The Aussie banhammer strikes again - Aliens vs Predator banned in Australia...

[Jason]

Yep, it's happened again. This time it's the latest in the excellent Aliens vs Predator series of games that has fallen victim to the ridiculous Australian censorship system, with SEGA confirming that the title has been refused classification in Australia.
With the game not due to ship until February 2010, there's still time for SEGA and developers Rebellion to explore their options, including an appeal. One thing is for sure - something has to be done about this, as it is starting to get ridiculous. There needs to be some kind of 18+ rating system in place so that gamers are allowed to play games aimed at an adult audience. What the current system seems to be implying is that video games are aimed entirely at the under-15 age group, and anything not suitable for that demographic should be banned with extreme prejudice.

[Landy]

What can i say.. wow.

[Rob]

If I lived in Australia I would find a way to move out of there. A government that bans video games is ridiculous imo. We should set up a list of people in the states that can help get games for these poor aussies.

[Rob]

Here is an interesting article from Kotaku which points the finger to one man who is causing the delay on changing the rating system in Aus. Having to get a unanimous vote in favor of changing the rating system sounds pretty ridiculous to me. Majority rules are a far better option from where I stand.

Kotaku - Stop Blaming the Gov/People for Banning Games (http://kotaku.com/5419298/hey-stop-blaming-the-australian-governmentpeople-for-banning-games)

[Landy]

If I lived in Australia I would find a way to move out of there. A government that bans video games is ridiculous imo. We should set up a list of people in the states that can help get games for these poor aussies.

Highly unlikely people will leave their country because they can't play the games they want. Most countries today, including my own, only sit and watch how the government runs things without having much of a say. Should start doing like they do in France when they want to get their points across.

[Rob]

I guess I didn't communicate the sarcasm in my first post :) I'm sure no one would move specifically because of the game rating system. Maybe if you add that to the fact that an overwhelming majority of the land mass in Australia is dry and unhabitable thanks to water shortages. In my make believe life in Australia I would definately move. har har har

Seriously though it is a horrible system set in place that requires the unanimous votes of 6 people who work for the government in order to overturn the rating system. 5/6 is good enough and speaks for enough people (through votes cast to put them in office) to warrant a change. That's what gets me about this situation. I'm curious to know where else in Australian politics this process takes place.

[Knighto]

Here is an interesting article from Kotaku which points the finger to one man who is causing the delay on changing the rating system in Aus. Having to get a unanimous vote in favor of changing the rating system sounds pretty ridiculous to me. Majority rules are a far better option from where I stand.

Kotaku - Stop Blaming the Gov/People for Banning Games (http://kotaku.com/5419298/hey-stop-blaming-the-australian-governmentpeople-for-banning-games)

It's said in Kotaku article that the only way to stop this is if this Atkens guy dies or lost the election. Now that'd make a great game story..

A government official is killed and the gaming industry is to blame. After years of gamers/game developers witch hunt the whole gaming scene goes underground and some gaming extremists plan a revolution in the post-apocalyptic Australia (it's an action game in the future, so it has to be post-apocalyptic.) As an avid gamer in his childhood, the protagonist (now the son of the head of GBI -Game Banning Initiative) is torn between siding with his family (a family which lost its elder son in the Atkens Riots event) or continuing his brother's dream of world where you can play video games from the safety of your house instead of the dangerous underground, mob-controlled gaming centers scattered around in the Australian wilderness.

Well MGs, you get the idea. What do you think? How the game should be played? What's our hero will be like? What kind of people are the GBI? What about the underground movement? I suggest we call them G.A.I.M which I still have now idea what it stands for? :p

If you like the premise try adding to it, it could be fun!

[Rob]

Knighto as long as a conversation similiar to this one takes place...

Master: These our witness, Aunty. Us suffer bad. Want justice. We want Thunderdome!
Aunty Entity: You know the law: Two men enter, one man leaves.
Master: This Blaster! Twenty men enter, only him leave!
Aunty Entity: Then it's your choice. Thunderdome.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Dammit Michael, see what you're doing?

-_-

[Jason]

...I bring good news!

The Aussie ban on AvP has been completely reversed. It appears that there are now moves afoot in the Aussie government to implement an R18+ rating system for games. It initially seemed that there would be no chance of the game reaching Australian shores when the developers reacted angrily to the banning, claiming they would not be making any cuts to the game in order for it to pass the board. However, it appears that the censor's board have finally seen (or been told to see) sense, and the game has been green-lighted for a full, uncensored release.

[nilihanth]

That is good news indeed. I am curious, however, how importing works though. Isn't it just as easy to buy a game from another english-speaking country, say any of the UK? Is there a law against that as well, or could you get into serious trouble by doing so? I need answers from an Aussie! :P

[MyNameDidntFit]

As far as I am aware there is no law against importing. It is only illegal to buy/sell RC (refused classification) products, not to own them.

I'm not quite 100% sure on this though.