God Of War III Devs Worried About Possible Ban In Australia
God of War IIIAfter that stellar gameplay presentation at E3, we learned two things about God of War III: 1. it's gonna kick your teeth in with its gritty greatness, and 2. the extreme level of violence and controversial material is obvious.
This won't be a problem for the North American game market, but Australia has always been more strict about video game content, and this has SCEA worried. According to GamePolitics citing Digital Life, we are reminded that Australia doesn't have a R18+ rating for games; the highest rating available is MA15+. If the game is deemed unsuitable for anyone under the age of 15, it won't get rated and subsequently, won't be released to store shelves. GoWIII art director Sean Cunningham talks about the subject:
"There is (concern). We try to push the boundaries a little bit. (But) we’ve had meetings and discussions and internally we all have a good gauge on what’s 'too far'. You throw something past [content rating boards] and they might say 'Absolutely not! You could not do that!' and we’re all like: 'Aww, c’mon, that was a great idea!' There have been a couple of those...
Also visually, everyone’s really excited. The disembowelment of the centaur, ripping Helios’s head off, the reaction from the floor has been amazing. Everybody in the studio is very happy..."
Yeah, well, we're happy too but that doesn't mean it'll fly with the Aussie rating board. However, we're fairly certain that if the worst does happen, SCEA will simply edit the game and offer that version to gamers Down Under. It kinda sucks, but we'd find it surprising if they simply agreed to not release God of War III in Australia. It's just too big of a region to ignore.
Related Game(s): God of War III
7/10/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (Beta)
PS3addict
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 1:03:02 PM
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Our Aussie friends can download DLC to unluck those features from the PSN. Would that work??
Like the blood codes in MK. Not there unless you know how to unlock them. Hot coffee anyone??
1 up, 1 down
TheHighlander
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 1:07:53 PM
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2 up, 0 down
HeXeN
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 1:25:06 PM
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0 up, 0 down
Dancemachine55
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 11:08:43 PM
Basically, Michael Atkinson is the one person keeping R18+ ratings from being used in Australian video games, and of course it is because of the same stupid argument used by all politicians.
1. The chance of minors getting hold of it or seeing the content, assuming that video games are still in the children's market.
2. The interactive nature of video games will drive some unstable individuals to commit these acts of violence in reality.
Of course, these arguments have been disproven again and again. Some of you may remember the whole Manhunt 2 debacle here in Australia, where the game was banned outright. And we all know the GTA IV problem where certain elements were removed from the Aus edition of the game.
These censoring acts impede on the artist's freedom of expression and the denial of R18+ games means that children have a much easier chance of playing mature games because of the larger amount of leniency in selling MA15+ games as opposed to selling R18+ games.
Therefore, the argument stands that children will be more protected from this mature and at times obscene material if R18+ is allowed. There are so many other nations which prove that this is effective due to the highly restricted advertising and selling of these products.
So please, as a fellow Aussie gamer, I am pleading for help from anyone in the industry who may help sway Australia into accepting R18+ ratings for video games and help in further restricting children of 15 years or younger from viewing or playing these games. I want to see God of War 3 and the next GTA as the designers see fit, not as the censors see fit.
2 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 3:10:59 PM
1 up, 0 down
mustang750r
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 1:28:07 PM
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1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 1:44:10 PM
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7 up, 1 down
fluffer nutter
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 1:52:06 PM
Someone in marketing should offer the game online at a discounted price to Aussie residents with a special code so that they can get in on the madness. Special Australian Import Tax Break Sale. ;)
2 up, 1 down
chicko1983
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 6:38:32 PM
0 up, 0 down
twenty8nine
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 7:11:38 PM
2 up, 0 down
TheHighlander
Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 12:20:05 AM
Do you have a link for that? PS3 games are not supposed to be region locked. The only locking that happens is that imposed on PSN that prevents users in one region playing against users in another, and that is primarily done to prevent users with high latency (lag) hurting game performance.
The only other region based 'locking' comes in the form of the analog video signal. A PAL PS3 can't output NTSC, an NTSC PS3 can't output PAL. Because of the differing TV standards PS3s sold in different markets have different TV modulators and video signal generators according to the analog TV standards in that market. Games made for the US are built to use the NTSC standard, games made for the UK are made for PAL, and so forth. A PAL version of a game will not generate an NTSC signal.
