Warner Bros. has confirmed that it will submit Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition--released in the US in February last year--to the Australian Classification Board for classification under the newly introduced R18+ rating.
The publisher's 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot was originally banned by the Classification Board for "explicit" violence, blood spray, and limb dismemberment during fatalities, which made it unable to be accommodated within the maximum MA15+ guidelines in place at the time the game was submitted for classification.
Warner Bros. later launched an appeal against the ban, claiming that the violence in the game is on par with other games already available for sale in Australia. The appeal was unsuccessful, and thus Mortal Kombat has remained banned in Australia to this day.
However, the recently introduced R18+ classification for video games now makes it possible for video games with high-impact violence to be sold in Australia.
"Warner Bros. Entertainment Australia will be submitting the Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition for classification under the new R18+ classification category," the publisher told GameSpot AU today.
The publisher declined to comment further on when the game will be submitted. The game is currently available in other territories on the Xbox 360 and PS3.
Earlier this month, the Classification Board confirmed that the first title to receive the new R18+ rating in Australia will be Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge for the Wii U. The game will be published by Nintendo, but currently has no release date in Australia.
Discussion
Good News OFLC has just given Mortal Kombat a R rating, go to http://www.kotaku.com.au/2013/02/mortal-kombat-finally-receives-an-r18-classification-in-australia/ for more information.
I tried importing this game after a month I got a letter from customs telling me that it is illegal to import and they would be keeping the contraband it then went on to say that this was my 1st and only warning any other illegal imports would result in jail time and a $60,000 fine. I then went to see what is illegal to import and after reading through a large amount of items i came across an area which stated that all items that could be used for suicide can not be imported which left me sitting there going I cant import rope. Really if you want to commit suicide you don't import rope you go to Bunnings. Anyway I really think the list of so called illegal imports needs changing too.
If you consider importing the game all I can say is good luck.
So a Mature 18+ isn't possible in Aussie when WB wants Mortal Kombat to be released there but somehow Nintendo manage to get Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge there with no problem? Somehow I think Nintendo solved the Mature 18+ problem, for one two of the games Nintendo wanted to released there are Mature rated games (Ninja Gaiden 3 and Bayonetta 2).
Just import it anyway, it will be cheaper
All this 'cause they aren't manly enough to tame the content...Way to go, scumbags!
You little beauty!
Why do simulation games get rated at PEGI 3? You cant tell me that a fictional over the top nonsense universe could do more potential damage than piloting a plane, train or street sweeper in real life environments WITHOUT the ability to run people over. You have no idea how much someone might want to run someone over in a street sweeper after the simulation showed them how to operate the vehicle whilst pedestrians where tantalizingly close. If ima rampage, its going to be because I'm bored, not because I suddenly believe that I can tear out a mans intact spine with lightning shooting out of my hands. You would have to be stupid to think that's possible.
Just so you know, I would never rampage.
Restrictive government, shitty internet and wild life, are the reasons of why I don't move to Australia.
I guess 2 years late is better than never! Good thing it's a great game
God you Aussies need to do something quick, pretty soon your gov will be telling you when it's ok to shit.
What is "Komplete"? new word? lol
any release date on ninja gaiden razors edge= FELLAS plz update me
The most terrible thing is that children will still play THIS. Instead of playing harmless games like Minecraft (which can help learn things -- http://www.teqno-logical.com/3877/minecraft-helps-swedish-students-study-planning/) or something like that. I am strongly against such games... :(((
I think most people who wanted this game already imported it, this is a liitle too late I think.
Think of the children!! Australia will become like the US thanks to this new rating
burn it!!!!
I'm curious. What exactly is it they are afraid will happen if an 8 year old kid plays this game? Or better yet a 15+ yo.
What is the worst case scenario here?
I remember a similar debate when the first Mortal Kombat was released. I'm not 100% sure but I don't think any kids grew up to rip out the spines of frost ninjas.
Is it emotional trauma they're scared of? I was more traumatized when I learned to break the spines of fish on my first fishing trip. Oh and btw I've played violent games all my life and I stopped fishing many years ago 'cause I don't wish to kill other living creatures for my own amusement.
How is any game worth censoring?! I'm sure even kids are sensible enough to not play games they can't handle emotionally. Not to mention I'm sure they can see the difference between a game and reality.
I've also learned that kids in general have much more trouble handling the "mood" of a game than actual imagery. A game like "Myst" can be much more unsettling than soldiers on killing sprees or kung fu face kicking.
Again I ask. What is it they think will happen if someone between 15 and 18 plays this?
Do they think they'll start kicking the asian god of thunder's behind around? Rip the heart out of their friends chests? I don't get it. I've played these since I was a kid and I've never hit anyone in my life. In my experience my fellow gamers don't brawl. They avoid physical conflicts. It's pacifying to have a harmless outlet for those urges.
I already imported but this does need to happen. Lots of people who don't have it would still buy it.
I'd think the Australians would have just imported the game by now, for PS3 anyway. I dunno about 360.
It'll be great if they allow Warner to get the game over there, let's just hope WB doesn't get chased out with boomerangs.
I hope the Aussies get their hands on this. It's the first truly AAA MK experience.
