back to article Australians safe from Mortal Kombat

The Australian federal government’s Classification Board has given a “refused classification” (RC) rating to the upcoming Mortal Kombat game, meaning it will not go on the shelves. The decision has taken publisher Warners from villain to martyr in just 24 hours. Yesterday, the company was one of the plaintiffs being reviled …

COMMENTS

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  1. Anonymous Coward
    Pint

    Surely they can alter it a bit...

    ... to get classification.

    For instance, where our version would have a character throwing his hand in the chest of his opponent, rip out his heart and have the opponent collapse and scream in pain, the Aussie version would have the character poke at the opponent, and a cartoon style dialog bubble appearing next to the opponent showing him saying "Oie, you big meanie!" instead.

    With a bit of luck, that would be acceptable in Australia. Although it could still be viewed as bullying, hmmm, maybe tickle the opponent and make him giggle instead then, with his giggle bar going up, and when it's full you lose?

    To make sure we know the difference, it could be labelled the "Foster" version, with the tagline "Looks like yours, but bland and insipid".

    1. Jedit Silver badge
      Pirate

      Mortal Kombat without the gore

      So, the Nintendo version then?

  2. Chizo Ejindu
    Big Brother

    Phew that's lucky!

    For a minute there i thought australia's law makers maybe going a bit soft in their old age and turning into some kinda of left-wing tree-hugging liberal elite whose sole job is to corrupt the youth by feeding them japanese rape simulators and terrorist training games. But no! Rest safe people of Australia, your government has once again shown itself to be the world's only true bastion of incorruptibility, protecting your innocence with a vigour and zeal not seen since the Spanish Inquisition. Remember, they are doing this for your own good because, lets face it, you're all still children at heart and need to be told what to enjoy. Go enjoy Bondi Beach, leave the decisions to the adults aka the politicians.

    I wish the UK was just like Australia! Please Mr Cameron, I'm too stupid and susceptable to know what's good for me! If i tell you what i'm thinking will you tell me if it break's the law? In fact wouldn't it be better if we all told you what we were thinking so you could reprogram us when necessary??

    1. Chad H.
      Stop

      Not the decision of gvt

      Although the government may make the rules, they don't make individual rulings.

      To change the rules the attorney general of each state has to agree. Blame south australia's longstanding holdout.

      1. P Zero
        Boffin

        The holdout is long gone.

        But they are taking their sweet time anyway.

        I'm on the fence about this, I haven't enjoyed a Mortal Kombat game in a long time, so like Manhunt, I won't miss it. That said, I don't want the government playing mummy.

  3. Anonymous Coward
    FAIL

    Not all that important these days..

    The classification board has become largely irrelevant these days with the ability to purchase overseas or go forbid "pirate" goods :LOL

    I'd like them to get a classification system in that accounts for adults but I'm not holding my breath and frankly I really don't care all that much more anyway. It has never stopped me getting what I want if I want it.

    Fail: Because some idiot thought it was a good idea to have a separate classificiation system for each field rather than have guidelines and one rating system that could be used across all media no matter what.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Coat

    Australian Art

    "cited limb dismemberment, decapitation and disembowelment"

    Have they seen the Mad Max films?

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    yeah...

    I remember when Australia didn't suck. Seriously wtf is happening to this world? The prudes are a minority they are winning and we are just letting them.

  6. FreeTard

    Ridiculous

    Seriously, what is wrong with the Oz gov?

    Still, the game makers must be thrilled, as you can get no better publicity - the sales will go through the roof.

  7. Shaun 1

    Won't happen

    It won't get classification without serious cuts, because Australia doesn't have a higher rating than 15+ (for games)

  8. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Is it just me

    Or have Australian politicians/censors gone completely bonkers?

    Most of the Aussies i've met are pretty hardy, well rounded and certainly don't scare easily. So why the sudden prudishness?

    Is there something in the National charachteristic that i've missed?

  9. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Ban it here

    Perhaps if they ban it hear, some of the moral crusaders that like killing people games will get withdrawal symptoms. After all, it's only the lucky crusaders that get to play the really cool games that kill real people with drones. Perhaps the CPS can find a few individuals to sue?

  10. Anonymous Coward
    Pirate

    Arghh

    I assume this will mean that a lot of people will resort to downloading pirated versions of the game.

    Oh the irony.

  11. Aussie Brusader
    Happy

    Yawn...

    They can do what they want. Those that want it will still copy or download it; or buy it overseas if they can be bothered.

    It's like they put their collective finger in a leaky dam and ignore the rushing water that's going around it...

