Our friends down under won't be playing Blitz: The League anytime soon, with their classification review authority banning the game over in-game drug use.

The Office of Film and Literature Classification refused to classify the game, which means it is unable to be sold legally there. They stated:

"In the course of the game, the player may access what are purported to be both legal and illegal performance-enhancing drugs for the members of the team. Choosing to use these drugs (by selecting from a menu) will have both negative and positive effects on team-members, for example, by improving their speed while making them more susceptible to injury. Each drug has different characteristics. Fake urine samples may also be acquired for avoiding positive drug tests. While the game-player can choose not to use the drugs, in the Board’s majority view there is an incentive to use them. By using them judiciously, the player can improve the performance of the football team (while managing the negative effects) and have a better chance of winning games, thereby winning bets and climbing the league table."

The piece of legislation that the authority were dealing with states titles that "depict, express or otherwise deal with matters of ***, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults" must be refused classification.

Other games refused classification there include:

• BMX XXX
• Manhunt
• Grand Theft Auto III
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
• Leisure Suit Larry: Magna *** Laude
• Postal
• Postal 2
• Narc

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SI,NY

Sux big time its been refused classification. They probably cant do any adjustment to it like they did on the GTA series to get it released.

Hopefully some more Aussies will import it, as it isn't region protected. I have, but so far havent found many people online, and all are from America.

There are stores in Aus who import PAL versions which will work in their consoles from the UK and Europe. They may ban classification however no game is impossible to get hold of. Also, most real gamers over there know where to get the stuff from.

 

All americans online due to it not being released over here in the UK and Europe until mid March. I imported my US copy (cheaper, didnt know about the release date till after I got it).

Guess I'm never moving to Australia. Censorship is ridiculous.

Let people think for themselves for crying out loud.

sorry to hear that man blitz is addictive and i like it better than madden

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 ElementalFiend wrote:

Guess I'm never moving to Australia. Censorship is ridiculous.

Let people think for themselves for crying out loud.

Tried replying to this the other day but the servers were playing up so here we go again...

Censorship is a pain and we should be able to decide for ourselves, however the age ratings on games are rarely upheld by the shops. I know of plenty of young teens who sucessfully purchased 18 rated games. Those laws need to be stronger, much like selling alcohol, gambling and tobacco before the censors can safely say "ok this is an 18+/21+ game, it has no censorship, it contains such and such, its your choice if you want to play/view it".

Many people blame games for behavior in kids, while I agree on that, it is only very little influence. I have played 18+ games myself from the age or around 12 and none ever made me want to kill my best friend with a hammer like the one example of the teen in England who did this as he saw it in Manhunt. It is mainly the parents, however they blame the games (yet no doubt buy them for them!). Anyway, basically, stronger enforcement of age ratings is needed before uncensored stuff/we make up our own minds...

That is totally insane that they ban VIDEO GAMES in any country.  The fact that the government is deciding for the citizens is pretty sad.  They have ratings for a reason people, besides this game is not really that bad.

So would you be happy with a video game which was about being a paedophile? After all, we can decide for ourselves cant we? I doubt many people would actually approve of a game of that nature.

This game constantly uses bad language, has constant references to drugs, has a fair few references to *** and has a lot of reference to violence. Imagine someone at school taking out the QB by doing a powerbomb. It isn't that bad but it still has a lot of mature content.

Until the law is stronger where sales of video games are concerned then all they can do is censor/ban it.

Video game or not, what difference does that make? The censor movies, video games should be censored more as you actually interact. Preferably sorting out the whole sale of video games thing could help stop the censors but everyone knows how many minors play mature rated games, including those who censor games.

With what is shown on television and movies, what is said in music and what can be shown in a magazine, it's not video games which are the problem.

Parents will use any excuse when their child behaves erratically. My son hit another kid in school, it must be that horrible boxing game! Well instead of relying on media to raise your kids, why not actually be a real parent and monitor what your child watches, reads or plays? Parent's have come to rely so heavily on media to entertain, babysit and raise their kids. I know not all parents are this way but some are.

 

Pretty much what I was trying to say, although all media (tv, movies, news - which is the worst imo, music and games) have an influence but it is down to the parents.

Case study, me. I've been playing violent games since the days of Way of the Exploding Fist & Street Fighter on the Spectrum back in the 80s (meaning I was under 10) and gory games such as Mortal Kombat since they were in the arcades and I have turned out fine... I was brought up to know right and wrong. Simple as that really.

 RichMR2 wrote:

...Anyway, basically, stronger enforcement of age ratings is needed before uncensored stuff/we make up our own minds...

I don't buy that argument. Take a look at some of the most censored countries in the world. Notice how they are third world countries, always in the midst of war and turmoil?

Video games are a form of entertainment, they are not drugs or alcohol and should never be placed in the same category. We all know that video games are the least of a kids problems if he/she is willing to go out and murder or cause mayhem after playing one. This isn't "mainly" on the parents, its is completely on the parents.

I'm lucky enough to live in a country where I have only experienced one or two games that I wanted to play get censored. But those were maddening. Its people making decisions for the majority based on what they assume a minority might do after viewing/playing.

If you really want to make a difference in the world make legislation that forces parents to be more responsible with their children and crack down on child abuse and neglect. Keep banning video games and all you'll do is **** off the majority.

well that sucks

Lol banning games is so lame...just make the game mature and don't sell it too little kids. glad i live in america we have problems but also have the best country in the world.

the U.S have an edited version of Joker's Fatality.. yet you can buy games that use and depict drugs... i hate Australia!! i had to import Blitz from the U.K. and i also will be importing Blitz II.. and on top of that.. banning games turn people into pirating/downloading them

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I picked up a copy recently, and i cannot see anything outwardly offensive, unlike some games that get refused classification here or need an edited copy. Picked it up for $24 brand new at an expo, and been enjoying it since. Great to see some more arcade football around than the boring Madden series offers.

I think it was gamespot.com's review of the game that make it out to be a game with bad taste that makes you feel like a bad person for enjoying it. That doesnt make any sense since in other games you shoot people in the face. It doesnt have anything near as disturbing as Saints Row 2 or GTA4, but i think why people were so taken aback by it was because it itroduces things like ***, Violence, Gambling and Drugs into a genre that has never seen it before.

I can't understand how Saints Row 2 can get released here with no Hiccups, but a game that "encourages" steroid abuse cant.

Good game overall, i dont like the langauge or the storyline, but i just skip all the cutscenes and get straight into some mean and fun Football.

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