Fallout 3 refused classification

360 News | Hearts fall in disappointment.

In what may possibly be some of the most disappointing news for Australian gamers in recent memory, that magnum opus of post-apocalyptic gaming, Fallout 3, appears to have been refused classification by the Classification Board of Australia.

The Classification Board has yet to make it clear exactly why Fallout 3 has been refused classification. However, as the game features drug use and other potentially mature topics, it's possible that many aspects raised the concern of Australia's censors.

Sadly, it appears increasingly likely that Australia will see either a censored version or quite possibly, no version at all. Games that are refused classification are not only not allowed to be advertised, they're not allowed to be sold, hired, or demonstrated at all within Australian borders.

It remains unclear as to whether the game will be made available in other PAL regions, New Zealand being a prime example.

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112 Comments

Capoeira

3 years ago

So the game was banned because the character uses a drug to enhance his abilities? That makes me wonder if the upcoming Olympic Games swayed any decision made by the OFLC. Censoring in accordance to the times maybe?

It's still a moronic decision.

Deathfiend

3 years ago

For the record GTA4 was given a RC from the OFLC but were quick to change the content to get it to pass.

We'll get fallout 3 but just like GTA4 it will be modified.

Its so wrong.

ObsoletE

3 years ago

the problem (allegedly) isn't the use of drugs, nor even the name Morphine (though it probably didn't help), it's that your character can become addicted to it.

basically, if you take too much Morphine, you are required to keep your character doped up, or suffer withdrawals.

which, to me, makes using them IRL seem less enticing, but oh well.
it also means that a simple name change from Morphine to Stimpack isn't going to help.

---
i also emailed a couple of NZ online stores to see their current position. so far only one has replied, saying that they're not now allowed to ship to Australia, unless they end up with a similarly cut version (like GTA4) assuming one comes to pass. they have had unconfirmed reports that Red Ant are appealling the decision though.

EDIT:

Deathfiend wrote

For the record GTA4 was given a RC from the OFLC but were quick to change the content to get it to pass.

We'll get fallout 3 but just like GTA4 it will be modified.

Its so wrong.

no, in the case of GTA4, the censored version was what was originally submitted for review by Rockstar - the OFLC never saw the uncensored version, so there's actually every chance we would've been allowed to play it uncut. (though having seen the full sex scenes - i personally doubt that would've got through - although there was no issue with Fahrenheit's sex scenes..)

Fetidchimp

3 years ago

Well surely if you can become addicted to it, that shows it in the poor light that they seem so concerned about.

We are going to need Dee Snider on this one (rip frank zappa, john denver, the other anti censorship heroes)

suction

3 years ago

ObsoletE wrote

EDIT:

Deathfiend wrote

For the record GTA4 was given a RC from the OFLC but were quick to change the content to get it to pass.

We'll get fallout 3 but just like GTA4 it will be modified.

Its so wrong.

R* should of taken a risk.

A13x

3 years ago

cmdwedge wrote

Fallout, Fallout 2, Max Payne, Max Payne 2. There's 4 games off the top of my head where you use drugs to improve your performance. Hell, MP even had the sound effect of popping a plastic container full of pills when you used the painkillers.

Unreal Tournament 2004 had the Adrenaline capsules, which enhanced your performance also. Haze had it's Nectar system, which was used in the same way, and I seem to recall another game encouraging the digestion of pills to keep one's hands from shaking whilst aiming a rifle...

suction

3 years ago

A13x wrote

cmdwedge wrote

would of that been MGS 2 3 and 4.

Psy Storm

3 years ago

^And MGS1

Also I'll just say I don't really care about this cos IMO this game won't be very good. However I understand why people would be angry, I'm mainly angry because of the inconsistency in their ratings so I therefore think it IS the OFLC fault. I don't see why this game would have a problem while the other fallouts would not, and the other games such as GTA which are basically ads for drug use/dealing and the life of crime. I would have thought that an honest protrayal of the negative effects would pass and should be actively encouraged.

*MGS4 SPOILER*
Snake is given a syringe filled with some chemical which when he takes it he regains psyche (basically his psychological health), the more he takes it the less effective it becomes and the higher dose he must take to get the same effects. Eventually it has physical effects on him (vomiting etc) and then stops working. Sound like addiction to anyone?

maybe if someone got the board from the OFLC to read this forum they would see how off the mark they are. They let far worse games through than this and at least the drug use within fallout is within a proper context, not like that of GTA which just seems to come from the angle "cool kids/criminals do drugs lets make cops pull bongs or make the player have to traffik! Oh, while we are at it lets just insert rude words and potty humour into it, and also make as many references as possible to the number 69! Oh and heaps of blood! Yeah we are so hardcore and funny."

Yeah beacuse that **** is so funny you morons.

Fetidchimp

3 years ago

^
i give you a half neg, quality should not be the governing factor as to whether people get worried about censorship, the removal of an individuals right to make their own choice, especially with something like this, is far more important than if they are "doing us favours" by banning lower quality games/films whatever.
I want to be able to decide if it is garbage myself. Personally i feel this may be the start of some real progress as the game looks far from garbage to me and is from a company with a higher than usual reputation.

el_rezzo

3 years ago

Import for me again, nice to see Aussie dollars heading overseas. I may start importing all my games if this keeps happening. I was looking forward to playing it on my new PC, looks like I will have to stick with Crysis for now.

Stevorooni

3 years ago

I for one am glad that the government are here to tell me what is and isn't good for me.

