Graffiti Game Banned in Australia 313
afaik_ianal writes "The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that 'Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure' has been banned in Australia. The game involves battling the authorities to overthrow corrupt officials using only street fighting skills and graffiti. From the article, "The decision was endorsed last night by the Federal Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, who had asked the board to review of the game's MA15+ classification after local councils and state governments voiced concerns that the game would promote graffiti.""
Strange laws (Score:5, Informative)
A bit of context, please. (Score:5, Informative)
Since the game involves just as much violence against policemen as GTA does, and the only non-violent aspect to the game is the vandalism, my only surprise is that they considered it possible for an MA15+ in the first place.
Re:Jet Set Radio (Score:2, Informative)
Re:GREAT! (Score:2, Informative)
Not the issue at all (Score:3, Informative)
This game was not banned because it featured graffiti in a fashion similar to how GTA features violence. It was because it (apparantly) contains material that is instructional rather than a shallow representation like the violence in GTA (or graffiti in Jet Set Radio Future). It wasn't considered to "promote" illegal behaviour simply because it represented that behaviour, but because it gave realistic instruction. The issue of promoting illegal behaviour is independant of the age rating so to suggest the game wouldn't be banned if there were an 18 rating is not really true.
All that according to the woman who cast the deciding vote who was on Hack [abc.net.au] today.
Which isn't to say I agree with the decision. I think it stinks!
Re:...and so they should !! (Score:5, Informative)
And it was done better than this dreck will be.
Re:GREAT! (Score:2, Informative)
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/23/1034
http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/qld/content/2005/
Game banning in Australia (Score:5, Informative)
After this, the game was edited to remove the prostitute functionality and re-released, conforming to Aus standards. The reason the prostitutes were removed was NOT because of the sexual content, rather, it was because of the very strict rules we have here about sex and violence. It was the fact you could kill hookers after sex that had the game censored.
Vice city was pre-edited by the developers and had NO sex (the Candy Suxx FMV's were fucked up) Pardon the pun.
GTA:SA came out WITH hookers, unedited. I have no idea how/why this happened.
Generally games are censored here when sex and violence is mixed, IN ANY WAY. Duke Nukem 3D was censored because you could shoot the strippers.
I dont understand the logic of this banning though
Re:Philip Ruddock (Score:1, Informative)
Re:More Stupid Censorship and Irony (Score:3, Informative)
Re:umm (Score:3, Informative)
Re:yes, we do (Score:3, Informative)
From the FIRST PARAGRAPH of the link you so helpfully supplied:
"R 18+ and X 18+ are not classifications for computer games."
Forget RTFA -- this is more RYOFL.
Re:More Stupid Censorship and Irony (Score:4, Informative)
Re:GREAT! (Score:2, Informative)
Carrying a gun in public (Score:3, Informative)
People, this is VERY country and state specific.
For example, in my state of ND, the ultra-short list:
1. Open carry of unloaded firearms is legal, except for prohibited areas. No permit needed. Once you're out of the city/large town or on a firing range it can be loaded.
2. Possession of firearms: The only firearms that you need a 'license' for is fully automatic ones. They must be federally legal, which means you pay a $200 tax, submit a huge load of paperwork and wait months. Oh, and the machinegun has to have been in the registry system before 1986, which is when they closed the registry to new personal entries.
3. Concealed Carry of firearms: Permit needed. If you can buy a gun and pass a fairly easy written & shooting test you got it. This allows you to carry a loaded firearm however you like. Still can't carry in prohibited areas.
4. Prohibited areas: Government buildings, schools, school events, concerts, sporting events, political events.
To make a point, open carry is illegal in Texas, California has banned a number of firearms, in New Jersey possession of Hollow Point bullets are illegal for non-cops.
Re:...and so they should !! (Score:3, Informative)
To graffiti you had to do simple chains on the joystick and to finish a level you'd have to graffiti over another gangs or all the propaganda by the cops/secret organisations etc. It was fun and didn't encourage me to go spray paint walls, just gave me a lot of cool songs to hum to myself and a newart style to play with.
It's a game that hasn't aged a day since it came out.. yet you credit the sequal on the Xbox because..?