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Left 4 Dead 2 uncensored classified in Australia
Residents over the age of majority in the great nation of Australia are now permitted to legally purchase Left 4 Dead 2 in its unedited state on PC. Kotaku Australia confirmed with developer Valve that the new rating had been implemented. "We are making plans to deliver that version to those who have already purchased the game. We will announce more details on that soon," Valve's Doug Lombardi told Kotaku.
Crimson Dragon rated in Australia, features markings of 'Project Draco'
It would appear the final name of "Project Draco" will be Crimson Dragon, if the pieces of a recent Australian classification fit neatly together. The author of the classification is listed as Grounding Inc., with Microsoft as publisher. Also, the game is called Crimson Dragon, which seems to perfectly describe the flying reptilian protagonist of the game.Project Draco, a Kinect-based dragon shooter, is heavily inspired by the Panzer Dragoon series. This observation is totally cool since the game is under the direction of Panzer Dragoon creator Yukio Futatsugi and many of the game's original team members. Project Draco is expected to fly sometime this year.
PS3 and Vita game 'Malicious' classified in Australia
Malicious, a PSN-exclusive boss rush action game (genre: "I'd like to speak to the manager, and then stab him."), may bring its concentrated quest and weaponized cloak to territories beyond Japan. The Alvion-developed project has been classified in Australia and attached to publisher Sony Computer Entertainment, making a localized version likely. The game's move to other markets could coincide with the upcoming Vita port, which was announced in August after the original launched on PlayStation 3. We've yet to hear any official details about a Malicious localization, but we've already started begging Sony to change the name and prevent confusion with our homoerotic "Firefly" fan novel.
'Stuff vs. Stuff' being published by Microsoft
Microsoft will publish Stuff vs. Stuff, according to the Australian Classification Board. What is it? Well, it's ... um, you see, it's stuff versus stuff. Maybe it's like random object Fight Club? Honestly, we don't have a clue. The game is being developed by Smoking Gun Interactive, a Canadian outfit made up of ex-Relic and Company of Heroes veterans. So, they should know their stuff. If successful, we already see the sequel: Stuff vs. Stuff... now with bears.
Virtua Tennis 4 'World Tour Edition' rated in Australia
The Australian ratings board has posted a classification for some kind of new version of Virtua Tennis 4, called "Virtua Tennis 4 World Tour Edition." This one differs from the original in that it's got an M rating and warnings for severe, graphic violence. No, we're totally kidding. It's rated G ... for graphic violence. Kidding again. It's "General." Our best guess for the identity of this "World Tour Edition" is that it's the Vita release of Virtua Tennis 4. The PSP Virtua Tennis game bore the "World Tour" appellation as well. It certainly makes sense for a game you can take with you.
The Last Story classified in Australia
We're happy to have some good news about a new regional release of The Last Story, even if it's not the region we would have picked. The Classification Board has rated Mistwalker's Wii action RPG for release in Australia, where its "fantasy violence and mature themes" have earned it an M rating. The Last Story, of course, is one of the games for which "Operation Rainfall" is campaigning. Depending on your outlook (and your location), evidence of an Australian release can either be an encouraging sign of worldwide plans, or a version of the game in yet another region that isn't North America.
House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut cleared for Australia
House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut, the enhanced, Move-enabled PS3 version of the on-rails shooter originally released on Wii, has won its Australian classification appeal and will be available on October 27 in the region. "It is with great pleasure that we announce the success of our appeal," said Darren MacBeth, managing director of Sega Australia. "We are proud to confirm that the game will be released in Australia in its original entirety, with no content altered or removed in any way." The Board previously refused classification after it concluded that "the additional modes included in this modified version and the interactive nature of the game increases the overall impact of the frequent and intense depictions of violence." That point that didn't quite stand up to the simple rebuttal: "But it's almost the same thing on the Wii!"
