Fable
Prod Microsoft / 2004 / USA / IMDb
This title has been included as AN EXAMPLE OF OFLC POLICY. it has not been censored OR BANNED.
Passed by the Classification Board with an M15+( Medium Level Animated Violence) rating on June 11th 2004.
Just over a year later the Queensland Premier spoke about the game in Parliament.
Queensland Parliament
Weekly Hansard
51st Parliament
Thursday, 11 August 2005
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
Violent Video Games
Hon. PD BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—ALP) (Premier and Treasurer) (9.36 am):
In the course of seeking information this week about Getting Up, I learned of the existence of another computer game which also may warrant action. Fable, which has been classified M15+ with the consumer advice ‘medium level animated violence’, is said to promote violence. Women’s groups have complained that it encourages male violence against women. This is anathema to most Queenslanders and certainly to this government. Domestic violence is a crime; it can murder, it can maim and it can leave women and children traumatised and emotionally scarred. As we see too often in Queensland, it can throw families and entire communities into dysfunction.
The government encourages creativity and Queensland’s home-grown computer game industry as well, but we condemn the glorification of violence to young people. The Office of Fair Trading’s classifications officer is currently examining Fable. If it is determined that the game promotes violence, we will not hesitate in asking the federal government to take appropriate action.
***
Classification Board & Classification Review Board - Annual Report 2004 - 2005
Computer Games - complaints
A single complaint was received about coarse language in Jak 2 [PG], the depiction of violence in The Simpsons: Hit & Run [G] and perceived domestic violence in Fable [MA15+].
Gals Panic 2
Prod Kaneko / 1993 / Japan
Submitted by the Victorian Police, it was rated RC on August 9th 1996.
Gals Panic 3
Prod Kaneko / 1995 / Japan
Submitted by the Victorian Police, it was rated RC on August 9th 1996.
Getaway, The
Prod Sony Computer Entertainment / 2002 / UK / IMDb
Sony Computer Entertainment had an Original Version passed MA15+ (Medium Level Animated Violence, Medium Course Language) on October 18th 2002.
For some reason a revised version was resubmitted and passed on November 22nd 2002. It was again rated MA15+, but the rating warning had been increased to High Level Animated Violence, High Level Course Language, Sexual References, Drug References.
Finally, on November 27th 2002 a revised version was Refused Classification due to excessive violence.
***
The
full board report for the revised version is as follows. Thanks to Dean L
for sending this in.
Title: THE GETAWAY
Board Report T02/2840
SYNOPSIS:
Playstation
game in which a former gang member is forced to carry out various errands
for his ex-boss who is holding his son hostage.
REASONS
FOR THE DECISION:
When
making this classification decision the Classification Board (the Board)
followed the procedure set out in the Classification (Publications, Films
and Computer Games) Act 1995 (the Act). The Board also applied the
National Classification Code and the Classification Guidelines, while
taking into account the matters set out in section 11 of the Act.
The
National Classification Code (the Code), in the Computer Games, Table1,
states that:
Computer
Games will be refused classification (RC) if they :
a)
depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of sex, drug misuse or
addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in
such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency or
propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they
should not be classified.
The
Classification Guidelines for Computer Games, Amendment No. 2, April 1999
(the Guidelines), in the RC section, state that:
Computer
Games will be refused classification (RC) if they contain:
depictions
of realistic violence, even if not detailed, relished or cruel (eg.
excessive and serious violence, such as realistic depictions of
dismemberment accompanied by loss of blood to real life images;
extreme
’horror’ scenarios or special effects;
In
the majority opinion of the Board, this Game contains depictions of
violence that exceed those indicated in the MA15+ Guidelines and,
therefore, warrants an RC classification for the scenes in which a person
is seen suspended from a ceiling in full motion video, blood detail to
various parts of the body and being tortured by a male using electric
shocks to the body.
The
victim is seen swaying and crying out in pain as the torturer sings an
Arsenal football song.
A
minority of the Board considered the gameplay in a night club in which a
nude and semi nude female dancer can be shot by the player to be
sexualised violence warranting an RC classification.
