Fallout 3- Banned in Australia

Australia is banning everything today it seems.

.

Fallout 3 game ban to reignite ratings debate

By Andrew Ramadge, Technology Reporter

July 10, 2008 01:45pm

DEBATE over the lack of an R18+ rating for video games is set to be reignited after another game title was denied classification in Australia.

The video game Fallout 3 was this week denied a rating by the Office of Film and Literature Classification, banning its sale and promotion in Australia.

Video games in Australia must qualify for a rating of MA15+ or less to be available locally, due to the lack of an adult R18+ classification similar to that given to films.

Fallout 3, developed by Bethesda Softworks, is set two centuries in the future and follows a survivor who ventures out of a fallout shelter into a post-apocalyptic world.

The game is the third major title in the popular Fallout series. The first two titles were jointly named one of the best five games of all time by PC Gamer magazine in 2001.

According to documents given to Australian Gamer, the classifications board denied Fallout 3 a rating due to its depiction of realistic drug use.

"In the Board's view these realistic visual representations of drugs and their delivery method bring the 'science-fiction' drugs in line with 'real-world' drugs," the board's report said.

"The player can also select and use 'Morphine' (a proscribed drug) which has the positive effect of enabling the character to ignore limb pain when the character's extremities are targeted by the enemy."

Link:

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23998431-5014117,00.html

More:
Myths: Experts debunk game violence claims

Writer: Stephen King horrified by game bans

R18+: Strange bedfellows oppose rating debate

More:

http://www.gameplayer.com.au/gp_documents/Facts-about-fallout-3.aspx?catid=Features

Related from the game website:

07.07.08 - Fallout 3 Fan Q&A #2
Head over to the forums to get the answers from Todd Howard to the second round of questions YOU wanted to know about.

07.07.08 - Most Anticipated Games of E3 Nods
Next Generation has put Fallout 3 atop their Most Anticipated Games of E3 saying, "Fallout 3 shows great evolutionary leaps every time it's displayed for public viewing." Over at IGN, Fallout 3 is the Most Anticipated Game of E3 for both PC and Xbox 360. IGN also lists Fallout 3 as one of the Most Anticipated Games of E3 on PlayStation 3. Also, at Game Trailers, a new video is up ranking Fallout 3 as the #2 Most Anticipated Game at E3 2008.

07.03.08 - Previews and Interviews from Australia
After checking out Fallout 3, PALGN has a new preview stating, "With the development team behind Fallout 3, it’s hard to envisage the game being anything other then great." On The Age's "Screen Play" blog, Jason Hill shares details about the game. Also, IGN Australia sat down with Pete Hines for a new Fallout 3 interview.

07.02.08 - More Previews

At Yahoo News, Associated Press writer Lou Kesten previews Fallout 3 after talking with Todd Howard. Elsewhere, the Houston Chronicle features Fallout 3 as one of four games to look out for this fall.

07.01.08 - New Previews and Interviews

Fallout 3 is featured on Gamespot Australia's show Crosshairs -– with new impressions on the game as well as an interview with Pete Hines. Gameplayer also shares new impressions on Fallout 3 in their new feature, "(At least) 101 facts about Fallout 3" revealing, "Fallout 3 features the best explosions ever. Period."

Link:

http://fallout.bethsoft.com/eng/home/home.php