Syndicate Banned In Australia For Being Gruesomely Awesome

December 22, 2011 - 2:29am

Despite all the discussions there and Government's decision to introduce 18+ Adults Only rating to the country's rating system, the notorious Australian Classification Board has denied gamers access to yet another promising game: Syndicate.

As usual, the Australian Classification Board banned the game by refusing to grant it an age rating, arguing that it doesn't suit the country's current maximum rating of MA 15+. The board issued a report that largely blamed the game's extreme violence for making it unsuitable for Australian teenagers at the age of 15.

"Combatants take locational damage and can be explicitly dismembered, decapitated or bisected by the force of the gunfire," the report notes. "The depictions are accompanied by copious bloodspray and injuries are shown realistically and with detail. Flesh and bone are often exposed while arterial sprays of blood continue to spirt from wounds at regular intervals."

EA has no intention to appeal the decision or to alter the game. "The game will not be available in Australia despite its enthusiastic response from fans. We were encouraged by the government's recent agreement to adopt an 18+ age rating for games. However, delays continue to force an arcane censorship on games - cuts that would never be imposed on books or movies," EA corporate communications exec Tiffany Steckler made it clear. "We urge policy makers to take swift action to implement an updated policy that reflects today's market and gives its millions of adult consumers the right to make their own content choices."

To be honest, after reading the Australian board's report we can't wait to put our hands on Syndicate. The game is scheduled for release on February 21 in North America and February 24 in Europe.

Comments

Not the EA's fault

You cant blame EA for the game "influencing" homicidal thoughts to kids. You should be blaming the PARENTS for allowing their kids to play games like this. If you think your child will go homicidal or suicidal then don't buy the game. Common sense people common sense.

I'm sorry? What was that?

Ok, for one, I play "mindless" video games all the time as well (apart from work and friends). And I have a life. In addition, I have a family member who is well into his 40s and is still playing video games, and he has a life as well. But the point that I'm trying to get across here is, video games are NOT a waste of time, but it is a hobby for almost everybody.

STFU(:

Cool story bro now heres mine its a fairytale once upon a time no one gave a fuck ok so Dude quit hating nd get ur lower lip to knoe ur upper lip so dat way you can shut da fuck up nd quit being gay thank you :-) your so kind

STFU(:

Cool story bro now heres mine its a fairytale once upon a time no one gave a fuck ok so Dude quit hating nd get ur lower lip to knoe ur upper lip so dat way you can shut da fuck up nd quit being gay thank you :-) your so kind

OMG!

@ OMG NO LIFE - I ponder many things about your above statement. For one, your grammar sucks. Learn to spell. "Lives", not "Lifes". Perhaps you are simply an old bag who has nothing better to do than troll yourself on these forums trying to piss people off. Of course, I can't understand why such a sophisticated sounding individual, like yourself (a bit of sarcasm), would be in these forums in the first place. Perhaps you have NO LIFE. You're obviously not a gamer whatsoever. So, go back to watching Desperate Housewives and Jerry Springer. Why you're at it, grab an english book and learn correct spelling and punctuation. Besides, no matter how violent a game is, it is a form of something you may not have heard of......FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Video games, movies, music, and books all fall under that freedom. Hell, Hollywood abuses it. But, I suppose you would take away our right to freedom of speech if you could. Glad you're not anything special. :)

Freedom of Speech

When the framers of the Constition enshrined freedom of speech, they were referring to political speech...specifically the right to critisize the government. They had no concept of movie or video game violence. Yes, I agree... government or people have no business banning a video game... that's a parental responsibility in a free society. But I think the way the term is used is just a little abused these days. Thoas Jeffereson owned slaves and George Washington tarred and feathered a man for being a homosexual. I'm not sure they would have protected violence in media as a 'Right'. .

Freedom of Speech

When the framers of the Constition enshrined freedom of speech, they were referring to political speech...specifically the right to critisize the government. They had no concept of movie or video game violence. Yes, I agree... government or people have no business banning a video game... that's a parental responsibility in a free society. But I think the way the term is used is just a little abused these days. Thoas Jeffereson owned slaves and George Washington tarred and feathered a man for being a homosexual. I'm not sure they would have protected violence in media as a 'Right'. .

You are Lost (gamer or no gamers

If you do not see anything wrong with blood shed upon people then there is something terribly wrong with you! How can you play this horrible stuff and be okay with it? Game or no game it is all int he mind and the mind will take you somewhere dark if you are into this type of stuff. Many people are lost in their moral compass and you are no different. So what he misspelled or used "live" instead of "life" who cares!

You must be kidding

I'm not a native English speaker, yet I can't believe you try to give English lessons to anyone. I hope you are a smart KID, because if you are anything above 12 you are in for quite a sad existence. Things fall into a category, not into freedom. Glad you aren't, not glad you're not. Suspensive points are 3 and only 3... Considering you were trying to sound smart and correct the result is very lacking. At least the first guy probably didn't care about his English. You did. How sad.

