Dark Sector
Prod Digital Extremes / 2008 / Canada
AFA Interactive had this game Refused Classification on February 13th 2008.
***
Dark Sector Refused Classification in Australia. 13.02.08 ign.com
In its report, the Board describe Dark Sector as a "violent and sometimes gruesome game with a sinister storyline and ominous outcome. The violence and aggression inflicted upon the protagonist is of a high level, naturalistic and not stylised at all."
While the Board notes that the violence in the game takes place in the context of Hayden's mission to "defeat a scientist that has infected people with a mutant virus," the report spends several paragraphs detailing the most excessive examples of that violence, leading to the decision that its impact "exceeds strong and as such cannot be accomplished in a MA15+ classification."
For instance: "When Hayden cuts off his opponent's limb with the glaive, large amounts of blood spray forth from the stump and the injured person screams in agony which increases the impact." The report also mentions that some of the most violent elements of the gameplay, including "decapitation, dismemberment of limbs accompanied by large blood spurts, neck breaking twists and exploding bodies with post-action twitching body parts" are "relatively easy to accomplish".
We'll be updating the story – hopefully later today – with an official statement from D3Publisher, Dark Sector's publisher, but for now we can tell you that the game is likely to be altered and re-submitted to the OFLC. Adam Zweck, the Sales & Product Manager at AFA Interactive, the game's Australian distributor, told us that "This is (hopefully) not the end of the line for the game however, just a pretty substantial, but temporary, set-back".
***
Dark Sector banned in Australia. 13.02.08 GameSpot AU
Adam Zweck, sales and product manager for AFA Interactive (the local distributors of the game), told GameSpot AU that the OFLC banned Dark Sector due to its high-impact violence, particularly the finishing moves the game's main character can perform on various enemies.
"Obviously we're disappointed in it [the decision]," Zweck said. "We feel there is justification for an appeal. However, we're exploring several avenues at the moment to see what we can do to get the game on Australian shelves."
UPDATE: The OFLC has sent through its official ruling to GameSpot AU, which says that Dark Sector "contains violence that is high in impact and is therefore unsuitable for persons aged under 18 years to play."
"The finishing moves and most violent game play includes decapitation, dismemberment of limbs accompanied by large blood spurts, neck breaking spurts, neck breaking twists and exploded bodies with post-action twitching body parts. These moves are relatively easy to accomplish and once the player has mastered the moves and is able to get close to his foes, these violent moves can be executed," the OFLC's ruling said.
"Successfully shooting an opponent results in the depiction of blood spray. When Hayden cuts off his opponent's limb with the glaive, large amounts of blood spray forth from the stump and the injured person screams in agony which increases the impact."
***
Australia Will Get Toned Down Dark Sector, Based On Japanese Build kotaku.com.au 0.1.04.08
When Dark Sector was refused classification in Australia, we decided to chase not only the publisher, D3, but AFA Interactive, the local distributor and developer Digital Extremes.
AFA today got back to us with the following information.
According to the distributor, it's waiting for D3 to send out a new version of the game, based on the Japanese build. AFA says this build features "no decapitation and has toned down the limb severing on humans (only)". It believes this should meet the requirements for an MA15+ rating from the Office of Film and Literature Classification
