Australian's Who Campaigned For So Long For An R18+ Rating Get This?

Fable Was Rated 'M' By The Classification Board. The HD Remake? R18+ - Kotaku Australia

This is joke right?  Right?  Anyone...  Oh, they're serious.

When the original Fable was released way back in the wild heady days of 2004 our illustrious classification board gave it a solid M rating at the time.  Was this because of sex, or drugs (the usual suspects)?  Nope.  It is very combat heavy and you have the choice of being nice (only fighting bad guys, and often sparing their lives) or nasty (kill anything that gets in your way).  So why on earth would the HD remake suddenly become an adults only R18+.  Well, it's because of sex.

Apparently, under the updated classification rules, the fact you can get married and consummate said partnership comes under the "Sexual activity related to incentives or rewards".  Below is what happens in this game.  Before you click play remember this is something the classification board is deadly serious about...

Well that is about as interactive as a brick that is sitting on a high shelf.  But then there are the "incentive or rewards" from this little piece of fade to black.  So what advantages does your character get from this sordid encounter?  Nothing.  Not a thing.  The original article above suggests you and your partner can have a child but that little feature wasn't introduced until Fable 2.

The inconsistent and just plain ridiculous decisions relating to games since our pretend R18+ rating was introduced really shows that the system is still broken.  If this decision stands then I guess the next Sims game will have to be R18+.

The ongoing review by the Australian Law Reform Commission has a possible answer.  An industry based classification system like the ESRB in the US and PEGI in the UK is the real answer.  This doesn't take government regulation out of the picture since any developer or publisher can still have their rating reviewed should there be reports of inappropriate material for any given rating.

As for the Fable decision... seriously I actively participated in the R18+ campaign for over a decade and THIS is the outcome...

Progress Report - Saints Row 4

This is a continuation of my first impressions of Saints Row 4 article.

Well I am still pushing through the Matrix-esque world of the Saints and still enjoying the game.  I am making very slow progress through the story though due to the optional side missions.  The repetition of these tasks can get a little on the wearing side, however the rewards and bonuses for completing them definitely helps you push through and as they usually feature side tasks it also helps your overall completion percentage significantly.

Speaking of optional missions, as you rescue your homies from the clutches of the tyrannical alien overlord Zinyak you get the option of completing "loyalty missions".  These are usually pretty generous with cash and xp but the main gain is the supporting character also gains superpowers for when you call on them to help you out in the simulated city.  Incidentally, it's the Shaundi loyalty mission that earned SR4 it's refused classification in Australia, and yes I have completed it.

Essentially the section that Australian adults are too sensitive to experience without immediately craving the hardest drugs they can find sees the main character head out with two versions of Shaundi (I can't explain that without spoilers) to track down some "alien narcotics" that boost superpowers.  Remember these powers only exist within the computer simulation where the majority of the game is set ands by this stage your character's powers are well and truly established.  We are entertained to a couple of scenes showing the drugs being taken but when the "boost" kicks in it gives the support characters powers but doesn't actually impact those that the main player character already has... it's implied that it does, but again, there is no actual increase in the powers of the main character!

Don't worry if you are concerned about the horrible personal temptation the above mission may bring into your life.  Thanks the the Australian Classification Board this OPTIONAL mission has been removed from the Australian version of the game.  True you still have to wait a couple of weeks to buy your bubble wrapped version, but at least you will be kept safe.  Incidentally, that anal probe weapon will be available in with local copies depending on the DLC you purchase.

Anyway, back to the game.  The missions are suitably insane and the current batch of story related content is focused on getting the rest of the Saints out of their own simulated realities and into your home base to help you out.  Deep Silver certainly hasn't skimped on content since everything you do seems to unlock multiple missions, both story related and optional.

The superpowers are fun and I am finding I only used a weapon or jump in a vehicle when it is necessary.  After a few upgrades the problem of travelling across the map turns into a joy as you sprint, climb and glide at incredible speed.  The only things that slow you down are the many collectables and nodes (required to upgrade powers) scattered everywhere.  There are heaps of other activities to complete, but I'll let you discover them for yourselves.  Using powers in combat is tricky enough that pulling off a spectacular move is always satisfying without being overly frustrating.  You'll definitely find some powers that you'll hardly use, but I recommend sticking with telekinesis even though it seems a bit underwhelming when you first get access to it.

This is a game that overcomes its flaws by just making it worth your while to push through the low points and is just plain stupid fun the rest of the time.  I'm still laughing at a lot of the gags, even some that I have seen a few times now.  The option to "romance" your crew presents some absolute laugh out loud moments and some strangely touching ones too, with the exception of Keith David.  Why won't you let me love you Keith David?

The scary thing is I still feel that there is more I need to see before I can put the lid on any sort of review of the game.  I am however still very happy to recommend it based on what I have seen so far.

Breaking News - Australian Blogger Buys Uncut Saint Row 4

I can already hear the cries of outrage and the stirring of the angry mob over that fact that I have just purchased and am downloading the international version of Saints Row 4 from the US Playstation Store.

I am risking all that I am to see just what effect this game will have on me.  I am risking becoming a junkie because fictional alien narcotics give cartoonish characters super powers.  I am risking becoming a menace to society as I have the option to use an equally cartoonish alien weapon that can perform a virtual anal probe on a collection of polygons representing virtual people within a matrix style simulation of a fictional city!

