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There's another, more familiar Kid Icarus coming to 3DS [update: Free in Europe!]
What's that? You say you want Kid Icarus but you don't want any of that newfangled 3D? Well, according to Australia's Classification Board, your wish has been granted sort of. The site has posted a rating for the original Kid Icarus as a 3D Classic for the 3DS. There's no telling how much of a 3D makeover Pit will receive – or when it will be released, for that matter – but at least those yearning for the (super difficult) classic will have a chance to run from Death once again. Update: Nintendo has officially revealed that Kid Icarus will be offered as a free download in Europe for registering two qualifying 3DS titles with Club Nintendo. Details here.
'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.
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.
'Warhammer 40K: Kill Team' rated in Australia
Above: Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II We haven't even made the acquaintance of the beefy battlers in Warhammer 40K: Space Marine yet and our friends in Australia are already getting a peek at the franchise's future. The Australian Classification Board just awarded a release called Warhammer 40K: Kill Team with an "M", presumably since it features a team that kills things. According to the 40K wiki, a kill-team is "a small group of Space Marines, usually no less than five Astartes but no more than a reinforced squad in size, that are tasked with carrying out a specific objective, such as the destruction of a particularly dangerous or strategically important individual, hence the name." The title's being developed by THQ Digital Studios UK, the same house behind Red Faction: Battlegrounds, which leads us to believe we're talking about some sort of downloadable title. We were about to say it also leads us to believe it won't be very good, but who knows? Maybe the studio was working so hard on Kill Team that it forgot to make Battlegrounds good? Today is a holiday after all, the least we can do is to be generous.
Sonic Generations demo classified in Australia
Though Sonic's new outing Sonic Generations may still be a ways off, it looks like we may get an early double dose of hedgehog. Sega is planning to release a demo of the game, according to Australia's Classification Board, which recently awarded the demo a family-friendly G rating. It would seem like good news for Sonic fans, though it's unusual for most game rating organizations to assign a rating to an individual demo. Ratings are usually reserved only for individual retail products. One possible implication is that the demo could (could, mind you) be a paid product of some sort, or perhaps bundled with an upcoming Sega game.
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]
Half-Minute Hero coming to XBLA as 'Super Mega Neo Climax' edition
Hey, Half-Minute Hero is coming to Xbox Live Arcade! Okay, usually we try to ease you into the subject of our posts a little more gently than that, but we assumed that if you were the type of person to be excited by the announcement that Half-Minute Hero was coming to Xbox Live Arcade, you probably have a pretty short attention span. We've probably already lost you, haven't we? You're not reading this at all. Now we have to start dropping aberrant words until we regain your attention. Bombogenesis. Ronkonkoma. Bumbershoot. Hey, you're back! Yes, according to a listing from the Australian Classification Board, Marvelous Entertainment is bringing Half-Minute Hero to the XBLA platform, complete with a delightful new subtitle: Super Mega Neo Climax. Short attention span or no, we're going to find it difficult to get this one out of our mind until we get more information. Stay tuned! [Thanks, Perry!]
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.
'Rayman 3D' rated in Australia
The Australian Classification Board has rated "Rayman 3D" for unspecified platforms. We can think of two likely possibilities for this game: first, that it's a collection of ported Rayman games, in 3D, for PS3, like the recent Prince of Persia rereleases and the upcoming Splinter Cell collection, both from Rayman publisher Ubisoft. Or it's a Rayman game for 3DS. Both seem equally plausible: Ubisoft is continuing a recent trend, or preparing a mascot platformer for a new Nintendo handheld. Ubisoft declined to comment on this unannounced product, but at the very least we know there's some kind of Rayman product on the way -- besides Rayman Origins, which is decidedly 2D.