A
minority of the Board is of the view that this game includes breast nudity
in incidental visuals, such as with a background ’pole dancer’, and in
violent context. There is no " ’bona fide’ educational, medical
or community health purpose" for the nudity and this minority
considers this element exceeds ’MA’ as set out in the Guidelines.
A
minority of the Board considers the violence to be realistic violence of
medium intensity (eg impactful punches, kicks, blows and bloodshed to
realistic animated characters or real-life images). In the minority view,
the game can be accommodated in the MA classification with consumer
advices of High Level Animated Violence, High Level Coarse Language,
Sexual References and Drug references.
***
The OFLC Annual Report from 2002-2003 describes what happened next.
"The applicant for The Getaway submitted a revised version of the game which omitted the strongest elements of violence and obtained an MA15+ classification with the consumer advice, ‘High level animated violence, high level coarse language, sexual references, drug references’."
Thanks to the guys at the Futuregamez site for the following information. The scene in question reportedly involved the torturing of a person with electric shocks.
"In all, 20 seconds of non-interactive cut-scenes have been removed - with absolutely no changes made to the gameplay or storyline. This 20 second scene involves the torturing of a captive which goes beyond that deemed acceptable in Australian video games by the OFLC. Once again there have been absolutely no changes to the actual gameplay so those with the game on pre-order need not worry."
God of War
Prod Sony Computer Entertainment / 2005 / USA / IMDb
This title has been included as AN EXAMPLE OF OFLC POLICY. it has not been censored OR BANNED.
Sony had this title passed MA15+ (Medium level animated violence, Sexual references) on March 9th 2005. It had no problems with the OFLC, but is worth mentioning as it illustrates their changing attitudes to sexual content in games.
Mick has played the game and has provided the following
run-down.
The nudity: Every woman in the game has breasts showing. At the end of the
first level there are two females laying on a bed having sex (breasts
are showing) when the cut scene ends they are still laying there.
The Sex: If you hop onto the bed you are able to have sex with them by
pressing "O". The camera zooms away, but I have confirmed info
that this is how the game is all around the world. You press various
buttons, such as Square, Triangle and X to control the sex. If you
succeed, you get orbs that increase you're magic powers.
Hitman: Contracts
Prod Eidos Interactive / 2004 / Denmark / IMDb
This title has been included as AN EXAMPLE OF OFLC POLICY. it has not been censored OR BANNED.
Atari Australia had this game passed MA15+ (Medium Level Violence) on March 29th 2004.
The article GAMES TURN DEADLY SERIOUS that appeared in the West Australian on 24th May 2004 claims that:
"The Office of Film and Literature Classification last week asked Atari to withdraw the advertisement for Hitman from cinemas, where it was playing just before M-rated blockbuster Troy. But it has approved the game itself for the Australian market."
Chris Eade from Atari is quoted as saying:
"Games should have a classification system consistent with other entertainment forms," he said. "I don't think a game in which you 'get into the mind of a killer' is any more contentious than a movie portraying a serial killer - of which there are numerous examples."
Demand to ban thrill-kill game Melbourne Herald-Sun 19.07.04 (ARCHIVED)
Noel McNamara from the Crime Victims Support Association is quoted as saying:
"This is just encouraging kids to
grow up to sneak around and shoot people in the back of the head"
"It just begs disbelief, especially
here in the hitman and crime capital of the nation."
"It's absolutely disgusting to promote
heinous crime and build up such an unhealthy fantasy."
"It should be kicked off the market.
The Government should step in and do something."
The Victorian Shadow Attorney-General Andrew McIntosh (who claims not to believe
in censorship) is quoted a saying:
"This is a matter where you would think
the Premier would stand up and call for a voluntary ban,"
"It is up to large corporations like
Blockbuster and anybody else who is hoping to distribute this game to show
some sort of responsibility.
"If you glorify a highly illegal
activity in an environment of 27 gangland killings, where do you draw the
line?"
