Rockstar has confirmed to VG247 that a mysterious, Australian GTA: Vice City rating is related to back catalogue PC business.

Rockstar decided to re-rate Vice City as part of ongoing work with history products. Exactly how the PC version of the classic open-worlder is to be re-used is unclear.

It was noticed this morning that the OFLC, Australia’s ratings board, had posted a new 15+ award for GTA Vice City.

The listing described the game as “modified” and “multi-platform,” but no specific formats were listed.

As Kotaku noted, multi-platform listings in Australia are notoriously inaccurate.

VG247 has been assured that this has nothing to do any upcoming, new GTA products.

Speculation today pointed to a PSN and Live re-release of the game, but you can consider that scotched.

The PC version of Vice City was originally released in Australia on May 20, 2003, following ships on May 12 in the US and May 15 in Europe.

It was released on Steam on January 4, 2008.

Australia’s ratings board, the OFLC, has classified Dead Rising 2 for a release in the country with an MA15 rating. Best news? It’s releasing in the country uncut and unedited: Aussies get a break at last.

The board gave the rating for the game’s “Strong Horror Violence, Blood and Gore, and Sexual References.”

Australia is coming under increased pressure to implement an 18 rating for games; the highest age limit a game can be granted in the country is 15.

EA’s Frank Gibeau blasted the Australian government on the issue recently, saying “policies that don’t allow for the rating of mature content in videogames effectively censor entertainment choices for adults.”

Light does appear to be at the end of the tunnel, however. Michael Atkinson, the Australian politician most vocal in his opposition to an 18 rating stepped down in March, to be replaced by John Rau – who supports the idea of introducing a higher limit.

Dead Rising 2 was delayed by a month earlier this week. Originally due at the end of August or start of September in the US and Europe, it will now launch at the end of September or start of October for PS3, 360 and PC.

Sega’s said that Aliens Vs Predator will be released in Australia as a 15+, with no cuts made.

The OFLC refused the game classification at the beginning of December.

“It is with great pleasure that we announce the success of our appeal,” said Darren Macbeth, Sega Australia MD.

“We are particularly proud that the game will be released in its original entirety, with no content altered or removed whatsoever.”

More on IGN.

As promised, the Australian government has opened up the debate as to whether or not the country should have an 18+ rating to the public. Hit this for details.

“Submissions are being sought on whether the Australian National Classification Scheme should include an R 18+ classification category for computer games,” said the attorney-general’s department.

“Submissions can be made by downloading and completing the submission template. Submissions may also be mailed or faxed. The discussion paper and submission template contain the contact details for making a submission.”

Get to it, Australian people. You’ve got until February 28 to explain to old people why you’re grown-up enough to see a cartoon gun shoot a zombie.

He’s back! Eat Sleep Play’s David Jaffe has decided to break radio silence to call Australia’s political view of games “bullshit”. Phew. Things were getting boring, there.

“There’s a government board and if they say it’s too offensive, in that case there’s no fight to fight — it is what it is,” he said, speaking this week at the Game Connect: Asia Pacific conference in Melbourne.

“There’s not much you can do if you’re making games aimed at a mature audience. We never like to cut it, but what are you going to do? You’re dealing with governments.

He added: “There’s absolutely an inconsistency in the consciousness about video games. The reality is people still see a lot of these things as kids’ toys. It’s utter BS.”

Thank God for that. Come back, David. You make the world a brighter place. Thanks, IGN.

South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson – Australia’s most visible opponent to the country adopting an 18 age rating for games – has confirmed he’s to appeal an OFLC decision to release Modern Warfare 2 with a 15+ rating in the country.

Speaking on radio show National Interest last week, Atkinson said he thought the ruling “is wrong,” adding:

“This decision doesn’t surprise me. The Classification Board in Australia does everything to try and get games in under the radar.”

If he’s successful, the game could be banned from sale in Australia.

In an email to Gamespot, Atkinson accused the game of “glorifying terrorism”:

“I worry about any game that encourages gamers to perpetrate extreme violence and cruelty on screen, but this game [Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2] allows players to be virtual terrorists and gain points by massacring civilians. Expecting game designers to be responsible by not glorifying terrorism will always lead to disappointment,” he said.

More through there.

The OFLC turned down Left 4 Dead 2′s appeal for release in Australia because of its “realism,” according to documents obtained by Gamespot.

Apparently there was “insufficient delineation between the depiction of the general zombie figures and the human figures as opposed to the clearly fictional ‘infected’ characters,” and “whether the objects of the violence were fictional or real, and whether a 15 year old could discern the difference, is largely irrelevant where the game displays the level of realism this one does”.

Yeah. That’s stupid. More through there. Thanks, EG.

Here we go again.

Left 4 Dead 2 has been refused classification by the OFLC once again, despite recieving a MA 15+ rating for a watered down version two weeks ago.