South Australian Attorney General wants to remove MA15+ games rating
Australia's Standing Committee of Attorneys-General are in the process of actively discussing the implementation of a (long overdue) R18+ rating for games in the territory, following the approval of said rating by the nation's federal cabinet earlier this month. However, South Australian AG John Rau recently introduced a thought-provoking idea to the committee: Should the R18+ rating be adopted, Rau believes that the MA15+ rating currently used by the Australian Classification Board should be removed altogether. Rau, who replaced longtime anti-R18+ advocate Michael Atkinson earlier this year, explained to Gamespot, "My reason for wanting to get rid of MA15+ if an R18+ is passed is that it will provide a crisper delineation between adults-only games and games that are for children." He later added, "if MA15+ comes out of the mix altogether, I think parents will have a clearer idea what games are for children, and what games are for adults." Should the MA15+ rating be repealed, the next-lowest rating used by the ACB would be M, which the board applies to games which "contain material that requires a mature perspective, but is still not enough to be deemed too strong for younger viewers." There's no age restriction applied to these games at Australian retailers, making it roughly equivalent to the Teen classification used by the ESRB. Rau's got a compelling argument, here -- but it won't make much of a difference if the Committee fails to approve the R18+ rating in the first place. C'mon, guys! We believe in you!
Australian R18+ rating revision still undecided
Sure, the Australian federal cabinet approves of an R18+ rating for adult-themed video games, but official adoption of the new rating has been stalled at the latest Standing Committee of Attorneys-General meeting in Canberra. GameSpot AU reports that no decision will be made by Federal Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor "before he meets with his Cabinet." O'Connor explained as much during a press conference, during which he noted the importance of an amended ratings system and that "gamers have grown, and we have to deal with the convergence of film and games." Unfortunately, despite the Minister's hopeful words, a cabinet vote during the meeting reflected that not all Attorneys-General supported the measure (no word on who voted for what). Additionally, O'Connor promises to broach the subject once more in early 2011 at the next SCAG meeting. For now, the reevaluation of the Australian game rating system is still in the works -- when it will actually occur, however, remains a mystery. [Thanks, Foetoid]
Australian board rates possible LittleBigPlanet spinoff
We know that Sackboy dominates whole worlds in LittleBigPlanet, but he's always stayed in the present, content to steal our dreams in modern times. We worry that may be about to change though, as the Australian Classification Board has rated "Sackboy's Prehistoric Moves" for release. Siliconera shrewdly theorizes this will be a Move-centric release, thanks to the title and Media Molecule's development partner for the project, Supermassive (the house behind Start the Party and Tumble). We're happy to see Sackboy branching out, but why would Media Molecule release yet another game when LittleBigPlanet 2 is already all of the games? What sense does that make?
Australian Christian Lobby argues against R18+ rating
[Image credit] We've been following this story for quite some time now. Australia is currently debating a new R18+ rating, which would allow more mature games to be released in the country uncensored. The established maximum rating of MA 15+ has been a pain for both the gamers and those producing the games. Now there's a paper that citizens can weigh in on and retailer EB Games is the latest to support the new, more mature classification. Caught up? Good. In addition to the roadblock of the Australian Attorney General, it would seem the R18+ rating now has another hurdle to overcome: The Australian Christian Lobby and its head, Jim Wallace. In an interview with GameSpot, Wallace equates violent video games to his time spent in the SAS, comparing soldiers' use of simulation exercises and routines as a way to break their "natural reluctance" to kill an enemy. By making these games more lifelike, he thinks the average citizen will be less hesitant to perform these violent acts outside the confines of their television screens and computer monitors, something he says isn't "in the individual's interest, and it's not in the community's interest." Wallace also had some choice words for the ongoing public feedback phase of the proposed R18+ rating. He says "the only people who are going to be into this are the games people" -- y'know, the people affected by all of this. [Via Game Politics]
EB Games endorses R18+ rating in Australia
