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Reservoir Dogs game banned in Australia

Eidos' interactive take on Quentin Tarantino's classic crime-caper film is refused classification.

The developers at Blitz Games, creators of Eidos' upcoming game adaptation of Quentin Tarantino's cult classic Reservoir Dogs, have said that it's possible for players to make it through the entire game without killing a single person.

It seems Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification chose not to play the game that way, as last Friday it refused to classify the game with a rating, effectively banning it in the country. The Web site of Australian tech magazine APC reports that Atari Australia, the distributor of the game down under, has decided to scrap the project rather than resubmitting it with edits.

Earlier this year, the OFLC reassessed its previous classification of Atari's graffiti-inspired game Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure. Last November the game was given an MA 15+ classification, meaning it was not suitable for people under 15 due to strong violence and strong themes. However, two days before the game was scheduled to go on sale, the classification was revoked and the game was banned, with the OFLC giving as reason for the banning that the game promoted the crime of graffiti.

Reservoir Dogs has now joined a less-than-exclusive club. Titles such as BMX XXX, Manhunt, Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, Postal, Postal 2, 50 Cent: Bulletproof, Narc, The Punisher, The Getaway, Phantasmagoria, and the Roberta Williams Anthology (the American version of which featured a one-chapter preview of Phantasmagoria) have also been refused classification and banned in the country, although some of them (such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and BMX XXX) have later been granted ratings.

[UPDATE 6/28]: Eidos responded to the banning today, acknowledging that the game won't be released in Australia. According to the publisher's statement, "The game remains faithful to the cult classic film, directed by Quentin Tarantino, and as such, is an ultra-violent third person action game and the OFLC's rating system does not have a suitable age classification for this."

200 Comments

  • DaDude253

    Posted May 20, 2007 2:16 am GMT

    Who realy wants to play this game it looks like a GTA copy with s**t ratings

  • seanmclaren101

    Posted Dec 14, 2006 11:42 pm GMT

    Couldnt the govt like make the game company produce a censored version so we could still play it?Looks longingly at vintage 1993 movie posters in closet.

    Brings to mind an unusual story when i bought the banned version of GTA original before it was pulled from shelves.It was later rereleased in a censored form.I sold one of my mates my copy for $200.He was so wrapped but funnily enuf i didnt see him too much after that.I bought an Xbox with the money Btw and i aint never looked back.Still got my original launch Ps2 however.

  • hamyman

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 4:14 am GMT

    its funny isnt it...you americans get australia and new zealand confused...see in new zealand we have had only to games banned ever...postal 2 and manhunt which is kind of accepted caz they are both ridculosly violent but if a country which is smaller than one of australias biggest cities (sydney) can come up with a decent censorship plan then austtalia need to get thier act together...also i must add all games released come out unedited unlike everything that seems to be comeing out in oz.

  • legendkiller747

    Posted Oct 1, 2006 9:49 am GMT

    The OFC sucks and don't know what the hell they are doing they ban games because they can't bloody come up with an R18+ rating and then blame kids for playing it. Parents should be blamed about this they buy games for their kids and then have a **** about it for buying the damm game in the first place after seeing them play it as well. This is why we need an R18+ rating for games in Australia, these ofc people don't know what the hell they are doing at all!!!

    If the US can have the AO rating why in the bloody hell can't we get an R-Rating for games farout is it that hard to put an extra rating on video games. ****

  • whacky_tobaccie

    Posted Aug 23, 2006 6:02 am GMT

    2 Words BIT TORRENT
    anyway i live in aus and have seen all the above mentioned games for sale at EB and harvey norman so FUK you OFLC people will always find a way to obtain banned games and movies. you will never stop the pirates.

  • RtX_311

    Posted Jul 3, 2006 2:07 am GMT

    Eh ill get a burnt copy anyway, censorship is surpassed by the willing, those who really want the game will find a way to get it, ey I finished Getting Up like 3 months ago, and its still banned here in Australia were our OFLC is so blind as to think we are going to play these "violent" games then pick up a cigar go outside and recreate these scenes, its pathetic, but eh im only one man who plays any game he wants anyway......

  • i_love_my_ds

    Posted Jun 30, 2006 6:45 pm GMT

    lucky not to be australian

  • Rbywpn12

    Posted Jun 28, 2006 12:51 pm GMT

    Wow... they are taking preorders on the new 2 disc collector's edition of the movie but banning the game. Smart people. Absolute brilliance of human intellegence right there.

  • imnotacrook

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:18 pm GMT

    wow if I was game developer, I wouldn't locate it in the land down under, I'm glad I live in America we're at least we can buy whatever we want with "proper warning".

  • geeand5

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 8:46 pm GMT

    too bad Melbourne is the most liveable city in the WORLD!

  • d-suhiti

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 5:55 pm GMT

    elie05 is right. That's our law for video games. NO R18+ RATING. WTF

  • _magic_8_ball

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 5:06 pm GMT

    a couple of people have brought up the fact that these games are 'still' availiable over here in Australia but thats technically wrong.. the games are availiable again after heavy cencorship, the fact that they get re-released after being heavily edited so that people under a certain age might buy them is a joke and is insulting to older gamers.

    i remember playing the first GTA game, and the second and i also played San Andreas and i'v not once taken to someone with a baseball bat.

    i've also played Metal Gear Solid and i've never gone and tried to sneak into any government facilities, the way Solid Snake shows you to do it in the game.

    The sooner we get a ratings board that actually has a clue the better!