This is what it says in the media send-out, sent by the OFLC.

A three-member panel of the Classification Review Board (the Review Board) has unanimously
determined that the computer game Left 4 Dead 2 is classified RC (Refused Classification).

In the Review Board’s opinion, Left 4 Dead 2 could not be accommodated within the MA 15+
classification. The computer game contains a level of violence which is high in impact, prolonged,
repeated frequently and realistic within the context of the game.

In addition, it was the Review Board’s opinion that there was insufficient delineation between the
depiction of general zombie figures and the human figures, as opposed to the clearly fictional
‘infected’ characters. This was a major consideration of the Review Board in determining the
impact of this game on minors.

It was refused the first time in mid-September.

Thanks, wearetheinternetz and mescalineeyes.

Oopsie. Australian ratings board the OFLC has given a 15+ to something called Ghost Recon Predator. It’s multi-platform, apparently.

What is it? It’s the next Ghost Recon game, silly. The one out next year. The one that’s only been half-announced for fiscal 2010.

No detail, obviously. Thanks, Destructoid.

While news of Left 4 Dead clearing OFLC regulations this morning will bring relief to Down-Under gamers, it looks as though large cuts have been made to the approved version.

According to News.com.au, the ratings board has confirmed that “the game no longer contains depictions of decapitation, dismemberment, wound detail or piles of dead bodies lying about the environment.

“No wound detail is shown and the implicitly dead bodies and blood splatter disappear as they touch the ground.”

You can read the full OFLC report here.

Melee weapons made the cut. EA’s quoted in that News.com.au article as saying it still hopes the full version will be classified. Hate to be the voice of doom, but it doesn’t look like it, does it?

Left 4 Dead 2 was originally refused classification in Australia last month.

Thanks, Filofax.

Hello there, OFLC website. How are you doing? Oh, hey, what’s that you’ve got there? Is that… why, it is! It’s an MA 15+ rating for Left 4 Dead 2! Guess the game’s coming out in Australia after all.

Gabe, you crazy rascal. What’d you do? Oh… oh my. Wanna talk about it? Come here. Give us a hug.

Valve boss Gabe Newell has said that a decision on whether or not an Australia-specific cut of Left 4 Dead 2 has passed OFLC regulations as a 15+ rated game is expected any day now.

The company has submitted a new build of the shooter, Newell said, in an effort to ensure the game gets released on time.

“We may actually here about that version today,” he said in a Gamespot-published presentation dated October 6.

“The goal is to guarantee that something’s available on November 17 in Australia, while at the same time pushing to get approval for that to be the full version of the game.”

Left 4 Dead 2 was refused classification in Australia last month.

Newell said that it was Valve’s “very strong preference” to see the full game released in Australia without alterations, but that a now-engaged appeal process is “slow” and may mean the title misses its November 17 ship date if fully pursued.

Newell was speaking at a presentation in Australia. Watch it after the break.

Left 4 Dead 2′s been refused classification in Australia. See here: that’s what the “RC” means.

Why? We’ll tell you why. Or rather, the OFLC’ll tell you why, through the magic gateway that is Gamespot:

“The game contains realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence which is inflicted upon “the Infected” who are living humans infected with a rabies-like virus that causes them to act violently” The ruling goes on to say that “However, it is the use of the “melee” weapons such as the crowbar, axe, chainsaw and Samurai sword which inflict the most damage. These close in attacks cause copious amounts of blood spray and splatter, decapitations and limb dismemberment as well as locational damage where contact is made to the enemy which may reveal skeletal bits and gore.”

Yeah, you see: the “realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence” is the reason it’s awesome, Mr OFLC.

Australia doesn’t allow games to be rated over “15+,” which means anything that deserves an 18 gets effectively banned from sale.

Left 4 Dead releases in the civilised world in the coming months.

Australian ratings board the OFLC has apparently outed a new Activision titled named Bloodhunt.

It features “strong violence,” apparently, and has been given a 15+.

We’ll ask now, innit. Thanks, EG.

South Australian attorney general Michael “Head/Sand” Atkinson is refusing to allow a public debate on the launch of an 18+ rating for games in Australia by apparently failing to make amendments to a paper on the matter.

Atkinson said he was to make “minor” changes to the paper four months ago. He hasn’t. Until he does, no dice.

“I fully support there being consultation on this issue, but ultimately SCAG is waiting for the South Australian attorney to agree to consult on the matter,” Victorian Attorney General Rob Hulls said.

The office of federal attorney General Robert McClelland added: “At this stage, censorship ministers are considering the content of a draft discussion paper and awaiting comments on the draft from South Australia. Any changes to classification categories, including introducing an R18+ classification for computer games, require unanimous support of the Commonwealth and all state and territories.”

Once the paper’s finalised, the public will be invited to enter a debate on the introduction of the R18+ classification for video games in Australia.

Atkinson’s staunchly opposed to the 18+ rating. Read more on that here.

