Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

WB To Appeal Australia's Effective Ban on Mortal Kombat

Posted by timothy on from the wonder-how-they-like-the-name-gamepron dept.

dotarray writes "Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have confirmed that they are appealing the Australian Classification Board's decision to effectively ban the reboot of Mortal Kombat in that country. The publisher has also confirmed that there is no intention to censor or modify the game – because then it 'wouldn't be Mortal Kombat.'"

9 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. They've got a point by Shadow+of+Eternity · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Mortal Kombat without the (often hilariously) excessive violence is more or less like going to a strip club to look at shoes.

    --
    A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
  2. More publishers need to follow this example by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's good to see a publisher appealing this totally stupid decision instead of folding and releasing another watered down "Australian" version. If enough publishers do this it will continue to let lawmakers know that Australians are not little kids who cannot handle mature video game content that the rest of the world can.

    1. Re:More publishers need to follow this example by Aeternitas827 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's not a poor decision that adults shouldn't be able to hop on down to their local game outlet and pick up a title they want, because the kiddies' heads might be addled by it?

      It's not red tape, it's idiocy. Yes, the guidelines are set and codified, and they're ridiculous. Saying something isn't appropriate for a 15 year old (a generalization so ungodly vague, I can't even begin to analogize it) isn't suitable for sale to ANYONE in the country is preposterous; only someone saying that it's completely off-base (for one reason or another) is going to have a chance to bring attention to, and possibly change, the status quo.

      End of the day, here's a brilliant idea: how about, worldwide, parents be parents. Take an interest in your child(ren)'s idle time, monitor what they do, what they buy, how they act, and how they communicate with the world outside of your home. And, holy hell, if you see or find something you find unsettling, talk to them about it, and if you're not successful in doing that, get outside help. Will there be some children that still fly off the handle? Unfortunately, yes, there will be--there's no sure-fire way to prevent someone who is truly ill from slipping through, and in some cases, those who are ill will take inspiration from creative works. But, remember, correlation does not equal causation, and if a parent pays goddam attention, some of the bull being blamed on games probably becomes avoidable.

      --
      I don't post AC. I like my -1, Flamebaits. Trump/Sheen 2012 on the Batshit Insane ticket!
    2. Re:More publishers need to follow this example by wildstoo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's more likely that they realise that a lot of parents are fucking morons who don't give two shits about what they're buying for their children and the lawmakers are actually worried that little kids are a hot-button issue that could mean the difference between re-election and having to get a real job.

      FTFY.

    3. Re:More publishers need to follow this example by DrScotsman · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think you completely missed the point of the grandparent. He's saying that thanks to there not being an 18+ rating ("bureaucratic red tape"), banning the game was not a "poor decision", as the only other decision that could be made at the time is to make it 15+, which shouldn't be acceptable (something you don't seem to contest)

      He never said that the lack of 18+ rating wasn't a poor decision - it's simply not the decision he's referring to (Unless when reviewing a game the ratings board have the power to instantly introduce the 18+ rating so they can rate that game as such, but I think it's safe to say that's impossible). I imagine he probably agrees with most of what you just lectured him on. Not sure how you got +3 insightful for poor reading.

    4. Re:More publishers need to follow this example by lxs · · Score: 3, Funny

      I find your automatic linking of sex and violence more than a little disturbing... ...and kinda hot.

  3. I'm an Aussie, I just don't buy games in Aus by AbRASiON · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I own a PS3 (and a PC) - I just import my games, they are cheaper, region free on the PS3- and normally 50% cheaper (sometimes less, often MORE than 50% cheaper)

    Even if I haven't heard news that the game is going to be cut for Australian audiences anymore, I can't bare to risk the stupidity. Example GTA4, no one (in the public) really seemed to know about the US version having slightly different sex than the Aussie version until a few weeks after release. Fuck that stupidity, I'll just pay less - have the patience to wait a week or two and enjoy my games as they were designed.

  4. Re:Not released in australia.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    No, they cannot. As a German I can tell you that stores like Direct2Drive, Gamersgate, Impulse, Steam, etc. ALL enforce region restrictions. Games that are censored/banned here generally aren't being sold to Germans, even if the seller is a US (or some other country) company. It's fairly common to see restrictions like "this game is not available in your country" or even "this game is available worldwide except Korea, Germany and Australia".

  5. Re:ABACABB? by Cimexus · · Score: 3, Informative

    This (importing it from retailers overseas) is exactly what every Aussie already does with every other RC game. It's a big reason why the lack of an R18 rating is so utterly stupid and pointless. Hell, I buy most of my games from overseas anyway because they are cheaper than buying them locally, even including shipping.

    And amusingly enough, your other suggestion has happened in the past! The original Duke Nukem 3D was initially refused classification in Australia. They then released a modified version for Australia, without the blood and girls, which got through fine. They then published a small and easy to apply patch on the web that put the removed content back in, which 99.9% of people downloaded. All perfectly legal! (RC stuff itself isn't illegal to own in most Australian States - it just can't be sold on retail shelves ... so selling a modified copy and publishing a free patch on the web is fine) /facepalm

    Lack of R18 rating has the following effects:

    - Doesn't stop anyone playing the game, since they just import it anyway;

    - Means local retailers miss out on revenue, with the gamers' dollars going to overseas retailers instead;

    - Often sees games that are rated R in every other country getting squeezed in under the MA15 rating, meaning that 15-17 year olds are being exposed to R content anyway (negating the effect of the law in the first place!);

    - Irritates the classification board no end: they know perfectly well how retarded the system is and themselves are big proponents of introducing an R rating for games ... but in the meantime they can only work with the ratings that exist; and

    - Is generally just a stupid, needlessly inconsistent law (considering that movies, books and other media can be given R18 or X18 ratings ... games are the only things treated differently)

    BTW, for console games (which the new MK is) you generally have to import from an NZ or European retailer due to the region coding on the discs and the PAL/NTSC issue. For PC games, US retailers are usually the way to go (cheapest).