Developer: 3D Realms
Publisher: 3D Realms
Release Date: 29 January 1996

Duke Nukem 3D is the third installment in 3D Realms’ popular action series, but unlike the first offerings that were simple platform games, this latest game takes on the form of a gory first-person shooter. Spread over three episodes, the player makes their way through many futuristic locations, blowing up aliens that get in their way using a variety of weapons. As well as violence, the game features some frequent nudity, noticeable when the player throws money at the strippers. Due to its content, the game has a built-in parental lock which removes all the gore, nudity, and language.

To get this game approved by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC), Manaccom, the Australian distributor, was forced to submit a watered-down version of the game. It had the parental lock permanently switched on, meabing that there was no way Australian gamers could turn it off. It was not long until die-hard gamers developed a crack that was circulated on the Internet. With this crack, gamers could turn their censored copy of the game into a uncensored one.

Manaccom found out about this and contacted the OFLC, who demanded that all existing copies off the game off the shelves around the country, so that they can reclassify the game. There was no doubt that the game would be rated RC. Fortunately, the courts found out that the censors had exceeded their authority. Irritated by the controversy, the distributors encourage people to sign a petition that asked for an R18+ classification to be added to computer games, but its fate is unknown.

In an unusual move, the censors approved the uncensored version of the game, but the reasons why this happened is unclear – whether it had been due to the new Classification Board membership, or to slightly political attitudes that changed regarding computer games.

This was an embarrassing situation that could have been avoided if an R18+ rating for video games was introduced. As long as Australia lacks such a rating, inappropriate content will continue to fall into the hands of children, and that needs to change.