More on Gamespot.

GTA IV DLC The Lost and Damned has been passed without edits in Australia, IGN reports.

The contents features explicit sex scenes with prostitutes and full frontal male nudity.

The original GTA IV was originally refused classification in Australia by the ACB (formerly the OFLC) specifically because of the sex scenes with prostitutes.

The Lost and Damned has received a 15+ rating in Australia, the highest allowed.

Following a report earlier this week in the Sydney Morning Herald that appeared to suggest that MMOs would be banned from sale in Australia unless they were classified by the OFLC, Blizzard’s released a statement saying all fine and dandy in the land of Australian WoW.

Up to this point, MMOs haven’t been rated in Australia as they’re online-only.

“Blizzard Entertainment and its affiliates work very closely with the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia to ensure that we are in full compliance with Australian law as it relates to the distribution and operation of our games, including World of Warcraft. We’d like to reassure all of our players that World of Warcraft is currently, and has always been, distributed and operated legally in Australia.”

In addition, Kotaku’s posted a lengthy article on the subject that can be summed up thus: “You can still buy MMOs in Australia.”

So, if you were panicking, don’t. Apparently this is a case of the Sydney Morning Herald putting two and two together to make five. Phew.

MMOs will now be classified in Australia in the same manner as single-player games, the Sydney Morning Herald’s reported this morning, and retailers will no longer be able to sell online games that haven’t been rated by the OFLC.

The move directly affects sales of the likes of World of Warcraft and Warhammer Online, which never applied for OFLC classification as they don’t contain a single-player element.

Just ban everything, Australia. It’d be easier.

More on IGN.

Update: It’s true. See here.

Gamasutra’s reporting that F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin’s been refused classification in Australia.

The ruling effectively means the game has been banned from sale.

The OFLC’s website doesn’t show that the game’s been rated as yet: do a search and see for yourself.

The shooter sequel’s scheduled for European launch next February for PC, PS3 and 360.

As you can see on the OFLC’s site, Sega and THQ appear to be working on a new OutRun game, named OutRun Online Arcade.

There’s no real detail there as such, aside from the fact the game’s “multi-platform.” No release date, or anything else for that matter.

Take a look.

Pathetic. According to this XboxOz360Gamer story, the Australian OFLC has refused to classify Silent Hill: Homecoming, effectively barring the game from sale in the country.

Apparently Australian people can’t cope with adult videogame content, which is why Australia has no 18 rating for games. Getting 18-rated games from other PAL countries must be really tough for Australians with the immense knowledge of “parcels”.

Sort it out, Australian law people. The rest of the world’s looking on in complete bewilderment.

“It’s a rumour, it’s not true,” he said. “We have no plans for a PC version right now.”

A PC version was speculated on after the Australian OFLC listed Too Human as a PC game.

That’s that, then. Too Human releases in the US today, with the European version hitting at the end of the month.

“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,” said the Australian Office of Film & Literature Classification. “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.”

Yeah, that’s great. Pretend it isn’t there. Lunacy.

Bethesda’s Fallout 3 has been refused classification by the Australian OFLC.

Dated July 4, the RC rating comes just four days before Bethesda announced that the game would feature slavery, drugs and addiction.

The Australian classification rules are as follows:

There are six classification categories for films (G, PG, M, MA 15+, R 18+, X 18+) and four classification categories for computer games (G, PG, M and MA 15+). The R 18+ and X 18+ categories do not apply to computer games in Australia. Films and computer games can also be classified RC (refused classification). RC films and computer games cannot be legally sold or distributed in Australia.

We’re asking Bethseda for a comment right now.

By Mike Bowden

Having just received a region one version of the game, we tested out a few scenarios and only found one difference so far: how the game deals with prostitution. In Australian versions of GTAIV, Niko can indeed pick up prostitutes, but once he takes said sex worker to a secluded area, the game camera shifts to a tight shot of the rear of the vehicle the pair are in and cannot be moved.

In the region one version, once Niko finds a secluded spot, an extra option pops up, asking whether Niko wants the $20 or the $50 service. Once the appropriate “service” is chosen, the act begins, but instead of a static camera, players can freely rotate the game camera around the vehicle.

Neither Rockstar or the OFLC have released details of cuts made to the Australian version as yet.

“If it’s perfectly obvious the parent is buying the game for the child, don’t sell it to the parent,” said New Zealand’s chief censor Bill Hastings. “If a game is R18 it’s R18 for a reason and it’s illegal to make it available to anyone under that age.”

He added: “When the violence does happen in Grand Theft Auto, it is of a quality that makes it R18 – the degree of it, the intensity of it, the realism of it,” says Hastings. “When you shoot a body it reacts in a very human way. It’s not just stickmen falling over. It looks real.”

Parents that buy a game rated as 18 for a minor can face up to three months in jail or a $10,000 fine.