R18+ Games Australia » Case Studies

Duke Nukem 3D

Duke Nukem 3D was initially self-censored before it was released in Australia, and it contained no violence or nudity. A patch that gave people the uncut version of the game circulated on the Internet, and as a result, the OFLC attempted to reclassify the game before being forced to release the US version of the game. Click here to read more.

Fallout 3

Fallout 3 was initially refused classification by the Classification Board for realistic depictions of drug use. After some minor edits, it is now available to children aged 15 and up in Australia, while other countries restrict its sale to adults only. Click here to read more.

Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto IV is the latest in the infamously adult Grand Theft Auto series. Publishers Rockstar self-censored the game for Australia, making minor cosmetic edits regarding sex acts and blood spatter. It is now available for sale in Australia to children aged 15 and up, while being restricted for sale to adults only in other countries. Click here to read more.

House of the Dead: Overkill

House of the Dead: Overkill was not Refused Classification, but it is another example of how the Classification Board inconsistently classifies games. It has excessive violence and a high amount of profanity that is available for children aged 15 and over. Meanwhile, overseas rating agencies have classified the game for adults only. Click here to read more.

Left 4 Dead 2

The uncensored version of Left 4 Dead 2 was rejected for the same type of content that was already present in the original game. Before it was rejected again by the Review Board, another version was passed with cuts made by the publishers, such as the removal of dead corpses lying around the environment as well as the amount of violence being toned down. It is now being available in Australia for children age 15 and over. Click here to read more.

A History Of Refused Classifications

With huge thanks to Refused Classification, here is a comprehensive list of games from 1994 onwards that have either been refused classification by the OFLC/Classification Board, or generated significant controversy in their ratings.

Year	Game	Status in Australia	US	UK	NZ	EU
1994	Voyeur	Refused Classification (sexually-explicit language) on first attempt. No resubmissions were made.	M17+	18	N/A	18+
1994	DreamWeb	Initially Refused Classification, but later passed M15+ with cuts made.	M17+	15	N/A	15+
1995	Phantasmagoria	Refused Classification. No resubmissions were made.	M17+	18	N/A	18+
1996	Duke Nukem 3D	Self-censored before the OFLC attempted to reclassify the game after a patch was released. The US version was released in Australia later.	M17+	15	R16	15+
1997	Roberta Williams Anthology	A compilation of games banned because a demo of Phantasmagoria was included. No resubmissions were made.	Teen	11+	N/A	11+
2001	Grand Theft Auto III	Released by publisher prior to classification. Refused Classification (high impact violence) on first attempt. Uncut version recalled from stores. Censored version successfully submitted for an MA15+ rating.	M17+	18	R18	18+
2002	BMX XXX	Refused Classification (full nudity) on first attempt. Censored version successfully resubmitted for an MA15+ rating.	M17+	N/A	R18	N/A
2002	The Getaway	Refused Classification (partial nudity, high impact violence) on first attempt. Censored version successfully resubmitted for an MA15+ rating.	M17+	18	R18	N/A
2003	Manhunt	Received an MA15+ (Strong violence, strong themes) rating on first attempt. This rating was then overturned on appeal by the Federal Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock and others, and the game was Refused Classification.	M17+	18	Banned	18+
2003	Postal 2: Share The Pain	Refused Classification (high impact violence) on first attempt. No resubmissions were made.	M17+	18	Banned	18+
2004	Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude	Refused Classification (sexual activity, partial nudity) on first attempt. No resubmissions were made.	M17+	18	R16	18+
2004	NARC	Refused Classification (drug use) on first attempt. No resubmissions were made.	M17+	18	R18	18+
2004	Shellshock Nam ‘67	Refused Classification (drug use) on first attempt. Censored version successfully resubmitted for an MA15+ rating.	M17+	18	R16	18+
2004	Singles: Flirt Up Your Life	Refused Classification (sexual activity) on first attempt. No resubmissions were made.	M17+	18	N/A	15+
2004	The Punisher	Refused Classification (high impact violence) on first attempt. Censored version successfully resubmitted for an MA15+ rating.	M17+	18	R18	18+
2005	Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas	Received an MA15+ (Strong violence, strong themes) rating on first attempt. Upon discovery of the infamous “Hot Coffee” locked content, upgraded to Refused Classification by the OFLC. Publisher resubmitted a modified version without hidden content which was successfully classified as MA15+.	M17+	18	R18	18+
2005	50 Cent: Bulletproof	Refused Classification (high impact violence) on first attempt. Censored version successfully resubmitted for an MA15+ rating.	M17+	18	R18	18+
2005	Mark Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure	Received an MA15+ (Strong violence, strong themes) rating on first attempt. This rating was then overturned on appeal by the Federal Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock and others, and the game was Refused Classification.	M17+	16+	R18	16+
2005	Spin The Bottle: Interactive DVD Games	Although a DVD and not a computer game, its interactive nature saw it categorised as such, and thus Refused Classification for sexual references which could not be accomodated at MA15+. If categorised as a DVD movie, it would easily have passed.	Exempt	Exempt	Exempt	Exempt
2006	Blitz: The League	Refused Classification (unacceptable drug use)	M17+	N/A	R16	16
2006	Reservoir Dogs	Refused Classification (high impact violence)	M17+	18	Banned	18+
2007	Grand Theft Auto IV	Censored Australia version applied for and received an MA15+ rating for console editions. Later in December 2008, uncensored version for PC platform also applied for and received an MA15+ rating, effectively making two different versions of the game available.	M17+	18	R18	18+
2007	Soldier of Fortune: Payback	Refused Classification (high impact violence) on first attempt. Censored version successfully resubmitted for an MA15+ rating.	M17+	18	R18	N/A
2008	Dark Sector	Refused Classification (high impact violence) on first attempt. Censored version successfully resubmitted for an MA15+ rating.	M17+	18	R18	18+
2008	Fallout 3	Refused Classification (overly realistic drug use) on first attempt. Censored version successfully resubmitted for an MA15+ rating.	M17+	18	R18	18+
2008	F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin	Refused Classification (high impact violence) on first attempt. Upon appeal to OFLC by publishers, reclassified as MA15+ unedited.	M17+	18	R18	18+
2008	Shellshock 2: Blood Trails	Refused Classification (reason not given)	M17+	18	N/A	18+
2008	Silent Hill: Homecoming	Refused Classification (high impact violence) on first attempt. Censored version successfully resubmitted for an MA15+ rating.	M17+	18	R18	N/A
2009	Necrovision	Refused Classification (high impact violence) on first attempt. Censored version successfully resubmitted for an MA15+ rating.	M17+	18+	R18	18+
2009	Risen	Refused Classification (sex/drug use).	M17+	N/A	R16	16+
2009	Left 4 Dead 2	Refused Classification (excessive violence) on first attempt. A watered-down version was passed MA15+.	M17+	18	R18	18+
2009	CrimeCraft	Initially Refused Classification (drug use). No resubmissions were made.	Exempt	Exempt	Exempt	Exempt
2009	Aliens vs Predator	Initially Refused Classification (excessive violence) on first attempt, but resubmitted MA15 on appeal.	M17+	18	R18	18+

In the table above, “Banned” refers to the game being Refused Classification, and “N/A” refers to the rating information for that game being not available at time of compilation. The table will be updated as new information is received. Where ratings are given for other countries, information for these countries has been gathered through online sources, primarily the following official ratings databases:

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (US)
The British Board of Film Classification (UK)
The Office of Film and Literature Classification (NZ)
Pan-European Game Information (Europe)