Australia isn't just dangerous because of its abundance of deadly, poisonous wildlife, it's also not a great place to live if you're an adult gamer. See, the country's maximum rating for video games has long been MA 15+, meaning that a mature game must either be censored down to what the country deems is suitable for a 15 year old individual or outright banned from release in the country. This forces many gamers to navigate the seedy streets and back alleys of the importing scene. Nasty stuff, believe us. But, there's hope. A new rating of R18+ has been a hot topic as of late. Recently, the government has been receptive to a change in the legislature, despite South Australian attorney general Michael Atkinson's vehement disapproval. The public is able to weigh in on the proposed change right now, but retailer EB Games has also decided to join the fight for more mature titles. And like anyone else trying to get something done on the internet, it's started a petition. The "Grow Up Australia & EB Games" petition pretty much mirrors the same form found on the Aussie government's site here, so if you're a bloke or sheila who has already voiced your opinions on the government site, there's no need to fill out this new EB Games questionnaire. If not, get on it. The deadline is February 28. [Via IGN]
CrimeCraft banned in Australia
Vogster's MMOFPS CrimeCraft hasn't had the easiest time, and it took another hit last week when it was banned in Australia. The Australian Classification Board refused classification of the game thanks to the availability of Boosts, drugs that give the player character various buffs. The reason given? "In the board's opinion, there is insufficient delineation between the 'fictional drugs' available in game and real-world proscribed drugs." The board elaborated a bit on their decision, pointing out strong similarities to real-world drugs: "In addition, the names of boosts mimic the chemicals and colloquial names of proscribed drugs. Examples include K-Dust, Birth, Chimera, Majoun, Betadyne ResistX and Zymek Stim-Ex, as well as the anabolics Raze and Frenzy." Australia currently does not have any sort of R18+ classification, so a game that would receive that rating is banned. Valve worked around this in October by submitting a censored version of Left 4 Dead 2, so CrimeCraft may not be entirely without hope.
MMOGs rated in Australia. Warcraft a bit late, no sign of Conan, Warhammer
Back at the end of January, after we spent months investigating, talking to the Australian Classification Board, and both State and Federal Australian Attorneys General offices, it became clear that an apparent discrepancy in Australian games ratings was no discrepancy. MMOGs were being sold on store shelves in Australia without the mandatory classification required by law. The whole thing was a tangle of confusing and contradictory information and statements from publishers, developers, industry associations, retailers and government departments. The government departments involved ultimately passed the buck back and forth between State and Federal jurisdictions, until their press-offices simply refused to talk. Now, at last, the government seems to have gotten its message straight. In the wake of the coverage most MMOGs applied for and received a rating. Even Blizzard's World of Warcraft (a bit of a johnny-come-lately) has a proper rating this month and only Funcom's Age of Conan and Mythic's Warhammer Online seem to be holdouts, as far as we can tell.
Australian network filtering promises to reach out to block games, online games and more
Australian Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, has promised to extend Australia's proposed network-level content filtering regime to block games, online games, downloadable games, and websites that sell or allow download of games that are deemed not to be suitable for a 15-year-old audience. This, despite research by the IEAA (the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia) that the average age of Australian Gamers is 30. Even though Australian Federal and State laws say otherwise, some MMO titles exceeding that classification are already sold on Australian store shelves, by simply bypassing compulsory classification. Australian Federal and State authorities refuse to respond to any enquiries about the topic. The matter becomes even more confusing and complex, however, as it introduces a new, defacto classifications body to the mix.
Aus government confused on MMOG ratings requirements
After issuing some apparently definitive statements about the requirement for MMOGs to be classified for sale in Australia, the department responsible seems to have thrown up its collective hands in confusion and is apparently unable to determine whether MMOGs should or should not be classified. While the government held firm for a while that MMOGs were no different to other games for the purposes of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act of 1995, and that the position upheld by the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia (IEAA) was incorrect, that message changed earlier this week, when the message wavered and the department then suggested that publishers and retailers (and us) should seek advice elsewhere.
