No Getting Up in Australia

[nonchalance]

Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure has been refused classification in Australia, effectively banning the game, as Australian law does not allow the sale of unrated media.

Atari will be contesting the decision, according to their press release. (http://www.ausgamers.com/?prid=2412313)

Wednesday 15th February 2006 - On February 15, the Office of Film & Literature Classification Review Board announced it had determined that Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure should be refused classification. This decision overturns the OFLC's original MA15+ rating given in November 2005.
The OFLC (Australia's review and classification board) announcement is here (http://www.oflc.gov.au/resource.html?resource=748&filename=748.pdf). (PDF)

“Both the National Classification Code and the Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games state that a computer game will be refused classification if it includes or contains detailed instruction or promotion of matters of crime,” Convenor, Maureen Shelley said. “It is the Classification Review Board’s
determination that this game promotes the crime of graffiti.”
Thanks AusGamers (http://www.ausgamers.com/).

This is what happens when your Review Board is actually run by the government instead of industry-driven. You get a nice, consistent, easy-to-understand Big Brother system.

[Evil Avatar]

Good post, nonchalance. Thanks for the information.

[Heretic Machine]

This policy earned Australia a spot on my top ten list of "Most Facist Nations in the World" long ago. Also, "Biggest Pussies"... I don't know where we get this idea that Australians are supposed to be bad-ass, they cringe in terror at the sight of a slightly contraversial video game.

[stomper1080]

This policy earned Australia a spot on my top ten list of "Most Facist Nations in the World" long ago. Also, "Biggest Pussies"... I don't know where we get this idea that Australians are supposed to be bad-ass, they cringe in terror at the sight of a slightly contraversial video game.
Or rather, the Australian politicians do

[01010]

Is it me or is censorship the most stupid fucking idea ever. A bunch of guys in suits telling me what I can and cannot see, hear or do is ridiculous.

[nonchalance]

This policy earned Australia a spot on my top ten list of "Most Facist Nations in the World" long ago. Also, "Biggest Pussies"... I don't know where we get this idea that Australians are supposed to be bad-ass, they cringe in terror at the sight of a slightly contraversial video game.

We're bad-arses, but we're also technological luddites.

That said, number of government bills introduced in Australia to ban violent video games altogether: 0
Number of government bills introduced in America to ban violent video games altogether: ?

That said, hopefully Atari wins the court case, because if this sets the precedent, the industry in Australia is in serious trouble.

P.S. Thanks, Evil.

[Heretic Machine]

That said, number of government bills introduced in Australia to ban violent video games altogether: 0
Number of government bills introduced in America to ban violent video games altogether: ?

Number of video games banned in America: 0
Number of video games banned in Australia: ? > 3

[boratika]

This country has just become such an arse of a place to live in the past ten years. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Maybe I should move to New Zealand. They have a man shortage. Then they can make fun of how I say "fish and chips".

[Mr_Snuffle]

Funnily enough I can buy both Jet Set Radio, and Jet Set Radio future.

[codswallop]

his is what happens when your Review Board is actually run by the government instead of industry-driven. You get a nice, consistent, easy-to-understand Big Brother system.
True, but you've seen what's happening in the US. If the politicians get their way, I think the system there would be much worse.

I am all for the OFLC rating games but their guidelines need to be brought into the 21st century. Games which have been banned recently include GTA (which was then modified and released), the latest Leisure Suit Larry game and now this.

I have tried contacting the OFLC on many occasions to tell them how stupid it is not to have an R (18+) rating since more than 50% of gamers are now older than 18 and never once received a response (either via email, or phone). The idea is good, the execution is flawed. Also, a large problem is that the ratings board often don't seem to understand the target markets of games.

[stomper1080]

Maybe we could make it a forum effort? Everyone sending a letter or email to the OFLC demanding games that are banned be released as R18+

[Heretic Machine]

True, but you've seen what's happening in the US. If the politicians get their way, I think the system there would be much worse.

Ya, but politicians in the US aren't getting their way. Their movement has breif uprisings now and then, and then faces a huge backslide, taking them back further than they started each time. In Australia the politicians already had their way, and now they are abusing the hell out of their system.

Hence, Australians are pussies and facists, and you can keep those titles until you do something about your politicians. I'm a warmonger, oil hog, and likely ignorant American.

[dead]

Enough Australia bashing already, sheesh.

[Gamefreaks]

This country has just become such an arse of a place to live in the past ten years. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Maybe I should move to New Zealand. They have a man shortage. Then they can make fun of how I say "fish and chips".

It's "fush and chups"

Man you guys need to get an R18 Rating already :p

[Heretic Machine]

Enough Australia bashing already, sheesh.

No, I don't think there is nearly enough Australia bashing for what goes on down there.

[SMES]

Is it me or is censorship the most stupid fucking idea ever. A bunch of guys in suits telling me what I can and cannot see, hear or do is ridiculous.

Well, I don't know about the "do," part, I'm not sure preventing you from doing things is always censorship. Like murder, for example. Not really about censorship in that case (unless you have a very interesting definition of free speech) ;)

[Savok]

I don't know where we get this idea that Australians are supposed to be bad-ass
Our SAS.

Normally the OFLC plays nice, see we have no R rating for games in Australia, which means things that should be rated R usually end up with MA15+. Things they can't over look get edited though, flaw is the system not them.

That said, this is cretinous, something has gone wrong in someone's brain, probably Ruddock's, what a waste of flesh he is.

Perigon the problem is socialism, not fascism.

