Suite Larry game won't be available here, because it's an R18+ game apparently :( I wonder how the next GTA (San Andraus) will fare.

The rating system for games is bloody stupid. They still have the mentallity that "kid's are the only ones that play computer games". Is it a reflection on society, where parents may have the same mentallity towards games "Games are only for kids". The simple solution would be to have the R18+ rating, but as we all know, when it comes to beaucracy (spelling?), simple doesn't seem to be an option.

Edit: doh, wrong city.

last edited by KrasH at 22:37:56 28/Oct/04

It's San Andreas...San Antonio is a city in Texas :P

GTA: San Andreas has been released today for PS2 and it's BLOODY AWESOME!!!

I'll be getting it as soon as it comes to PC for sure...

It's the first GTA where you swim in the water rather than die.

itll be a 6-8 month wait just like for the other two GTA games.

Best I buy one of the new HDD included PS2s that also came out today then...

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that Australian ratings were never considered for banning because of sexual content because we don't have a rating to cover it.

Thus all the extreme violence getting through but silly sex based games getting the shaft..

R18+ is a rating not just for sexual/adult themes but also for very high levels of graphical violence.

So to answer your question, if the OFLC deem the violence content of ANY game to require that of a rating more than M15+ it will not be allowed for distribution as a higher rating for computer games does NOT exist.

Is there someone contesting this law?

Surely we should do something about it. Start a petition, write an MP or something?

I know that in America there have been two major (and several minor) court decisions which ruled that video games are protected first-amendment speech, and cannot be censored by the government (although access to minors is allowed to be restricted).

Diablo: check here http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/forums.asp?s=1&c=1&t=47468

Imp: For f***s sake get it right its been said already the highest rating for games is MA15+.

that's what he said, more-ron

Gee, I posted a link to the official rating criteria, from the OFLC, and people are still having trouble...


Computer games that:
(a) depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified; or
(b) depict in a way that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult, a person who is, or who looks like, a child under 16 (whether the person is engaged in sexual activity or not); or
(c) promote, incite or instruct in matters of crime or violence; or
(d) are unsuitable for a minor to see or play.

Will be Refused Classification

If it is Refused Classification - it is an offence to sell it in Australia.

The real nasty here is the "unsuitable for a minor to see or play" which doesn't apply to movies or publications. (The other reasons for refusal are the same as those for Movies and Publications.)

The stated principles of the National Classification Code are -

Classification decisions are to give effect, as far as possible, to the following principles:
(a) adults should be able to read, hear and see what they want;
(b) minors should be protected from material likely to harm or disturb them;
(c) everyone should be protected from exposure to unsolicited material that they find offensive;
(d) the need to take account of community concerns about:
(i) depictions that condone or incite violence, particularly sexual violence; and
(ii) the portrayal of a person in a demeaning manner.

The fact that we expressly can't play games that are not suitable for minors, goes against the grain of the first principle.


For those over 18 (this only affects those over 18 right?) a letter to your local member may be useful. Form letters are recognised as such and lumped in with every other letter the same. A personalised letter is much more likely to get some attention. Some good hints and tips on this page. http://www.pdcnsw.org.au/publish/02/loot.skeleton.html
Some "factoids" for your letter here http://www.ieaa.com.au/downloads/MediaRelease-RClassificationofVideoGames.pdf

EDIT: HTML breaks... again


last edited by chainsaw at 09:15:14 29/Oct/04

I can see a few problems arising should a R18+ classification come into effect. Can you imagine a lan cafe where you have to bring ID in just to play most of the games.

Anyone remember the 'House Of The Dead' arcade game? ...It had a curtain around it so hopefully the people underage wouldn't see the gore and violence of it. :/

You really can't be too worried though, I mean they let doom3 in and I can't see HL2 being any more disturbing to minors than that.

I made an in depth repsonse to this in a rant. But ill just say here, Half Life 2 is not banned, we have no information that it will be banned. The thing that pisses me off is that it could be banned!

Ecstasy - it's just as likely that the curtain was there so that people wouldn't see underage kids playing...

I'm not worried at all.
I've just spent the last 2 days playing GTA San Andreas and the number of times I heard the words "motherf***er" and "n***er" is incalculable. I also drove around in a harvester for about half an hour grinding up pedestrians (their gibs fly out the back too).

If they released this I can't imagine why Half Life 2 would be restricted. Besides, I thought I saw an MA15+ rating on the Half-Life 2 coming soon case in EB.

BAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA.........


It been Banned.......

http://www.oflc.gov.au/content.html?n=44&p=34&record=198493







































































no i lie Its MA15+

Not funny reaper... ok a little funny.
I had already fired up note pad and was about to go fully sick on Johnny with the wordsmithing. (After GM had checked my grammar)

All in all, i just want my hl2 now!

last edited by Stryke at 08:55:11 02/Nov/04

haha, i dont see what grounds it could be banned, relative to other games out there at the moment.

And in the end i was right :P

Kewl, it got an MA15+ rating... Now I'm actually looking forward to it ;)

why the f*** do people blame john howard for this s***?

ffs, its called STUPID MOTHERf***ING PARENTS THAT DONT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSABILITY!

No matter WHO the hell is in government it will NEVER change. I mean, s***, take a look around people, notice how there are s*** all playgrounds around these days?

Thats because stupid arse f***ing parents sue the s*** out of the government when their child falls down and breaks their arm. "OH ITS THE GOVERNMENTS FAULT THAT IM A f***ING IDIOT AND DONT LOOK AFTER MY KIDS!"

Don't jump the gun fatbastard. And chill the f*** down while you are at it, take up tai chi or something.

Also, fatsoda may have been refering to Johnny Howard because he is THE man who could get the problem fixed (not that there is a problem now of course). I doubt John Howard would bother listening anyway, but you never know. He wasn't necessarily blaming him.

HL2 has been classified by the OFLC as 'MA15+ Restricted'
We will be getting it here after all :-)

yeah well, if they managed to pass GTA:SA, anything will.

Yeah Rev i was having the exact same conversation the day before with my flat mate... and i decided they should remove all laws restricting games/movies and put in a law that makes you go get a test to see if you are a "stupid motherf***er" and if you are, you cannot be a parent. :P

Fatbastard as the man said "Chill Winston"

I used Johny Howard, in the same way as people blame things on ninja's, without the expectation that anyone would take it to heart.

It was after all a satirical comment. And please keep the language in forums to one or two expletives per post, and try to keep them in context… if you can.

Seriously though ninjas watch out… they’re everywhere check this out.

You Suck at the linking