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

suction

4 years ago

oh no this is horribile news Fallout is awesome we need an R+18 now more then ever. Is it illegal to import a banned game?

fatpizza

4 years ago

suction wrote

oh no this is horribile news Fallout is awesome we need an R+18 now more then ever. Is it illegal to import a banned game?

Didn't stop thousands of people importing GTA IV did it?
I think i'll be importing again...

mipac

4 years ago

Looks like I'll be importing the PS3 version. The guy who runs Play-Asia just made a stack of cash from this.

suction

4 years ago

fatpizza wrote

suction wrote

oh no this is horribile news Fallout is awesome we need an R+18 now more then ever. Is it illegal to import a banned game?

Didn't stop thousands of people importing GTA IV did it?
I think i'll be importing again...

well GTA IV wasn't banned it was modified. Oh well i've been importing all my games now since i bought Burnout paradise sure you have to wait a couple of weeks for the game to arrive but the saving is worth it.

Dropbear

4 years ago

suction wrote

oh no this is horribile news Fallout is awesome we need an R+18 now more then ever. Is it illegal to import a banned game?

Yeah, its illegal, but it usually isn't monitored very well.

This makes me sad to be a south ozzie. Stupid Michael Atkinson....

Marka

4 years ago

To answer your question. Customs has to powers to cease items that have an RC rating and has done in the past.

Lord Haart

4 years ago

If this is truly illegal, I'll either have to break the law and import it, move overseas, or download it and send Bethesda some money. This is a complete coup, anyone who lets GTA4 into the public but holds back a science fiction game (one which is far more meaningful and moral, as it depicts a dystopia that should be avoided in RL), should be in a mental institution, not in charge of taking away people's happiness, though they seem to be doing a damn good job at the latter.

This is a bloody disgrace. >

suction

4 years ago

What's the penalty for importing a banned game?

MikeZombie777

4 years ago

Wow! The fascist, freedom hating zealots have done it again! Is this what it's going to take for people to stand up and put an end to the Australian dictatorship? We are officially a nanny state. Well done Michael Atkinson, you've succeed in giving your state and country the nanny state label through out the world. One of the biggest releases of the year and it gets banned. What an absolute joke.

Yet another game I'm going to have to import. No wonder people have nothing but contempt for this idiotic government.

lfergu11

4 years ago

GOD DAMIT! They probably will make a censored version that is allowed, well at least by the time if it's released as an MA game I'll be old enough to get it.

STOP BEING A BUNCH OF OLD JERKS AUSSIE GOVERNMENT

I agree with Lord Haart this is a bloody disgrace...

African Aussie

4 years ago

Lord Haart wrote

Anyone who lets SAW, HOSTEL, KILL BILL, GRINDHOUSE, BLOW etc into the public instead of a game should be in a mental institution.

Barry

4 years ago

Shame on Australia! I fail to understand why they do this when all what is needed is to put in a R18 rating.

Get with it Australia. Were not in the 1800's anymore.

Even though our useless Internet with its shocking prices would suggest that we are indeed in the 1800's.

Screw Australia and its idiotic rating scheme.

suction

4 years ago

i want to blow up Michael Atkinson's house with him and his family in it f*** him and the OFLC i'll import.

B3NBO

4 years ago

Ebay here I come. I hope i can score a special edition for PC!

lfergu11

4 years ago

I doubt this but maybe this has something to do with the concept art that looked like the white house was destroyed and the whole terrorist controversy but this has nothing to do with Australia or why it would get an R for that

ObsoletE

4 years ago

appalling.

Lord Haart

4 years ago

I keep rereading this item and hoping that todays date is April 1st...

I am sorely disappointed.

Barry

4 years ago

Dont worry Lord Haart, We all are. we should arrange a protest or something, since this is taking it over the line.

They came ever so close to walking over the line with the whole GTAIV situation.

ppjim3

4 years ago

Is it being published by Bethesda? I believe Oblivion is region free on the 360 too so hopefully Fallout 3 follows suit so I can import it there. I'll be pretty annoyed be a shame if I'd I'm stuck with no version or the PS3 version (hate first person on the DualShock)

Jellyfish

4 years ago

How come Fallout 3 is banned yet High School Musical 3 is not? Clearly these people have no idea that a Science Fiction.. Oh wait, that's why it was banned, OFLC have something against Science Fiction, why else would they create stupid things such as "Science Fiction Violence".

RhysDeschain

4 years ago

Don't worry people, I imported Manhunt 2 from play-asia.com and no feds came kocking on my door, so you'll be fine.
Xbox 360 owners, just import a UK version, and PS3 owners, import whatever version you want (PS360 owners, get the PS3 version coz you know it'll have trophies).
This is a pain in the ass, but going from the screenshots, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion. Australia, while the greatest country in the world, has to get with the programme and get a bloody R18+ rating already (as I'm sure everybody already knows).
So yeah. Just import from Play Asia, everybody, and don't stress.

Vervain

4 years ago

ppjim3 wrote

I checked if Bethesda made their games region free on the 360 as soon as I found out about this and it seems they do not. So I shall hopefully getting a copy from the UK or maybe even New Zealand depending on if it gets RC'd over there as well.

ppjim3

4 years ago

Vervain wrote

I checked if Bethesda made their games region free on the 360 as soon as I found out about this and it seems they do not.

I've just done more research and it looks like we're *both* right! The PAL version of Oblivion IS region free but not the NTSC versions. Lets hope they have a change of heart this time around for us! Worst case there is the UK version but cheaper > PAL.