NOT

lapzod

3 years ago

Psy Storm wrote

*MGS4 SPOILER*
Snake is given a syringe filled with some chemical which when he takes it he regains psyche (basically his psychological health), the more he takes it the less effective it becomes and the higher dose he must take to get the same effects. Eventually it has physical effects on him (vomiting etc) and then stops working. Sound like addiction to anyone?

Sounds like it's showing the negative effects of taking a 'drug' which previously mentioned over the last couple of pages, t's one of the factors the OFLC take into account.

Fly

3 years ago

A13x wrote

Diazepam, which is actually a core drug under the World Health Organisation as relief for anxiety, muscle spasms, insomnia, seizures and alcohol withdrawal approved for use in 1963. Morphine has no such high approval as a drug as really is treated as a controlled substance instead of a manner of healing agent.

In this situation these two, while similar in "guy injecting solution to gain benefit" the stigmata, benefit, effects, history, legality and other facts vary quite dramatically, from a drug which is listed as an essential drug for life to a controlled substance.

El Taco

3 years ago

Australia really did become communist then...

franky573

3 years ago

This article reinforces many of the things stated here...

http://www.gameplayer.com.au/gp_documents/080710-Drugs.aspx?catid=Features&Page=1

also:

suction wrote

R* should of taken a risk.

After the problems the OFLC had with san andreas, and the amount of money riding on IV... I don't really blame them for not trying.

The OFLC has problems. They really do think they are doing the right thing for the public, the problem lies in them not knowing what the public wants.

Note: It's in their legislation that if there is enough public comment (in the form of letters (they still use Aust Post...) ) they will review/alter any prior decisions and/or legislation. Democracy in action.

lets hope the comments are polite and friendly. HA

ANDYBALLINA

3 years ago

Forget importing the game, cause here is an interesting article on IGN, also warns about people importing the game:

http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/887/887728p1.html

It's pretty informative actaully, but not in a good way, cause it's still banned

lfergu11

3 years ago

Like everyone says, the government has lost touch with the people, they think cause there in charge of the government they think there always right but that's not what a democracy is! this is so dam ridiculous and whats worse is that they probably never read articles on sites like PALGN and IGN and understand just how angry there making the gamers of Australia.

aafuss

3 years ago

Well-if R18 is to be added, The Hon Michael Atkinson MP will always reject any such idea.

Email your state's AG:
http://blogs.theage.com.au/screenplay/February%2B2008%2BCensorship%2BMinisters%2BContact%2BList.pdf

Customs didn't confiscate several R1 Invader ZIM DVD's (weren't even rated by the classification board), but games that are RC-they will.

Ultimately, bethesda will have to do extra dev work on a edited version-but will they? (does drug use form integral parts of gameplay).

JP2daMC

3 years ago

Yes I agree with Obsolete to an extent.

It's about context. And the context of drug use in Fallout 3 seems to be anti-drugs. However, I think it's the use of a real, dangerous and highly addictive drug that's the issue.

The Max Payne example used earlier is a poor one. Max Payne pops pills, and doesn't inject drugs. Injection of drugs is associated with hardcore drug habits.

No one knows what the pills Max Payne takes are. Morphene, on the other hand, is often abused by real drug users. Morphene is highly addictive and is an actual drug that is often stolen for a high.

The other difference with Max Payne is that you can't see the character popping pills.

The Max Payne character is also in six kinds of hell, and no one really wants to be him, so he hardly glamorises drug use. He is also trying to get rid of hardcore drugs from the community (I think that's the story - his wofe was killed by people on a new drug). So it balances out the context a bit.

I understand the other argument that we are old enough to decide for ourselves, however, we don't have an R rating at the moment, so I can't see how people can blame the classification board for banning games that are rated 18 in the US. It's lucky we get the amount of violent games we do under the current rating system.

I'd say the Bioshock issue was because the drugs he takes aren't real.

aafuss

3 years ago

Morphine-is a drug and drugs in some games aren't OK-so that's why it's banned here.

Shadow Wave

3 years ago

well since im 18 now, ive submitted a formal complaint to OFLC, im assuming some of you have already done that, and I encourage the rest of you to do the same.

Lord Haart

3 years ago

JP2daMC wrote

The Max Payne character is also in six kinds of hell, and no one really wants to be him, so he hardly glamorises drug use.

Well, I doubt many people would want to be the guy in Fallout 3, living in an apocalyptic world filled with zombies, and no other humans outside the vault.

The other points make sense, but imo that should just require a renaming of the drug in that case. Showing addictiveness is definitely better than pretending drugs are not addictive - the latter is like those schools in the US that were teaching kids that condoms were not effective to try and make them abstinent. The OFLC needs to actually think about issues, not simply use a conservative, 18th century point of view.

Qbert

3 years ago

Dam this sucks. I really love Australia, but we really are so far behind many other western and first world countries in terms of cencorship it makes me so angry. I've sent letters to Mr Atkinson before, along with emails to others and have heard nothing back.

It's annoying that we can't even have a say about it in a democratic country. I'll definatly be importing the game if the changes become too great. I kind of hope that the game is not re-submited with changes though, as it would probably gain more media attention as it is actually a quality popular game. And I'll still get to play it by importing.

notsofat

3 years ago

weird i clicked this story and play-asia mysteriously opened up in a new tab..........................

lfergu11

3 years ago

My mistake, Michael Atkinson doesn't realize how angry hes making Australian gamers.

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