New Zealand has work force shortages because everyone is abandoning ship.

And 10 years puts us back into the Keating era, go further, like pre-Whitlem.

[Savok]

The OFLC WANTS an R rating, they're sick of slipping stuff by as MA15.

You wanna bitch at someone, bitch at the government. Though be aware Ruddock may see this as rebelion and try to ban all forms of entertainment.

[nonchalance]

Our SAS.

And the AFL.

That said, as others pointed out, the only problem is the lack of an R18+ rating. I've actually talked to the Deputy Head of the OFLC about it. I'll see if I can get the interview edited up.

Evil, if you're still reading this thread, do you want an interview with the OFLC as an in-house article?

[AvA]

I'm just wondering how many of you were really aware of the Aussie situation, before coming up with Big-Brother and fascism plots...

[MrMeatshake]

yeah, the SAS are bad ass, but u don't hear enough about the SBS (http://www.specwarnet.com/europe/sbs.htm).

[Liquidize105]

So it's back to importing from New Zealand if you want to get it up down under.

[01010]

Well, I don't know about the "do," part, I'm not sure preventing you from doing things is always censorship. Like murder, for example. Not really about censorship in that case (unless you have a very interesting definition of free speech) ;)

I should have made it clearer on my part, I think that anybody should be allowed to do anything as long as it causes nobody else any harm in anyway (please note, offending someone is not the same harming them).

Maybe a little idealistic but I have faith that people are capable of being good if it benefits them.

[Heretic Machine]

I'm just wondering how many of you were really aware of the Aussie situation, before coming up with Big-Brother and fascism plots...

I'm aware of the situation. I see this whole "we don't have an R rating" thing as a conveniant excuse. You know how you fix it? You make an R rating. It's not hard unless you make it hard intentionally.

[mightbe]

Three pages and 0 erectile disfunction jokes?

EA readership, I'm ashamed.

[nonchalance]

I'm aware of the situation. I see this whole "we don't have an R rating" thing as a conveniant excuse. You know how you fix it? You make an R rating. It's not hard unless you make it hard intentionally.

I have to post this article.

[Savok]

I'm aware of the situation. I see this whole "we don't have an R rating" thing as a conveniant excuse. You know how you fix it? You make an R rating. It's not hard unless you make it hard intentionally.
The system was revamped recently, so we get to have ugly colour coding and put in line with films and so on.

We didn't get an R rating then, I distinctly remember Ruddock spewing more shit then normal about why. And this from someone who voted for Howard and would do so again (though not senate).

[Mephistopheles]

And this from someone who voted for Howard and would do so again

I would ask why but I'm afraid the answer would melt my brain, so I won't.

[Neverborne]

Well, if you ask me, this is a step in the right direction. I wish they banned dumbass game concepts in America, too.

I mean, who's going to buy this turd?

Really?

[dead]

good point, even though i can't i wouldn't anyways.

[MSUStud911]

It kills me that a country founded by criminals is so...prudish.

[Mr_Snuffle]

Well, if you ask me, this is a step in the right direction. I wish they banned dumbass game concepts in America, too.

I mean, who's going to buy this turd?

Really?

I hate that arguement, it completely misses the point.

[Savok]

I would ask why but I'm afraid the answer would melt my brain, so I won't.
Politics is grabbing the lesser of evils. A party that had Whitlem then Latham? My god Latham was/is a raving psychotic.

[Monotone]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Australia#Computer_games

That's a good primer, for people who want an overview of what the law is over here...

[Heretic Machine]

Well, if you ask me, this is a step in the right direction. I wish they banned dumbass game concepts in America, too.

I mean, who's going to buy this turd?

Really?

If we were going to ban stupid shit, we'd have to impliment a policy of muzzling all career politicians.

[stomper1080]

It kills me that a country founded by criminals is so...prudish.

America was founded by criminals as well, also from England.

[boratika]

That said, this is cretinous, something has gone wrong in someone's brain, probably Ruddock's, what a waste of flesh he is.

Quick trivia: One of my uni tutors said that although he didn't like bringing politics into classes, he'd met Ruddock a few times and he was a "Slimy, scaly, souless monster". This was when he was imigration minister.

Anyway, the system does have it's plusses. For example the hot coffee scandal.

Hot coffee discovered. Game banned, still on shelf units recalled. Hot coffee cut from game, new version on shelves in a couple of weeks. Scandal over.

Still waiting for the US to let it go though.

[boratika]

Also we can see wangs on TV but no fleshy curtains. The ratings system is (mostly functional) mess. But every time it's changed it only gets worse. Colours are okay, but "Mild themes" is completely stupid.

[PixelSamurai]

Whenever Austrailian government is brought up, I always think of that down under episode of The Simpsons, picturing a naked politician floating in an inner-tube with beer resting on his genitals.

[nonchalance]

Whenever Austrailian government is brought up, I always think of that down under episode of The Simpsons, picturing a naked politician floating in an inner-tube with beer resting on his genitals.

That's exactly what it's like.
Honestly, I was over at the PM's house the other day for a BBQ, and we were all like "hey, Johnny, put some fucking underpants on, beer is NOT underpants, mate"
And he was too drunk to give a fuck what we thought.
Fucked if I'm voting for him next year, I'm voting for that boxing kangaroo bloke instead.

[MasterKwan]

You know what happened, the government took your guns away and now aren't afraid of you any more. I have my M-4 and a brick of .223 just in case they start banning games over here (Well, it's a LEGAL semi-automatic M-4 clone but, who's counting).