'Extended Cut' content keeping House of the Dead out of Australia
Yesterday, we postulated that the extra content in House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut could be the reason the game was refused classification in Australia. It turns out that's exactly what happened, according to a Classification Board decision report obtained by Joystiq. The report specifically cites the new Hardcore mode contained in Extended Cut, which requires players to make headshots and evidently ratchets the violence into territory that is "unsuitable for a minor to see or play." The report also mentions Extra Mutants mode which is ... well, it's pretty self-explanatory. Somewhat puzzling, however, is the fact that Extra Mutants mode was also available in the original Wii version of the game. The Board concludes that "the additional modes included in this modified version and the interactive nature of the game increases the overall impact of the frequent and intense depictions of violence." So there you have it: Classification refused. Joystiq has yet to receive comment on the matter from Sega, the game's publisher.
I Am Alive found hiding on Australian game classification website
It's been nearly half a year since we last heard from Ubisoft about the long ago teased I Am Alive, but an Australia game rating classification for the title popped up yesterday, indicating it may be closer to release than we once thought. The listing doesn't reveal anything beyond what we already know about the game, granting it an MA 15+ "Strong Violence" rating. I Am Alive was first officially revealed at E3 2008, and other than a new trailer shown at E3 2010, has been conspicuously quiet over the past couple years. When it was last spoken of by Ubisoft during a financial call, it was pushed to an amorphous "post-April 2011" launch window. As inferred by its title, it seems that the project is still being worked on somewhere, likely Ubisoft Shanghai, and that amorphous launch window may become more defined in the not-so-distant future.
'Elevator Action Deluxe' rated for PS3
Another vintage Taito series is coming up again (ding!) according to an Australian classification board listing. Square Enix is preparing Elevator Action Deluxe for PS3, developed by a company called B-Project Inc. Despite the name, there's no way this game is as deluxe as the recent arcade title Elevator Action Death Parade -- that game has real elevator doors. We would expect a new Elevator Action to build not on the light-gun gameplay of that arcade game, though, but on the side-view, floor-to-floor espionage and combat of the original and its excellent sequel. And by "expect" we mean "hope."
Australian gov releases R18+ guideline proposal
Australia's federal government has released a proposed draft of new guidelines to reform its video game classification system and introduce an R18+ rating. Meaning, the country's uncomfortably long struggle to introduce an adult-friendly classification for games may finally reach a conclusion. The R18+ rating would allow "virtually no restrictions on the treatment of themes," allow violence to a more liberal degree than the current MA 15+ cap and give the option for sexual activity to be "realistically simulated," according to the draft. Australia's Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor says the new rules would "bring Australia into line with comparable nations." The federal government and the attorneys-general (including those opposed to the new rating and the ones who feel the government isn't going far enough) will meet in July, when they are expected to reach a consensus to introduce the R18+ classification.
The Witcher 2 censored slightly for Australia
The Witcher 2 has reportedly been censored ever so slightly for Australian audiences. Games On Net notes that for its MA 15+ rating the titular Witcher can't accept sex as a reward for completing a side quest. Namco Bandai, the game's Aussie distributor, apparently felt that receiving sex as a reward was not suitable for the game. The quest and NPC are still in the game, though the outcome has simply been altered. That's promised to be the only change made for Aussies. Contacted for comment, a representative for developer CD Projekt told us the company will apparently make a statement about the situation tomorrow. Australia is expected to finally resolve its lack of R18+ rating in a meeting of the attorneys-general this July. [Thanks, Chris]
Report: Burnout Crash is 'action arcade style', set in Crash City
Last week, a rating appeared for the unannounced "Burnout Crash" on the Australian classification board's site. We followed up with the board to find out more about EA's mysterious "multiplatform" game, and received the following synopsis of the submitted content: "An action arcade style game set in the fictional world of Crash City. The aim of the game is to cause as much damage as possible to traffic and buildings by crashing a car into them." Essentially, it's the idea behind "Crash Mode" in previous Burnout games, or Paradise's "Showtime." And if this single mode is the sole focus of Burnout Crash, it's likely to be a smaller downloadable game. It's also likely to be a bit depressing, if the setting is a city so beset by car crashes that it has "Crash" in the name.
