Australian Government Bans New Syndicate Game [Slashdot]

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An anonymous reader writes "It looks like the Australian Government's move to introduce a new R18+ classification for adult video games hasn't yet taken force, with video game maker EA confirming today that its reboot of the classic Syndicate series has been banned in Australia due to extreme violence. Left 4 Dead, Mortal Kombat and now Syndicate — what game will be banned next in Australia is anybody's guess."http://a.fsdn.com/sd/facebook_icon_large.png (http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgames.slashdot.org%2Fsto ry%2F11%2F12%2F21%2F0426227%2Faustralian-government-bans-new-syndicate-game%3Futm_source%3Dslashdot%26utm_medium%3Dfacebo ok) http://a.fsdn.com/sd/twitter_icon_large.png (http://twitter.com/home?status=Australian+Government+Bans+New+Syndica te+Game%3A+http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FvnqeYi)

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[nothingisttrue]

i love system shock, shadowrun and deus ex. but until i read this post syndicate had thus far fell beneath my radar.
after reading this post i got a copy of the pc version and its a pretty cool game.

[Graham Mitchell]

It's not even out yet, how can they ban it? Pre emptive banning?

[Kitsune Sniper]

They know what the game is about. That's it.

I thought they got an R-18 rating to stop shit like this from happening.

[TonyTheTiger]

They know what the game is about. That's it.

I thought they got an R-18 rating to stop shit like this from happening.

People supporting Australia's R-18 rating more or less invited their own problems.

It was something of a bait and switch or ultimately a severe case of missing the point on the part of the people who wanted real progress. The goal should never have been to get an R-18 rating passed. The goal should have been to get the government out of the rating business in the first place. All the R-18 rating does is satisfy people enough to shut up about it while the real problem (it being a government sponsored and enforced system) goes by undetected.

[Emuaust]

People supporting Australia's R-18 rating more or less invited their own problems.

It was something of a bait and switch or ultimately a severe case of missing the point on the part of the people who wanted real progress. The goal should never have been to get an R-18 rating passed. The goal should have been to get the government out of the rating business in the first place. All the R-18 rating does is satisfy people enough to shut up about it while the real problem (it being a government sponsored and enforced system) goes by undetected.

LOL wut?

This has been banned because while it has been agreed to have an R18+ rating introduced its not here yet, there is legislation to be changed and that wont happen now until next year some time, its simply because they are still using the old model for ratings.

[TonyTheTiger]

Doesn't matter. A government run rating system is absurd and leaves itself vulnerable to all kinds of shenanigans. I can't believe more people don't see that.

[Emuaust]

Cool story bro

[theclaw]

Cool story bro

This is not at all comparable to the American system. We have a voluntary independent non-government agency. Games here that are rated AO or fail to achieve rating status may still be released, sold, and private ownership by consumers.

Not one specific video game title to date has received a government level ban in the US. Ever.

Though it doesn't count games considered illegal due to other laws. I doubt a game with active intentional promotion and encouragement of stuff like CP would hold up in court...

[Gamevet]

I don't know if that's entirely true, theclaw

The hot coffee code got Rockstar in all kinds of trouble, even though it was an M-rated game.

[Sunnyvale]

The hot coffee code got Rockstar in all kinds of trouble, even though it was an M-rated game.

The ESRB pulled San Andreas, not the Feds.

[Gamevet]

The ESRB pulled San Andreas, not the Feds.

It ended up costing Rockstar a lot of money in court fees. Rockstar pulled it from shelves, as far as I know.

Obviously, the rating system does work here, but not as well as the industry would like it.

[cheaterdragon1]

What is stopping Australians from just importing the game then? I don't exactly see the big deal here.

[Sunnyvale]

It ended up costing Rockstar a lot of money in court fees. Rockstar pulled it from shelves, as far as I know.

Obviously, the rating system does work here, but not as well as the industry would like it.

Yeah, ESRB basically killed it with the AO rating. Rockstar tried to keep it going, but eventually did a recall to save face. And they got sued and sued some more.

But it's not like the OP's scenario. The Feds didn't stop it. Matter of fact, remember the big hooplah in 2010 in the Supreme Court over video games? It was decided the 1st Ammendment covers games too.

[TonyTheTiger]

The ESRB pulled San Andreas, not the Feds.

Not even. The ESRB just changed the rating. It's just that most retailers either heavily restrict AO games or simply choose not to carry them at all. That's why Rockstar did what it did. Because without the support of brick and mortar stores they'd get hurt even more.

[Sunnyvale]

Not even. The ESRB just changed the rating. It's just that most retailers either heavily restrict AO games or simply choose not to carry them at all. That's why Rockstar did what it did. Because without the support of brick and mortar stores they'd get hurt even more.

I elaborated in my next post...


Yeah, ESRB basically killed it with the AO rating. Rockstar tried to keep it going, but eventually did a recall to save face. And they got sued and sued some more.

[The 1 2 P]

Once the ratings change over goes thru next year these silly bans should hopefully be a thing of the past.....hopefully.

[Kitsune Sniper]

What is stopping Australians from just importing the game then? I don't exactly see the big deal here.

If Customs finds the game, they take it and fine the person who bought it. So they lose money TWICE.

[theclaw]

Why did they get a rating system that's overseen by their feds anyway?

For an american like myself, the thought of government involvement in the ratings field is VERY unusual.

[Tupin]

Why did they get a rating system that's overseen by their feds anyway?

For an american like myself, the thought of government involvement in the ratings field is VERY unusual.
I think it's weird that not only is it government run, they rate everything. Movies, games, and books. It just doesn't seem like the most efficient way, being a jack of all trades.

[Griking]

Perhaps now they'll spend more time on game play and atmosphere than gratuitous violence now.

Yeah, who am I kidding?

[Griking]

Doesn't matter. A government run rating system is absurd and leaves itself vulnerable to all kinds of shenanigans. I can't believe more people don't see that.

Personally I'm ok with a rating system that prevents violent games from being sold to kids. If a parent really wants their kids to have violent games then they can buy them for them otherwise it becomes just another things that kids will need to wait till their an adult for.

And yes, I know that some kids will still find a way to get these games without their parents. That doesn't however make a rating system or law worthless.

[Griking]

It ended up costing Rockstar a lot of money in court fees. Rockstar pulled it from shelves, as far as I know.

Obviously, the rating system does work here, but not as well as the industry would like it.

I can't imagine that the industry is going to like any system that can possibly result in fines and lost revenue.

[Emuaust]

If Customs finds the game, they take it and fine the person who bought it. So they lose money TWICE.

Only reported cases of this are in Western Australia, as its the only state it is illegal.