HOTD: Overkill Extended Cut Reclassified

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

The Review Board has awarded House of the Dead: Overkill – Extended Cut an MA15+ rating (‘strong horror violence, strong course language) in its uncut form. This follows SEGA’s appeal to have its RC rating lowered.

SEGA’s Managing Director, Darren Macbeth, was overwealmed that the game was lowered to MA15+.

“It is with great pleasure that we announce the success of our appeal. We are proud to confirm that the game will be released in Australia in its original entirety, with no content altered or removed in any way. We were confident of successfully appealing the board’s original decision to refuse classification, and appreciate that the Classification Review Board has made a decision that complies with the current guidelines and framework.”

While HOtD fans may share the good news amongst themselves, it still highlights the need of an R18+ rating for video games, which hopefully is introduced by the end of the year. But as it is, games like this one, along with F.3.A.R. and Dead Island are available to minors while these games recieve adults-only ratings overseas.

House of the Dead: Overkill – Extended Cut goes on sale in Australia October 27th.

SEGA challenges RC rating for HOTD: Overkill – Extended Cut

Monday, September 12th, 2011

Last month, the Classification Board slapped House of the Dead: Overkill – Extended Cut with an RC rating. According to an article by Kotaku Australia, the Board had a problem with the game’s recently added ‘Hardcore’ mode.

“The “Hardcore” game mode allows players to play in a manner that exceeds strong in impact,” claims the report, “engaging a headshot-only mode which results in frequent, detailed blood and gore as the zombies and mutants [sic] heads explode into bloody pieces that spread around the environment and onto the screen. The game also contains an “Extra mutants mode” which increases the amount of mutants the player must kill to proceed, resulting in an increased intensity and frequency of violence. In addition the game contains a baby mutant that jumps onto the screen and explodes into bloody chunks when killed.”

In response to the ban, SEGA’s managing director, Darren Macbeth, had this to say:

“There are far worse titles currently available in the marketplace which involve more than shooting down mutants in humorous circumstances. We will do everything we can to prove that House of the Dead: Overkill is worthy of an MA15+ rating in Australia.”

The company had three choices on its hands: edit the game’s content so that the game is passed MA15+, challenge the RC rating, or don’t release the game in Australia. They chose the second option, and the Review Board will meet on September 26 to review the decision.

Aliens vs Predator Refused Classification

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Aliens vs Predator, the upcoming game by Rebellion Entertainment, has been Refused Classification by the Classification Board overnight. This latest decision makes 2009 a record year for Refused Classifications in Australia.

games.on.net quotes the publishers SEGA as saying:

SEGA Australia can today confirm that the initial submission of Aliens vs Predator has been Refused Classification by the Classification Operations Board of Australia. We will continue to investigate all options available to us, including the possibility of appeal.

We have contacted the Classification Board for information and will inform you of any response we receive.