    I'm sure they feel better for it though.

  12. Anonymous Coward
    Pirate

    Middle ages thinking

    Funny isn't it?

    In the middle ages religion was very powerful and vengeful.

    In the middle ages death, combat, blood, guts and nasty stuff was common.

    Would an analogue of such an 'activity' have been banned in the 1400's?

    Probably not.

  13. sT0rNG b4R3 duRiD
    Thumb Down

    Down with this sort of thing.

    Ok, in all likelihood it is a crap game, and in all fairness they are probably doing all of us a favour... if it's anything like the prior MK's. They've universally been all bad fighters - no depth for one. But it's the principle behind it all.

    Down with this sort of thing.

  14. David Hicks

    So it'll just get pirated then?

    Like what happened with the banned versions of Manhunt 2 etc?

    Personally I enjoyed manhunt. Playing it on a projector but otherwise in the dark was a genuinely dark, brooding and scary experience. But people just focus on the fact you could kill bad guys with a shopping bag...

  15. mafoo
    Coat

    erm

    bunch of Sheilas

  16. andro
    FAIL

    R18 games classification

    This is exactly why we need an R18+ classification for computer games. If we do get a local toned down version many will import the game, and we'll get MA15+ and R18+ versions of the same game locally, with teens everywhere ending up with the R18 version and parents not even realising when they check the Australian rating.

  17. amanfromearth
    Thumb Up

    Excellent

    At last a blow for sanity, but fat chance of it ever happening here.

  18. JaitcH
    Alert

    "limb dismemberment, decapitation and disembowelment among the reasons ..."

    Sounds like the reality of the American War in VietNam, Iraq Invasion 1 & 2 and Afghanistan - all of which Australian soldiers participated in. I remember watching the horrors of VietNam served up nightly with dinner (in North America) and seeing a lot of what caused concern in this ruling displayed in living colour.

    I would have thought reminding younger adults of the horrors of war might prevent yet more.

  19. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    MC to be Australia's biggest selling title

    Streisand effect and all that.

    We need a Streisand icon. That nose...oh that heavenly nose.

  20. Darren Coleman

    The best advertising

    Whilst the axiom that "there's no such thing as bad publicity" in this case I think it applies. Assuming the Aussies can get a hold of this from other avenues (importing - as far as I know PS3 and Xbox are region free for games, or Steam gift, etc) then this judgement is a ringing endorsement of exactly the sort of content MK fans would looking for.

  21. Andrew Tyler 1

    Get over here.

    A B A C A B B

    The one code I still remember after all these years.

  22. umacf24

    Modifying for the Australian market

    Modifying that game would amount to virtual evisceration.

    Is that what they want?

  23. Anonymous Coward
    WTF?

    Double standards

    I thin Adults can make their own decisions on what they can and can't do. Decapitations? Please. When I lived in Australia I was able to order a copy of Ichi the Killer on DVD, which has a torture scene where someone is strung up to the roof on hooks through the skin of their back, and then have boiling oil poured on said back, followed by razor sharp needles through their face. Oh it also has gang rape, mutilations, decapitations and dismemberments...

  24. Bassey

    Weird

    "very detailed” realistic rendering - what of decapitations and dismemberments?

    How do they know it is realistic?

  25. CASIOMS-8V

    Finish Him

    that is all

  26. Anonymous Coward
    Thumb Up

    Yes the Australian Classification Board has just.....

    Declared that all unsupervised under 18 year olds must wear boxing gloves at all times - in order to minimise the chances of sinful self abuse taking place.

    Of course the members of the board practice restraint while filming their partners consort with devils, as a way of proving their immunity to satanic influences, witchcraft and sorcery.

  27. John Tserkezis

    Thankfully the classification board are brainless idiots.

    Remember Duke Nukem 3D when it first appeared on the shelves?

    The modified configuration to bring it back to its original glory appeared on the pirate networks within a week of release.

    It's been happening a long time before that, and will continue to happen for a long time after this one.

  28. Kactus
    Stop

    Problem

    One thing you may not be aware of, in the NT and WA simple possession of RC material is a serious crime, even if you import it or download it illegally. All RC material is treated with the same level of seriousness.

    The result of this is your copy of Mortal Combat or US version of Left 4 Dead 2 will have you dragged through the courts with the same severity as if you had snuff rape/murder videos or child pornography.

    This madness has to stop.

  29. Sam Therapy
    WTF?

    I don't get it.

    Australians seem to be a bunch of down to earth, sensible and generally good people. How on earth did they end up with such a set of dickheads running the show?

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