The result is that even though you can buy a UK game from the US, your UK game will not play on a regular NTSC TV using composite video, component video or s-video. The signaling standards are different. If you are using an HDTV and HDMI, there is no problem and games from any region should play on any PS3 using HDMI with an HDTV.
If you have a link to an article verifying actual region locking on a PS3 game I would love to see it.
1 up, 0 down
chicko1983
Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 5:10:11 AM
Region locking Fallout 3 was something my mate told me about but come to think it, he is a Xbox360 owner and region locking may be possible on that?
Im not a Fallout fan so I wasnt ever too fussed when that got given RC by the classification board and cant say that I looked at all the options of buying that game when it was released.
0 up, 0 down
rowdy
Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 8:08:32 AM
Some morons want to make a mandatory internet filter which will filter out kiddie porn and terrorist stuff which is fair but some genius figured they'd also block websites that sell unrated games. They're probably very similar in content as well...
That and the fact that it won't actually work, but good on them for trying anyway.
0 up, 0 down
Bagmup
Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 5:46:33 PM
0 up, 0 down
chicko1983
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 7:02:51 PM
0 up, 0 down
englishgolfer
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 1:51:05 PM
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4 up, 5 down
Effi
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 2:28:50 PM
aussies are fine. they just hired the wrong people to the censor board.
sometimes in my company all it takes is a few guys with extreme views in a department and u get a pack of drones nodding in agreement.
3 up, 0 down
englishgolfer
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 4:41:34 PM
2 up, 2 down
chicko1983
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 6:59:42 PM
And most people who call themselves Australian now dont have Australian ancestery and are only second or third generation Australian, i.e. less closely related to a convict than you are.
Go the Aussies in the Ashes! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!!!
2 up, 0 down
PSX
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 3:51:44 PM
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1 up, 2 down
Scarecrow
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 4:11:09 PM
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If anything just dumb down the Australian version. But not OUR version!
1 up, 3 down
chicko1983
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 7:12:10 PM
1 up, 0 down
Mornelithe
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 4:33:02 PM
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Oh and, GIMME GT5!!!
That is all.
6 up, 0 down
newchef
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 4:35:37 PM
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2 up, 0 down
RadioHeader
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 4:50:49 PM
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This game will be played by kids of around 8 and over, regardless of its rating, and I'll bet none of them are later found guilty of disemboweling a centaur or ripping Helios’s head off.
6 up, 3 down
ffrulez
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 6:34:40 PM
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2 up, 0 down
Karosso
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 6:55:13 PM
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God bless America! At least here they will make lots of noise but in the end, the Bill of Rights rein supreme and freedom of speech is uphold.
Last edited by Karosso on 7/10/2009 6:55:44 PM
3 up, 0 down
chicko1983
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 7:09:02 PM
The difference is that there are a few conservative people who are in power and are ruining it for the gamers of Australia.
In fact, it is only one person who is holding back changing the law to allow R18+ games in Australia even though a lot of people are for it.
Ive written to him but its his personal opinion that games shouldnt be above an M rating. He thinks only children play games these days!
2 up, 0 down
Karosso
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 7:20:26 PM
The gov. in Brazil believes that parents should do the parenting not laws. My sister wont let my 9 years old nephew even play Tomb Raider because you get to shoot people and animals, she a though mom but at least she is the one making the decision. Of course he plays anything I have when he comes over to NYC hahaha What are cool uncles for?
Where do you go in Brazil?
2 up, 0 down
chicko1983
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 8:12:38 PM
Will be going to Rio and Florianopolis this year to party. Cant wait!
2 up, 0 down
Karosso
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 8:24:40 PM
The Pantanal? Dude that's awesome!
Give Bahia a try when you get a chance, its north Brazil and the beaches are awesome and the girls are of the hook ;)
1 up, 0 down
Dancemachine55
Sunday, July 12, 2009 @ 8:34:06 AM
See my above statement for more info on this. The cause must be taken up!!!!
0 up, 0 down
King James
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 7:05:51 PM
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0 up, 0 down
Dancemachine55
Sunday, July 12, 2009 @ 8:37:14 AM
That was over 200 years ago. Aren't you going to give that up? Australia is the most multicultural country in the world now. In fact, over 20% of the nation is Asian. So, to be Australian is about giving everyone and everything a fair go, not beinga beer drinking caucasian who loves cricket and BBQs in the summertime.
And yes, we are very proud of our convict history. Many respectable Aussies came from those convicts.
