(Posted by: Harrison Milfeld)
Australia: 'Don't get over here!'
If there's two things the Australian government hates, it's the kangaroo population and violent video games. Okay, maybe not that first bit, but the Australian Classification Board (i.e. the country's ESRB) certainly hasn't taken kindly to video games with copious amounts of blood and violence over the years. The latest victim in this debacle has now claimed the Mortal Kombat re-boot, scheduled for release this Spring.
According to IGN AU, Mortal Kombat has been refused classification by the Australian Classification Board, thus being banned effectively until Warner Bros. Interactive files for an appeal. Warner Bros. Interactive said in a statement that it's "extremely disappointed" that the game will not be available to (and I quote, verbatim) "mature Australian gamers." Warner Bros. Interactive certainly does care for its audience, even the ones who, sadly, have to deal with censored versions of Left 4 Dead.
For those wondering, Australia's video game classification system lacks an R18+ rating for any video game title, so all titles have a ratings ceiling of MA 15+; so, if the title does not fit into that criteria, it will thereby be banned from the country. IGN AU also added that the decision may soon be overturned in the future, but so far the damage has been done. At the time of the decision, the Australian Classification Board ordered that all preorders to be canceled and all game references be removed from retail stores. From Left 4 Dead to this latest Mortal Kombat re-boot, it goes to show that Australia's government officials seem out-of-touch with today's video game market.
According to IGN AU, Mortal Kombat has been refused classification by the Australian Classification Board, thus being banned effectively until Warner Bros. Interactive files for an appeal. Warner Bros. Interactive said in a statement that it's "extremely disappointed" that the game will not be available to (and I quote, verbatim) "mature Australian gamers." Warner Bros. Interactive certainly does care for its audience, even the ones who, sadly, have to deal with censored versions of Left 4 Dead.
For those wondering, Australia's video game classification system lacks an R18+ rating for any video game title, so all titles have a ratings ceiling of MA 15+; so, if the title does not fit into that criteria, it will thereby be banned from the country. IGN AU also added that the decision may soon be overturned in the future, but so far the damage has been done. At the time of the decision, the Australian Classification Board ordered that all preorders to be canceled and all game references be removed from retail stores. From Left 4 Dead to this latest Mortal Kombat re-boot, it goes to show that Australia's government officials seem out-of-touch with today's video game market.