Rest assured reader, I will carefully document what horrific changes occur within my very soul so you can feel safe and reassured when the special Australian release version of the game reaches our shores.  You will know just how much the Australian Classification Board is protecting you and your sensitive, fragile adult mind from the horrors of over the top, completely unbelievable video games.

Yes dear reader, I make this ultimate sacrifice for you...

It has nothing to do with allowing me to play a game that is getting excellent reviews, as the developer's wanted us to experience it, almost a month prior to the censored Australian release and costing almost half the price of what it will be once it reaches our shores.  Honestly, I don't know how you could even suspect that?

Once I get the opportunity to sit down for a solid play session I will certainly pass on my first impressions, always assuming I'm not trying to score alien narcotics in some dark alley while lying in wait to stick objects up the anal cavities of passers-by.

Wish me luck guys.

Oh and watch this trailer.  It is hilarious and Australia gets, well, a special mention.

Saints Row 4 Goes For The Hat Trick

Saints Row IV Australian Release Date Pushed Back - Kotaku Australia

Wow, just wow.  Just when you thought this debacle couldn't go even further down the tubes the release date for our sanitised for adults version of SR4 has been pushed back to a month later than the rest of the world.

So to summarise...  We are getting a censored version, the Aussie version will not be compatible to play online with any copy from other regions and now it will take an extra month for this game to officially see our shores.  It's just like the pre R18+ days.  Australia Tax on locally released copies will still apply of course.

SR4 is getting some good reviews out there with no mention of all the horrible narcotics and sexual assault that we Aussies must be protected from, also remembering the questionable weapon will most likely be re-instated in future downloadable content anyway!  Either the rest of the world has a thicker skin or, more likely, this terrible civilisation destroying content is such a minor feature of the game that it would barely register as a concern to most reasonable adults... as in "what a reasonable adult would consider acceptable" which is the crux of the R18+ rating!

Since the modified version has already been submitted and approved by the Australian Classification Board I honestly think that the delay is a deliberate ploy by the developers to try to kick up some extra stink on Australian shores.  Unfortunately with an election looming this will not even register on any politicians issue list.

At the end of the day the only way we can object to the our nannified "adult" rating is by ensuring any purchase of this game is made off-shore which means the local retailers will have take the brunt of any consumer action.  Buying locally means supporting an ineffective ratings system.  As an adult you should have choices.  If you find any aspect of any item too objectionable then it is your choice not to support a product, or express your concern to the distributors and publishers.  There are no floodgates to be opened by allowing a cartoonish game like SR4 through uncut as the real objectionable content is not made by any game developer intending to distribute their games via normal retail channels.

At the end of the day as an adult the choice is yours to make, and the government should not be taking making that choice for you.

And The Saints Row IV Debacle Gets Even More Ridiculous...

Australia's Edited Saints Row IV Is Incompatible With Other Versions Of The Game - Kotaku Australia

As reported by our good friends at Kotaku Australia it has now been revealed that our custom censored version of SR4 is modified in such a way that it will not be compatible with the unmodified versions available for the rest of the world.  That means if you you want to play multiplayer with anyone outside of Australia (or indeed anyone in Australia who imported a copy) then too bad.

Yep, not only are we back in a situation where the rest of the gaming world is looking at us with everything from sympathy to outright contempt, we're also effectively getting quarantined!

Whether you have any interest in this game or not, it's hard to ignore just how appallingly gamers are still considered in Australia, even with a token R18+ rating to allow for "greater flexibility".  Between publishers squeezing us for every extra dollar and our own government refusing to believe that there is an ever growing contingent of adult, and eligible to vote, gamers is it any wonder that I (and many others) have nearly 0% incentive or desire to support local retailers.

Adult gamers are responsible gamers.  Gamer parents have much greater capability and knowledge when it comes to ensuring their children access appropriate content.  Over zealous censorship of games intended for adults is pointless, stupid and just plain offensive.

Guess it's time to dig out that list of MPs and put the lobbying shoes back on.

Saints Row 4 Censored For Australia... May Be Uncensored By Proxy

Saints Row IV To Probe DLC Loophole - Kotaku Australia

Deep Silver Games have happily announced that Saints Row IV has finally earned the tick of approval for release in Australia.  True they had to remove a couple of missions but hey, why bother about heavy handed censorship when we have a broken R18+ rating for games.

If you head to your local games retailer then you can go with the peace of mind that the Australian Classification Board has protected your fragile adult mind from fictional alien drugs that grant superpowers since that is just one step away from believing real life illicit drugs will reward you in some undefined way.  You also won't have to worry about being exposed to a ridiculously cartoonish "Rectifier Probe" which, if it's anything like the giant purple dildo bat in Saints Row 3, you can completely ignore and never actually use.  Aren't you so glad that as an adult you have such reasonable government regulation to protect you from such evil?

If you agree then you'd better not get the Season Pass or buy any DLC because Deep Silver has not so subtly hinted that the above content may well feature heavily in expansions and bonuses available at launch as well as further down the track.  This simple fact shows just how broken our system is.  I was deeply involved with the decade long fight to get us an R18+ rating and must admit that I hope Deep Silver get away with the DLC workaround.  Well it worked for GTA IV which had a game update that restored all content originally removed for Australian release.

Even with the restoration of content post release I urge anyone who wants to get their hands on SR4 to investigate alternative options for purchasing it.  If the censored version sells well in Australia then it will send a message that we are prepared to accept censorship on entertainment specifically intended for adults.