20°

Fallout 3, the OLFC, TV Opinion Panel - Not a happy day for Australians "Even the Queen has a Wii"

XboxOZ360 writes an extensive article about the ludicrous state of gaming censorship in Australia. Starting with the recent drama around Fallout 3 and a government funded TV show where one elected official compared games to "snuff films" and "rape" simulators, it then proceeds to look at the issue in depth and the contradictions that flourish when comparing Australia's system to that of the United States and Europe.

"When shown the game in its Australian sleeve and asked if they would buy it for their child, most said yeah, probably, it's only MA15+ after all, it's really for kids anyway. Might be a bit violent, but if it was bad, they would ban it.

Then when shown the same game sleeve from the UK, most denied it was the same until shown the disc with the same content on it, same packaging, same instruction booklet etc, except with a clear, big red 18+ marked on the cover, spine, and on the game disc..."

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Mc Fadge5741d ago

Does anybody know when our silly country is having the formal debate of the issue? Or was it a consensus? Whatever it was, date? Month? Year? :<

XboxOZ3605741d ago

Actually that's something I'd love to know as well.

We'll be tracking down as much information as possible. Earlier on in the year I did an interview with the new CEO of the Australian IEAA - The Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia and he's 100% behind a change that's for sure. the interview was great, and shown a lot of information on what is happening. But like all things political, they move very slowly when they don't have the push from the public to do so.

'Unfortunately, gamers are a lazy lot really. They always cry they want change, but when it comes time to actually 'doing' something, they put it off, or hope that someone else will do it for them.

If you DO want to help, then email our site, see what you can do to raise the awareness, work with other. Get others enrolled in the idea of changing it and most importantly, EDUCATING the mums and dads out here (AUST) that they buy their kids games RIGHT now that are adult rated in overseas countries, they simply don't knowit.

If they gave the OLFC the powerr to label all games in the correct manner. We wouldn't be flooded with porn or violent games, it means the games that currently come in would be "appropriately labeled" and those that did go higher in the ratings system, would have a classification they would fall into, just like movies do.

Movies like have a R18+ - and it' not full of sex, rape, violence (to what the right-wing would think) nor is it aimed at corrupting the minds of the young. It's an adult movie with deep themes around Satan, nothing more, yet it sports an R18+ rating. Which its should.

So should many games.

Superfragilistic5740d ago

We've got to wait for Victoria who are in charge of the study and thankfully pro gaming (lots of developers in Melbourne) to come back with their findings later this year.

gaminoz5740d ago

I just hope Aussie gamers stop focusing on "our rights as adults" which will get us nowhere with the ignorant law-makers....we've got to show how useless the current rating system is in doing what it's for.

We need a more coherent argument than: "I should be allowed to do what I want!!"

I loved how the article contrasted how games are rated in different countries to ours....exactly what the focus should be on.

XboxOZ3605740d ago

Actually, after speaking earlier on with Ron Curry, he has stated that all states can use the R18+ if they so choose, much like Qld currently do with some of their ratings, not allowing some in their state that are readily available in others.

He said that IF the industry wanted to, they could run their games in the R18+ classification in all states bar South Australia, but they would have to weigh up the financial risk against sales in that region. If it was marginal, then some would take the risk, based on more sales for a game that was well sought after being readily available in all other states.

He said that is one option that the OFLC has, and is already applying to Qld in some cases. So a precedent has already been set in that regard.

leeeeed5740d ago

If it's not fuel, health, transport or grocery related, then the Government really doesn't give a crap...

Immortal Kaim5740d ago

Interesting panel debate..... I was unaware that we didn't have any rating system for games /end sarcasm/

When some of the people representing us in politics don't even know the basics of our archaic
classification system I doesn't give me much hope.

Hunter865740d ago

Pretty poor showing for our government really. What the heck was Barnaby Joyce going on about with a game where you can rape people? Sounded like he was talking out of his ass.

Show all comments (9)
130°

Looking Back At 2008, An Unbelievably Incredible Year Of Video Game Releases

Huzaifa from eXputer: "2008 was home to the likes of Call of Duty: World at War, Dead Space, GTA 4, Far Cry 2, Left 4 Dead, and many other hits, which is outright remarkable."

ChasterMies13h ago

Some of these low paid video game “news” writers weren’t born before 2007.

just_looken8h ago

Here here

Those that were around before 2000's i am sure are like me that think we entered a world of non readers or those that follow without question.

I can not wait to see fallout 3 a goty game even though it was about water with non content until you add the dlc/updates then you got the performance/crashing

CrimsonWing691d ago

I don’t think anything can compare to 2023

lucasnooker1d ago

1998 - the best year in gaming! Metal gear solid, crash bandicoot 3, medievil, half life, ocarina of time, thief, tenchu, resident evil 2, Spyro, tomb raider 3, oddworld abes exodus, banjo kazooie.

It was a different breed of a gaming era. You’ll never understand what it was like back then. The aura of gaming, it was different!

KyRo23h ago(Edited 23h ago)

I second this. Gaming was a lot more varied and fun than it is today. I'm 35 so getting on compared to some here but I got to see all the changes from NES up to now but I've never felt so disappointed in any generation than I have this current gen. I was expecting more from this generation rather than prettier versions of games that came before it. Game mechanics have become so refined that alot of games feel the same and has done for a while now.