By the way, I agree with the first guy. Self proclaimed "hardcore gamers" need to get a life. You cannot be into such violent crap if you do have a life. Cheers.

You must be kidding

I'm not a native English speaker yet I can't believe you try to give English lessons to anyone. I hope you are a smart KID, because if you are anything above 12 you are in for quite a sad existence. Things fall into a category, not into freedom. Glad you aren't, not glad you're not. Suspensive points are 3 and only 3... Considering you were trying to sound smart and correct, the result is very lacking. At least the first guy probably didn't care about his English. You did. And failed. Cheers.

About what we've come to expect...

We went through the same thing with GTA Vice City; the 'soccer mums' complained about the violence and the prostitutes, and so the game was recalled; not implementing an 18+ rating is merely an excuse so that they 'can' ban certain games; GTA was later re-released without the objectionable content, and Soldier of Fortune had all the nasty bits removed too (which is why my cousin and I imported a copy) This whole country is corrupt; the government, the unelected officials that are responsible for policy like this; as some others have said above, I will definitely be downloading a pirated torrent copy as soon as one is available; They've already lost my sale (and many others in this backwards country) so they really would have no grounds to complain that piracy hurts the industry in this instance. I agree with Bakagami; lets see a game where you get to go batsh*t with a chainsaw on game review board executives. P.S. Yes, I am from Queensland (Australia) often touted by the illustrious state govt as being 'the smart state'

Seriously Aust

ok this just stupid like everyone else is saying but,,(watch out for a rage here) AUSTRALIA GIVE YOR PEOPLE FREEDOM! YOUR A FRICKIN FREE COUNTRY FOR CRYING UT LOUD! LET THE TEENS/KIDS PARENTS CHOOSE GAMES FOR THEIR KIDS TO PLAY,YOU R NOT UNDER DICTATORSHIP! By the Gods, that feels good to yell out there, anyway i have an idea for the Aussies to try that want to play that game, rebel, protest claim your rights of freedom PLEASE!,now i'm not from Australia ,(in Canada) but please for yourselfs try thos e ideas next time they pull that crap

hmmm

Well it's already underway, but all this means is most people will Download the game using torrents. I for one will :)

If you attempt to argue with

If you attempt to argue with me over my following statement, your efforts will be nothing less than futile. i also awknowlege that i will probably have a spelling mistake or so within said statement. have you ever thought how the global market works you pay a few over zealous goverment officials to ban a game, however that game just recived a large amount of media attention (to include all forms of media) aswell as the easily enticed population that want this game just because it was banned. so now the projected sales just went through the roof so their stock goes up and they make a larger dividend all over a rumor and didnt have to pay for commercials or compete with mainstream larger shooter games due to the fact that it was "banned" so stop the arguements,nay the childish personal attacks and use your head before you start a opinionated personal battle and waste my time when im looking for information on what has the potential to be one of the rather realistic games we all drone infront of

yeah

they had metal band banned for too vieloent lyrics ffs. Isnt socialisn wonderful? Good thing nobody cares about australia.

someone with intelligence

All game deveopers should refuse to sell their games to stores located in Aus. boycott it. piss off all aussie gamers, force gov to correct this poorly thought out and unpopular decision. The gov should serve the peope, not the other way around, a gov cannot function unless people support it.

Wussie

Two words into one title for a game : MadWorld See a trailer/picture for it, then compare it to Syndicate. Then see how much Australians can be wussies

dead island

this game has the same graphic content that dead island has so why the hell wasnt that game band. dont deprive the public of a video game cause its not sutible for ur children. if thats the way you feel deprive ur children of that video game. duh...

dead island

dead island isnt as gruesome as this one sounds. dead island didnt have bones sticking out and you could only cut off a zombies head, arms, and legs. also i dont think dead island was very realistic in terms of gore. i still like the game though for those who think im hating on dead island. i also agree with you on parent figures deciding for their children individualy.

Austrailian rules, mate!

Although I agree that some violent games should have some sort of sticker that will repel kids and teens far and wide (mabey make all the covers just sort of sugar and spice and anything nice), Austrialia has banned far to many things. I live in America, hear more cursing in a single day than other words, and make the most gruesome game habits(I have a collection of heads in skyrim) I still am a nice, not-cursing person. If that is what Austrailians are afraid of, then they must either have the most over-protective parents ever, or he most horrible, impression-taking kids, or a horrible gov't. The latter is the most likely.

ozploitation

banning a game in a country where the most screwed up films were ever made. Point in case - if tarantino goes on camera and states that he got most of his ideas from the ozploitation movies - No wonder it was once a penal colony.

cluster

why ban it when there are lots of other really gruesome games such as gears of war and I could name lots of others but i wouldnt waste my time with governments coz they dont listen to anyone but themselves

Austrailia has always banned rated M games

They have banned dozens if not hundreds of rated M games... they have no rated M in Australia. it stopps at rated T maybe games have to be edited to sell there. just like many games get edited to be sold in japan ( in japan you cannot have real countries as the bad guys, so homefront had to have korea edited out)

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