Tag Archives: Australian classifications

Flummoxed by the sudden appearance of a wild legislation, the Coalition called for an inquiry into a bill proposing changes to Australia’s Classification act – namely, the addition of an R18+ ratings category for video games. The proposed changes have been the subject of public consultation, debate and multiple inquiries over the past few years, and were finally introduced to parliament for the first time yesterday. The inquiry is likely to delay the bill slightly but may not affect plans to bring the new ratings category into effect as early as January 1, 2013. Current legislation in Australia refuses classification – and thereby, legal sale – of content rated higher than MA15+.

Thanks, Kotaku.

Home Affairs minister Jason Clare has made good on his promise to move quickly on Australia’s proposed R18+ ratings category for games.

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Newly incumbent minister for home affairs Jason Clare has been quick to pick up Brendan O’Conner’s reins, aiming to secure a vote on Australia’s proposed R18+ games rating in February.

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Cynaide’s RPG based on George RR Martin’s explosively popular fantasy series may be further along than expected.

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In July, the Australian Classificaiton Board awarded Digital Extremes’ The Darkness II an MA15+ rating – and then did it again in December. A 2K spokesperson told MCV Pacific the game had to be re-classified after the addition of a sex scene. No content has been cut or edited beyond the new addition, but the game now carries an additional content warning. The Darkness II is due on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in early February.

Previously restricted to Japan and the US, it looks like Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns may arrive in PAL territories.

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Player Attack reports a number of Australian retailers are offering grey import copies of Star Wars: The Old Republic for sale. The MMORPG has not been formally dated for local release, although BioWare recently confirmed an official launch down under. As games which have not been classified by Australian authorities cannot be offered at retail, the not-very-troubling mystery classification of BioWare and LucasArts title Paper, Scissors, Stone looks to be solved. Go get ‘em.

EA has confirmed it won’t censor Starbreeze’s Syndicate reboot to meet MA15+ content guidelines, preferring to skip an Australian release all together.

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When it’s not refusing classification to anticipated titles, the Australian Classification Board delights in leaking like a sieve. Its latest effort has outed two new Ubisoft games, Prince of Persia for Wii and 3DS, and Rayman for 3DS. Joystiq theorises that the listings pertain to Virtual Console releases, hence the simple, days-of-yore titles, which match Game Boy Color releases.

Starbreeze’s shooter take on classic Bullfrog property Syndicate has been Refused Classification in Australia, effectively banning it from sale.

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Labour’s cabinet reshuffle has seen former federal minister for home affairs Brendan O’Connor relinquish the portfolio governing Australian classifications in favour of the human services seat. O’Connor has been an outspoken champion of classification reform, demonstrating a genuine understanding of the needs of the games industry and its customers as well as the protection of children from mature content. Under his guidance, the nation has come closer to the introduction of an R18+ ratings category than ever before. He will be replaced by former minister for defence material Jason Clare, whose views on classification reform are as yet unknown.

Thanks, GamePolitics. [image]

The ponderous pace of legislation change could delay Australia’s newly-sanctioned R18+ classification for years yet.

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The Australian Classification Board has listed Mistwalker’s acclaimed Wii RPG The Last Story, despite the Big N playing coy on the subject of a local release.

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The Australian Law Reform Commission has released a 43 point discussion paper outlining a new framework for classification, proposing fundamental changes to the country’s archaic laws, including a lifting of classification requirements on games with mild content.

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Following an appeal by publisher Sega Australia, the Australian Classification Board has awarded House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Edition an MA15+ rating in place of its earlier decision to refuse classification.

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A mysterious new listing on the Australian Classification Board’s database mentioned Mutation Station.

It’s described as a Microsoft-published, G-rated Xbox 360 title.

Joystiq spotted the listing, and speculates it may be a new Kinect suite tool, similar to Kinect Fun Labs.

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The Australian Classification Board has determined that The House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut is unsuitable for local retail.

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A classifications reference and mysterious screenshots suggest THQ has another downloadable tie-in title in the works – Saints Row: Money Shot.

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The Australian Law Reform Commission has revealed draft principles which will guide ongoing classifications reform in Australia, placing a greater emphasis on new media than has historically featured in national classifications policies.

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TripWire Interactive has quelled concerns its hardcore shooter Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad would be softened for Australian release.

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