Maybe it's time to have a break for a while. I love gaming but I don't feel I get much fun in the traditional sense out of it anymore.

CrimsonWing6923h ago(Edited 23h ago)

Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Abe’s Exodus, and Ocarina of Time are the only things from that list that I liked.

Here’s the 2023 game releases that I personally liked… and big releases that I didn’t care for:

- Dead Space Remake
- Wo Long Dynatsy
- Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Diablo 4
- Fire Emblem Engage
- Hogwarts Legcay
- Street Fighter 6
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Like a Dragon: Ishin
- Octopath Traveler 2
- Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters
- Final Fanatsy XVI (actually ended up not liking this, but it was still a big deal release)
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
- Lies of P
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Starfield (Ended up hating this one, but big release)
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (I’m an old-school Zelda fan, but didn’t really enjoy this game)
- Alan Wake 2

I mean, honestly I’ve never seen a year of major IP releases like that, ever.

Profchaos20h ago(Edited 20h ago)

Isn't it just a generational thing realistically.

I've been gaming since way back and I some of my favourite games go as far back as the late 80s for me each generation has a year or two of game changing releases one after another before an inevitable dry spell.

I kind of agree gaming had a different feel games hit different because we didn't have the internet nothing got spoiled and you really had to put in the effort to beat a puzzle which could set entire groups of people looking for a solution. But most importantly games were experimental and not as cookie cutter as today even basics like controls were not universal today r2 is shoot l2 is ads garunteed you can't deviate from that in a shooter back then it could of been square, R1 or R1 and circle nothing was standard.

But as time moves on a new generation picks up their controller they are going to be interested in different things that PS1 demo disc with the t Rex blew our primitive 16 bit brains back on launch but to kids today it's laughable.
The new gen of kids coming into to hobby seem to value different things to us there seems to be a huge focus on online play, streamers, gaming personalities, and social experiences, convience of digital downloads. To me I value none of that but that's ok like my parents not liking the band's I would listen to its just the natural cycle.

Gameseeker_Frampt11h ago

Just about every year in the 7th generation was great and something we most likely won't experience again.

2009 for example had Assassin's Creed 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Dragon Age: Origins, Uncharted 2, Halo 3: ODST, Killzone 2, Borderlands, Bayonetta, and Demon's Souls to name a few.

just_looken8h ago

It still amazes me we got over 7 rockstar games ps2/ps3 but 3 for the ps3/ps4/ps5

Dragon age 1-3 and mass effect 1-3 in 7ish years what a generation.

80°

Now is the Best Time to Get This Incredible RPG Bundle on Steam

If you are looking for an awesome RPG, look no further. Steam is offering a significant discount on its Fallout Franchise Bundle.

SimpleSlave1d 15h ago

"You can get all Fallout games in a bundle at a significant 20% discount on Steam. Individually, all these games add up to $244.91. With the discount, you can get them all for $195.91. That is $49 less than the original price. Quite a significant discount for such a popular franchise."

😊 😂 🤣 😐 - But why?

Just wait for a sale and get most if not all of it for a fraction of that price.

20% off...lol

Tacoboto1d 14h ago

The games were just on a real sale over the last week or two for the show promotion. Fallout 4 was $10, 3 was $5, NV was cheap as heck too.

So what the heck is this

Inverno1d 14h ago

The original games have been given out for free by Amazon for GOG and Epic, 76 is free now on Amazon if you have prime, Epic has also given out new Vegas for free and 4 has gone down to pretty cheap prices. 194 bucks is a total ripoff when you can get these games individually for less. Don't forget cd keys might sell em for a dollar less at times too. Come on man, us cheapskates won't touch anything near or above 100 lolz

isarai1d 14h ago

Bro that's a ridiculous ripoff are you kidding me? 🤣

150°

Fallout 3's Reveal Led To Death Threats And Bethesda's First Security Guard

The artist behind Fallout 4’s Deathclaw reveals just how bad things got back when Bethesda took over the series

anast2d ago

People are stupid I get it. No one should feel unsafe,

But I think they need to talk about why they cut so many corners during the development process and why none of their games ever look current. And why they think all of this is okay while they charge full price.

LucasRuinedChildhood2d ago

As much as Bethesda deserve criticism, that's not really relevant to the reveal of Fallout 3 in 2007.

VenomUK2d ago

The default angle Kotaku always go for is to highlight the worst in gaming.

I would’ve focused on the creative.

anast1d 20h ago

The game went downhill at Fallout 3's release. This is when they started to cut corners.

gold_drake2d ago

there is no "but". the hell lol
you dont send death threats, period.

anast1d 20h ago

Usually, you have good comments but this isn't one of them. It just rides the mob. We can do both condemn the actions and not let them use it for other things.

I can say I received a death threat and everyone needs to shut up. People are not honest and will use horrible things to their advantage.

Armaggedon2d ago

Not all games “look” current.

anast1d 20h ago

Their games always look like the gen before it.

Armaggedon1d 11h ago

Yeah, but thats not the result of laziness, incompetence, or a bad engine. Thats what happens with their type of open world games. Its hard for people to find a point of comparison because no one makes games like Bethesda does.

gold_drake1d 14h ago

mh ok thanks, i still think ur wrong in this mate.

anast1d 13h ago

No problem. I'm not here to convince you. I'm only stating an actuality. What your words do if we look at them like events.

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