They want Sandbox combat, No blood, No hit, No fatality, So give em that kind game wb :)))
Hahaha ;) Nice \m/
Damn koalas, quit going overboard with censorship! You still believe in Corporal punishment!!
Good luck, WB. Nintendo and Tecmo started leading the way and here's hoping you follow.
Thats too bad since I already got this game imported ;)
Hope they allow it in this time. lol
@jajofa77 I have already imported it, a long time ago, along with many other banned games. If this really did happen you, then I guess you were unlucky.
@jorge69696
The diverse wildlife is actually one of the things I like about Australia. Wouldn't care for being around so many venomous ones, though.
@jorge69696
No one is asking u to move...
@KIDFOX All it really does is explain why kids can't spell 'complete' and 'combat' right.
@KIDFOX Complete is the same as Komplete, its just a way the Mortal "K"ombat franchise write their Cs. It is typical for them to do this lol
@KIDFOX yeah, right after kombat
@Ameliahunter1 lol, look at it from this point of view....if children never encounter violence while they are still children and grow up not knowing violence, how would passing the 18 year mark change it? if they never knew violence before they would be shocked, shocked and horrified if they encountered it even at year 25 of their life...meaning their whole life they have to kept away from any kind of violent dealing (e.g. dog fights, boxing tournaments, even ice hockey! since hockey can get violent), now would it be normal that a generation of people grows who are the opinion that hockey should be banned? that boxing should be banned? I am sorry, but I don't think this generation would be "ok", I think they would have "issues"...what do we learn out of this? keeping people too isolated from reality keeps them too distant to real world understanding (same as when top management of a large company simply does not know a rats a** about how basic employees of the company function and then get ideas which completely break the basic employee jobs), keeping kids away from reality (violence, sexual themes, etc.) only causes them to be UNPREPARED to handle these in real life, leading to psychological issues in later grown-up life....do you kind of see where I'm coming from? it's like keeping a too clean household, mind you it has been proven scientifically, keeping a too clean household will lead to the fact both children and adults living there will have a lowered immunity system, so once they leave this controlled area and actually go outside, they are far susceptible to catching diseases / having accidents and such...same with videogames and violence, if they learn to deal with violence in non-harmful environment such as their living room, they will cope with abuse (e.g. you manager) better once they are grown up in real life....
@Ameliahunter1 Knowledge is Power.
@Ameliahunter1 The same can be said about violent movies but no, let's complain only against violent videogames. If children are playing 18+ games, who's to blame? developers that make the game or parents that don't check what their childrens are doing?
@Ameliahunter1 I too am against games like minecraft, mortal kombat taught me way more growing up.
Forget minecraft, play lego, at least lego can be used after you build it.
@Ameliahunter1
Lame
@istuffedsunny Na Aussies were smart enough to change gun laws when gun deaths were high.
@Saketume yes, but you see, higher rated games might have to pay higher taxes or will have to pay for the higher rating test :) economy my man, economy, always hidden in so-called "best interest of the population"...just like American laws to carry weapons (they are still only in place because of gun making lobbyists)...
@Saketume Pffft I've ripped the spines out of like 4 ninjas so far in my life. I learned well.
@TheCyborgNinja "I hope the Aussies get their hands on this. It's the first truly AAA MK after MK, MK II and MKIII." Fixed, : )
@Bubble_Man I like wildlife. I just don't want a spider in my bathroom or a kangaroo in my closet.
@thorn3000 @Ameliahunter1 Hmm, I see your point. I guess I have to think about that.
@UnaSolida @Ameliahunter1 Of course it is :) But do you mean knowledge of violent games? :)
@DarkNeoBahamut Violent movies are also a terrible thing. But yes, you're right, it's the parents' fault...
@DEMONPANDA212 What exactly did MK teach you? How to beat someone in a game? Wouldn't it be cooler to go to karate then? :) At least you'd be able to beat someone in the real life -- if something happened...
I used to play lego when I was a child :) And I still think Minecraft is cool.
@moseph187 amen to that! Europe does not have such a strict rating crap system as US, but look, we do not get that many shooting accidents...perhaps cos' you can't buy a gun in a candy store next to M&Ms...perhaps of this, who knows, well, all people with logic know, other people, such half of the US of A, do not know this apparently...
@Falru @Saketume I got kicked off the school debating team when the other team presented a better argument than mine and i resorted to pulling their spinal columns out. If only my parents had known this before they bought me Mortal Kombat when I was a child...
@Assemblent @TheCyborgNinja Agree 100% , this is a true MK.
@Ameliahunter1 @DEMONPANDA212 I don't even know where to begin here.
I suppose first would be to say that my brother takes karate, he got student of the year 2 weeks back and I know fine well Karate is a defensive fighting form only.
Secondly would be that MK taught me that violence is only cool in games and should never be used in real life.
Thirdly, fun is opinion, however practicality, lego has been proven to be practical, Minecraft, I'm still waiting.
And to top my speech off, the Karate kid in my family sits and plays COD and Minecraft all day, as in 12 hours each day he'll spend online only leaving the house Mondays to do Karate. Although thankfully when his grading is due he does at least stop playing games to practice his Kata,