The Board Report details various laws and guidelines, and consequently, why Fallout 3 was refused classification.
Firstly, the majority of the Board state:
| Quote: |
| "Computer games that ... depict, express or otherwise deal with sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent the that they should not be classified;" will be Refused Classification. |
The report says "material that contains drug use and sexual violence related to incentives and rewards is Refused Classification". In applying this to Fallout 3, the Board state:
| Quote: |
| The game contains the option to take a variety of "chems" using a device which is connected to the character's arm. Upon selection of the device a menu selection screen is displayed. Upon this screen is a list of "chems" that the player can take, by means of selection. These "chems" have positive effects and some negative effects (lowering of intelligence, or the character may become addicted to the "chem"). The positive effects include increase in strength, stamina, resistance to damage, agility and hit points. Corresponding with the list of various "chems" are small visual representation of the drugs, these include syringes, tablets, pill bottles, a crack-type pipe and blister packs. 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 report explains that "chems are an essential element of Fallout 3". In particular:
| Quote: |
| The player can also select and use "Morphine" (a proscribed drug) which has the effect of enabling the character to ignore limb pain when the character's extremities are targeted by the enemy. |
Ultimately, the Board believes Fallout 3 promotes or encourages proscribed drug use:
| Quote: |
| In the Board's view the drug use in particular the use of a proscribed drug, via means of selection from a menu, is related to incentives and rewards as the incentives to take the drugs is to progress through the game more easily and the reward is an increase in the character's abilities and as such [Fallout 3] is Refused Classification. |
The Board also considered the level of violence in Fallout 3, but came to a different conclusion on the issue:
| Quote: |
| The Board notes that the violence throughout the game could be accommodated at an MA 15+ level of classification. |
When the OFLC refuse a game classification, the effect is that it may not be advertised, sold, hired or demonstrated within Australian borders.
Comparisons between the OFLC's decision and MA 15+ classified games with similar content are already being debated, but for the time being, the future of Fallout 3 in Australia looks unclear. Whether or not a modified version of the game makes it way to our shores, as will be the case with Dark Sector, only time will tell. However, one thing is certain – the fallout of this decision is likely to be felt far and wide.
Stay tuned to PALGN for further news on Fallout 3 as it develops.
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