No doubt seeing the controversy as nothing more than a media beat-up, the Victorian Attorney-General Rod Hulls is not getting involved. His spokeswoman said:
"It is up to the Federal OFLC to make this determination,"
***
Barbara Scott, the Liberal Shadow Minister For Children; Culture and The Arts argued against the game in the W.A. Legislative Council. Complaints from W.A. eventually saw the game MANHUNT reviewed and then banned.
Parliament
of Western Australia
House: Legislative Council-
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Date: Thursday, 26 August 2004
Member: SCOTT MS B; PRESIDENT; CHANCE
Subject: VIDEO GAMES HITMAN: CONTRACTS AND MANHUNT?
Page: 5696c - 5697a / 1
678. Hon BARBARA SCOTT to the minister representing the Minister for Justice:
I refer to her responsibility under the State Censorship Act and to The West Australian dated 13 September 2003, with articles titled “Game linked to crime spree” and “Violence is the name of the game”.
(1) Is the minister aware of the video games titled Hitman: Contracts and Manhunt?
(2) Is the minister aware that the nature of the games is to murder people and avoid detection?
(3) If not, will the minister make herself aware of the nature of the games?
Hon Tom Stephens: The Liberal Party has done more to promote those games than anyone else. Nobody knew about them before.
Hon BARBARA SCOTT: The member should read the hundreds of e-mails I have received in support of our move to have them banned. I have had hundreds of e-mails from Western Australians concerned about them.
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT: Order!
Hon BARBARA SCOTT: Thank you, Mr President.
(4) Will the minister restrict access to the games by ensuring that they are not available to be played in prisons and youth detention centres?
(5) If not, why not?
(6) Is the minister aware that New Zealand has banned Manhunt?
(7) Will the minister request the Office of Film and Literature Classification to ban both these video games?
(8) If not, why not?
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I provide the answer on behalf of the minister assisting the Minister for Justice.
(1)-(2) Yes.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) The Department of Justice advises that the games are not permitted in prisons or detention centres.
(5) Not applicable.
(6) Yes.
(7)-(8) The Minister for Justice advises that she has written to the commonwealth Attorney-General seeking a review of the computer game Manhunt. The minister is seeking a copy of the classification board’s reasons for its decision on the computer game Hitman: Contracts before deciding what action to take.
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT: Order!
The parliamentary secretary bench seems to be suffering from neglect, by the sound coming from it. I hope the Leader of the Opposition will ask one of them a question.
Hon Norman Moore: I was hoping to get a copy of that game so that I could work out how to do it!
Immoral Combat
Prod The Digital Spider - Fat Cat Productions / USA
Submitted by the Victorian Police, it was rated RC on 23rd April 1997.
It is described as:
"The first virtual oil wrestling experience where you control all the action! One slip... and you're in deep! Only the ultimate warriors have advanced to the final level. Now their fate is in your hands! These women are the cream of the crop, each possessing unique talents that are at your disposal!"
Immoral Cumbat
Prod Coresoft / USA
Submitted by the Victorian Police, it was rated RC on May 2nd 1997.
It is described as:
"......the world's first XXX 3D "virtual reality" game. It takes you through an adult adventure in a world that could only exist in the minds of the unbalanced."
Jo Guest in the Milk Round
Prod Interactive Girls / 1994 / USA
Submitted by the Victorian Police, it was rated RC on April 21st 1997.
Kingpin: Life of Crime
Prod Xatrix Entertainment / 1999 / USA / IMDb
This title has been included as AN EXAMPLE OF OFLC POLICY. it has not been censored OR BANNED.
Interplay Productions had this passed MA15+ (High Level Animated Violence, High Level Course Language) on 6th July 1999.
The following piece from the 1999-2000 OFLC Annual Report shows that it was considered on the border on MA15+/RC.
Kingpin: Life of Crime was classified MAI5+, due to elements of high level violence and high level coarse language, although there was a minority Board opinion that these elements were sufficiently strong to warrant the game being classified Refused Classification. This is a first person shooter game where you navigate through urban environments and try to become the "kingpin" of crime.