Australian AG Clark hesitant to pass R18+ rating
According to a report from The Age, the long-debated Australian R18+ games rating may be shot down again during a July meeting of the nation's Attorneys-General, despite receiving the full support of the federal government. Victoria AG Robert Clark has expressed concern over the proposed ratings adoption, saying he's worried the new classification "would legalize games with high levels of graphic, frequent and gratuitous violence, including violence against civilians and police." Clark shares the concerns of Australian Christian Lobby director Rob Ward, who said the Classification Board was "asleep at the wheel" when it granted titles like Grand Theft Auto 4 and House of the Dead: Overkill MA15+ ratings, allowing them to be released in the territory. Ward added, "that's not a reason to create an R18+ category. That's a reason to clip them behind the ear." Whoa, there, fella. Now who's being violent? [Thanks, Shane]
'Burnout Crash' classified by Aussie ratings board
The Australian Classification Review Board has revealed Burnout Crash, an unannounced, PG-rated title to be published by Electronic Arts. Aside from being listed for multiple platforms, no other details on Burnout Crash have been made known. The Burnout series has been on hiatus since Paradise, which developer Criterion supported with extensive DLC for a good span of time after launch, before moving on to last year's Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. The last thing we heard about Burnout came from EA senior VP Patrick Soderlund, who assured us the franchise was far from dead.
Mortal Kombat receives R18 in New Zealand (which means it's coming out)
Mortal Kombat may be combatting release issues in Australia, but the game is being officially allowed to pulverize faces (and everything else) across the water in New Zealand. The country's Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) gave Mortal Kombat an R18 rating recently, which is to say the game's content is "objectionable except if the availability of the publication is restricted to persons who have attained the age of 18 years." We imagine Kiwis responding to the classification by taking fistfulls of marmite and punching straight through box sets of Flight of the Conchords, while screaming "Get over here" in the general direction of WB Games Chicago. Or just quietly shouting "hooray!" One or the other.
Mortal Kombat publisher appealing Aussie 'Refused Classification' decision
Warner Bros. Interactive's Australian arm will appeal the RC (Refused Classification) "unrating" bestowed upon Mortal Kombat by the Australian Classification Review Board. The designation prevents the game from being sold by retailers in the country. "After reviewing both the gameplay and the Board's original decision, WBIE Australia believe the violence in the game is on par with numerous other titles readily available for sale in the Australian market," reads the publisher's statement, obtained by IGN AU. "As such, the company wants to exhaust all options to make the game available to Mortal Kombat fans in this country. An identical version of the game will be submitted for appeal." Two years ago, Valve resubmitted an unedited version of Left 4 Dead 2 to the Aussie classification board in an appeal to an earlier RC ruling and ... lost.
Mortal Kombat refused classification in Australia
Mortal Kombat has been refused classification in Australia, IGN AU reports. According to the site's sources, retail outlets have been asked to remove all promotional materials, as well as cancel preorders. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, the game's publisher, said in a statement that it's "extremely disappointed" that the title will not be available to "mature Australian gamers." Due to Australia's lack of an R18+ rating for games, all titles must fit the category of "MA 15+" or be refused classification, and thereby be banned from sale in the country. We're currently following up with WBIE to find out if it's planning an appeal.
Dissidia Duodecim demo rated for Australia, could venture outside Japan
Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy is set to arrive at retail one month from now, and it appears that Japan's 300 Yen ($3.64) demo -- "Prologus" (seriously) -- could accompany it to English territories. A classification for the demo popped up on the Australian Classification Board website, listing "Dissidia Duodecim Prologus Final Fantasy" with a "PG" rating (for "mild fantasy violence and themes," of course). While the Australian rating certainly doesn't guarantee a North American release, we'd wager it'll arrive here based on localization efforts alone. In Japan, the Prologus demo unlocks Final Fantasy VII's Aerith as an assisting (but not playable) character in the main game.
Battle: Los Angeles game being made by Saber Interactive, ratings board suggests
It seems that upcoming alien invasion flick Battle: Los Angeles is receiving a tie-in game. According to Australia's classification website, a Battle: Los Angeles game is being developed by Saber Interactive, the studio behind TimeShift, Inversion, and an unannounced Halo: Combat Evolved remake. The movie's imminent release this March, coupled with the surprising absence of an early announcement, means a Battle: Los Angeles game is unlikely to be a regular retail release. We're currently following up with Saber and publisher Konami for more details.