0 up, 0 down
ffrulez
Monday, July 13, 2009 @ 5:41:17 AM
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kokoro
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 9:33:04 PM
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0 up, 0 down
tlpn99
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 9:39:21 PM
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If he wants me too I will gladly buy it for him and send him as a gift lol :)
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kokoro
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 9:48:44 PM
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1 up, 0 down
Milonakis
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 9:50:55 PM
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1 up, 0 down
Banky A
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 9:52:24 PM
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Yeah it's stupid.
Not to sound lame but I hope they might as well just ban it so we in NZ get the full game.
So whenever they do get the game I hope it'll be 100% God of War. Instead of something missing.
(That was 2/5th of a joke LOL)
^_^ *smiley face to hint small sarcasm and keep everyone happy*
2 up, 0 down
Alienange
Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 10:42:33 PM
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0 up, 0 down
Banky A
Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 1:15:08 AM
But supposedly:
http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,28348,25516038-5014239,00.html
and
http://www.slashslashdawt.com/2009/01/27/the-state-of-video-games-in-australia/
0 up, 0 down
slackernz
Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 1:01:18 AM
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If not, Amazon here I come! :D
1 up, 0 down
Banky A
Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 1:17:33 AM
Not by much though, just some prostitute stuff lol.
:(
0 up, 0 down
ffrulez
Monday, July 13, 2009 @ 5:37:29 AM
BCES 00141 on the case
BCES 00141#2 on the Blu-ray Disc
0 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 1:17:23 AM
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But if theres no other way around the games board, then just offer the gamers there a free D/L to turn the original mayham back on.
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___________
Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 2:24:45 AM
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because 1 the US people will be pissed and i cant blame them.
2 theres allways ebay.
if this game gets banned the OFLC office will dissapear of the face of the earth.
i remember 3 years ago there was a leb gang member who was arrested so hes gang blew up bankstown police station.
i wouldent be suprised if the same thing happens to the OFLC office.
but seriously put everything in their let your mind run wild thats what we expect from GOW if it gets banned here well the OFLC is f***ing stupid because thats revenue their loosing.
were in a recession so the way to help the country get back on its feet is to stop people from spending money and tell them to send it to the US
wheres the logic in that?
and the internet sensor i sware to god were turning into communist china.
as soon as im old enough im getting out of this s*** hole.
we pay s*** loads more for phones games consoles computers.
were years behind internet speeds of the us.
were treated like ****ing convicts when it comes to choice of entertainment.
god i cant wait till ive finished tafe so i can blow this s*** hole off.
0 up, 0 down
___________
Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 2:32:10 AM
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meh hes like 80 years old god if your up their its time to get to work. :D
they should line up all the catholics and ship them out to a isolated island im sick of them destroying everything.
first game ratings michael is a strict chatholic and so is his district he knows if he passes a R18 he will loose alot of votes and be out of a job.
than the **** with dantes inferno "hell is not a game" o please get over yourself jesus christ.
than on the news the other day their was a priest on tv protesting that ladies should not be allowed to wear bikinis because its to revealing.
OMFG whats wrong with bikinis.
i sware to god soon were going to be forced to wear uniforms and told when we can do anything.
sir im busting to go toilet.
sorry toilets are not permited till 10 AM.
no no your not allowed to wear those shoes there to bright.
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chicko1983
Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 5:13:05 AM
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I dont think it would be in the best interest of the developers to make it an R18+ game, they would want to be able to release the game to the biggest possible audience and R18+ would put off some people who rely on their parents buying their games for them.
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Robochic
Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 2:07:35 PM
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I hope for all the aussies that this comes to u're region if not do what world says import baby!
2 up, 0 down
Branko2166
Sunday, July 12, 2009 @ 7:02:30 AM
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1 up, 0 down
OriginalSin
Monday, July 13, 2009 @ 4:58:46 AM
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I feel for you guys down under thou, cause I would be P**** if I couldn't play the game I wanted the way I wanted. I mean I'm 30 years old I make my own choices and don't need to be limited to playing Rated 15+ games.
I mean I do have games that are rated less, but at least I have the choice. I remember the whole fiasco with Manhunt 2 being banned all over the place but over here there weren't even a whisper about that.
Mmmmmm..... Maybe that's why people are so freakin violent here... But then again I can bet you $1 000 000 that those "violent" individuals don't play games at all...
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BigBoss4ever
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Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 12:43:32 PM