HanPL Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Zombie-survival game State of Decay has been refused classification in Australia, making it the second game to be banned from sale in the country this week. State of Decay will not be released on Xbox Live Arcade in Australia. The news was initially announced by developer Undead Labs on the game's official forums, and was later confirmed by the Australian Classification Board and the game's publisher, Microsoft. The Australian Classification Board ruled that the game was refused classification on the grounds that it contains "illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards". State of Decay's in-game medications consist of both legal and illicit substances, including "methadone, morphine, amphetamines, stimulants, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, codeine, aspirin, 'trucker pills', painkillers, and tussin." The board's decision report states, "The game enables the player's character to self-administer proscribed drugs which aid in gameplay progression. This game therefore contains drug use related to incentives or rewards, and should be refused classification." A Microsoft representative told GameSpot that the publisher is "currently evaluating the options with regards to the title’s classification". "Microsoft operates within the legal requirements of the Australian Classification Board when it comes to the rating of all its first-party gaming titles, and agrees that not all content is suitable for all audiences. The Australian Classification system plays an important role in ensuring that Australians can only access age-appropriate games and content." State of Decay focuses on surviving in a zombie-infested world, and promises a dynamically generated experience that changes in real time. The game has sold over 500,000 copies on Xbox Live Arcade since its release in North America two weeks ago, making it the fastest-selling original game on XBLA. A PC version is also in the works, but no additional details or release date have been revealed.
Veta Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 I see Straya is on a streak I wander how many games are gonna get banned .
HanPL Posted June 27, 2013 Author Posted June 27, 2013 I could understand if they would ban State for GORE (getting rip apart by zombie is BRUTAL ) but no... ""illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards". "
windpl Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Oh HanPL, everyone knows that act of cannibalism and brutal murder(?) is nothing comparing to taking aspirin!
anubis Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Wow, never really knew that prohibited/illegal drug use in game can make the game banned LoL...wondering if this happen before, you know another game perhaps ? daym, should get new GPU card asap...really expecting for PC release for the game, anyone has info when.
Angrybird Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 They finally have a +18 rating and they're still banning games?
windpl Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 If im not wrong, they sill don't have 18+, it is still in process of legislation.
HanPL Posted June 27, 2013 Author Posted June 27, 2013 I think Undead Labs have to change name of all drugs in game to "Magic candies " in Australian version and everything will be fine, since they don't mind the gore... I mean come on even Germany didn't ban State of Decay.
formel Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Add Saints Row IV to the list of banned games in Australia also with the drug use argument and because of, hang on, sexuall violence.
Veta Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Add Saints Row IV to the list of banned games in Australia also with the drug use argument and because of, hang on, sexuall violence. That anal probe thingy SR IV has was totally worth banning .
Koko.Hekmatyar Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 What is the point of finally having an 18+ age rating if you're going to refuse a game because it's to violent?
Veta Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 The reason the games were banned wasn't because they were too violent but because the violence had no context as well as the drugs .
HanPL Posted June 27, 2013 Author Posted June 27, 2013 Good, ban all the shitty zombie games. State of Decay is REALLY good zombie sandbox game. They Undead Labs is constantly improving the game ^^ Pure Survival Sandbox Mode incoming soon, also they want to make Co-op mode as soon as possible.
formel Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 The reason the games were banned wasn't because they were too violent but because the violence had no context as well as the drugs . As far as I know the current rules in Australia allow you to release a game that flat out glorifies violence but don't allow you to do the mentioned things. For them alone all this thing this things are not tolerable, but they have to be looked on with their specfic contexed. I don't have State of Decay but looking at the list HanOL posted that are all drugs that are still used by modren medicine, so used the right way they can have indeed positiv effects. I guess this durgs are in game used for wound threatment as most of them are in reality, especialy when you look at the drug supply of a medical orderly in the field. And looking at Saints Row: There the alien drugs grant you Superpowers...yeah that's realistic. Surely a lot of people will be influenced by that to consume real drugs like cocaine. But than Super Mario has also to be banned. And the anal probe as weapon maybe an odd idea but to call it sexual violence goes a bit to far in a game that is so over the top like Saints Row and where it is clear to even the stupidest of all consumers that nothing in it is ment serously. I think here is the same problem as in Germany the people who actually make the decission don't realy play the game.
Koko.Hekmatyar Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 No matter the reason an 18+ age rating is there for games that are violent, gory, and/or have drug/sexual themes to them if they refuse to allow a game because it has these in them then having the 18+ age rating means jack shit and they might as well drop it and go back to having the 16+ age rating being the highest.
thedoctor38 Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 It's funny in general how nudity, sex and drugs cause such a huge uproar but yet ultra violence in games is ok.
Angrybird Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Killing thousands of people is acceptable human behavior what are you talking about?
Koko.Hekmatyar Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Killing thousands of people is acceptable human behavior what are you talking about? The sad part is that's extremely true. Humans have killed millions upon millions of our own species for one screwed up reason after another and now all of a sudden we are so holy we can't allow violence, gore, and/or drugs and sex in games but it's no problem to have it in other media like movies, music etc etc.
Vedli Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEjVpgLkeFg Poor Australia and it's stupid crotchety old man government.
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