wraggster
December 20th, 2011, 22:19
Starbreeze's upcoming shooter reboot of Bullfrog's classicSyndicate has been refused classification in Australia due to the game's violent content.
The Australian classification board's report (http://classification.gov.au/www/cob/find.nsf/5b6ebdff7f5b9a24ca2575ca00062226/578554decfa593b1ca25796b0057f806?OpenDocument) states that the game contains content “unsuitable for a minor to see or play” and “violence that is high in impact”. The ability to harm civilians is also cited.
“Combatants take locational damage and can be explicitly dismembered, decapitated or bisected by the force of the gunfire," the report reads. "The depictions are accompanied by copious bloodspray and injuries are shown realistically and with detail. Flesh and bone are often exposed while arterial sprays of blood continue to spirt from wounds at regular intervals.”
As Australia's highest available rating is a MA15+, the report's conclusion that the game isn't suitable for minors means that it can't be sold in the country.
Electronic Arts is able to appeal the decision, or resubmit a censored version of the game for Australian audiences.
In August this year, New South Wales Attorney General Greg Smith agreed to support an R18+ rating (http://www.next-gen.biz/news/australian-r18-rating-gets-nsw-vote) for Australian games - having abstained from a previous vote - though it's not clear how long this new classification will take to implement.
http://www.next-gen.biz/news/syndicate-refused-classification-australia
The Australian classification board's report (http://classification.gov.au/www/cob/find.nsf/5b6ebdff7f5b9a24ca2575ca00062226/578554decfa593b1ca25796b0057f806?OpenDocument) states that the game contains content “unsuitable for a minor to see or play” and “violence that is high in impact”. The ability to harm civilians is also cited.
“Combatants take locational damage and can be explicitly dismembered, decapitated or bisected by the force of the gunfire," the report reads. "The depictions are accompanied by copious bloodspray and injuries are shown realistically and with detail. Flesh and bone are often exposed while arterial sprays of blood continue to spirt from wounds at regular intervals.”
As Australia's highest available rating is a MA15+, the report's conclusion that the game isn't suitable for minors means that it can't be sold in the country.
Electronic Arts is able to appeal the decision, or resubmit a censored version of the game for Australian audiences.
In August this year, New South Wales Attorney General Greg Smith agreed to support an R18+ rating (http://www.next-gen.biz/news/australian-r18-rating-gets-nsw-vote) for Australian games - having abstained from a previous vote - though it's not clear how long this new classification will take to implement.
http://www.next-gen.biz/news/syndicate-refused-classification-australia