  • qubeley

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 2:58 pm GMT

    Well Seriously I don't expect some Americans to understand us Aussies, particularly when some crappy US entertainment shows still talk about the "outbackness" of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's wedding. I wonder how many Americans who made that kind of comment about Australia have been to Australia at all. Also Australia is not just about the Crocodile Hunter if they actually pay attention to what 's on the Australian TV and theatres. Some of the biggest current generation actors are from Australia - Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Hugh Jackman, Eric Bana, Hugo Weaving, etc. etc. Even Kylie Minoque and The Veronicas are from Australia. We are much more advanced than some Americans think.

    Anyway that's off topic. I still think OFLC had made the right decision. Having QT's name linked to the project doesn't make it righteous to enter the homes of the Australian families. So just get over it mate!

  • VenomousOne

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 11:28 am GMT

    This is what happens with bi-partisan legislation. About the only thing the left and the right can agree on is that entertainment should be censored as much as possible by the government.

  • Kracka2205

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 11:04 am GMT

    You know you may hate America all you want (and rightly so, with the way things have been going lately) but you have to appreciate certain things. The man in charge might be a retard, but at least he doesn't have all the power. This is why I love our founding fathers, because over 200 years ago, they knew that someday the government would get too strong, so they created the most cherished document in our government's history, The Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights has helped games so much lately. Just look at the many anti-gaming bills that have been overturned because they infringed constitutional rights. Things like these are what still make me proud to be an American, even though the whole world seems to hate us.

  • Hellisunreal

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 10:36 am GMT

    those guyz jus have issues

  • ClayMeow

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 10:29 am GMT

    Wow, and I thought idiots like Jack Thompson and Hilary Clinton were bad. You Australians need to riot, then maybe someone will do a study that shows banning videogames invokes violent behavior in children.

  • skitzocyko

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 10:10 am GMT

    wattashame

  • glitchgeeman

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 10:08 am GMT

    Hm, Jack Thompson would probably like to live in Australia. And this whole banning thing is plain stupid. If you make games illegal, then people are just going to buy them illegaly, thus, increasing crime and hurting the economy. Good going Australia, the least you could do is make an 18+ rating instead of this dumb 15+ crap.

  • evolutiontapped

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 10:06 am GMT

    Actually banning games? Jeeze.. Cant they just slap a Sticker on it, and only sell it to adults? Maybe even keep it under the counter, but outright banning it?

  • Catistrophic

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 10:05 am GMT

    Sucks for Austrailians who want to play a game that's awesome.

  • magnolio369

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 10:05 am GMT

    well i have one word for australia: STINGER!!!!

  • ayotaylo

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 10:02 am GMT

    but cant these australian guys just buy these banned games on the internet if they want to? i mean...

  • Rimsa_Laded

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:55 am GMT

    They banned it because it was so crappily made.
    Nobody's missing out on anything.

  • maoonparas

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:53 am GMT

    astralia is boring country....

  • Matt7895

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:47 am GMT

    Another example of the nanny state which believes it knows what is best for the people. The UK will start banning games soon, I think.

  • Jaks_Secret

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:46 am GMT

    On a side note, I find it funny that a couple of years ago Game Informer magazine made up a bad idea for a game, and it was Reservoir Dogs.

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:39 am GMT

    Australia thats so stupid !

  • SpykDragon

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:32 am GMT

    Are you Australia? You're not Australia. So be quiet.

  • Nradd99

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:27 am GMT

    I don't agree with censorship in any form, but I can understand the logic behind banning games like Getting Up and BMX XXX, as they clearly show (not promote IMO) crimes in a lax fashon. However, if someone cares little enough about freedom to pull a product off the market, they should at least examine its artistic value first. Reservoir Dogs is a classic movie with a storyline that hardly has "pointless violence." I have never played the game, but considering that you can get through it without killing a single person shows that it doesn't have violence for violence sake.

    A previous poster said this: "if the Aussie's want to ban some games, be it to ensure a safer society or whatever, then they are entitled to do it. Besides, there ar so many better, non-violent alternatives out there that they can still play"

    While I have no idea if there are laws in Australia prohibiting it, censorship is a blatant violation of people's freedom. There is no evidence that a Reservoir Dogs game will increase violent crime, so an attempt by the Australian government to ban it is clearly based on the selfish views of its poloticions. Try thinking about the situation from your own perspective. Imagine if the government of your country took away your right to play a game you love. Why should anyone have the power to decide what can be played or viewed in the privacy of your own home? If idiots like the KKK have the freedom to march in the streets, then logically gamers should have the freedom to play whatever games they want. Not everyone considers "peaceful games" better and we are complaining for the same reason you are telling us not to complain: to express our opinions. It is a human desire, regardless of whether it makes any real difference. Spending 5 minutes on this long post may logically be a waste of time (as I'll be lucky if one person reads it) but it is worth it because I know that I've expressed my opinion to the best of my ability.

  • vnhimself

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:12 am GMT

    CCCP!

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:12 am GMT

    WTF?

  • boyblob

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:10 am GMT

    Blow me. What age were you when you first played Mortal Kombat 1-3? Uhu. What age were you when you saw your first R rated movie? Yeah thought so. I think we can all say that we have done those things before we were supposed to. Just because some tool doesn't feel people should play something doesn't mean it should be banned. For those saying you have to follow the ratings then you are silly. I don't think that a 12 year old can't play Super smash Bros. Melee just because it says T. I know we all played GTA before we were 17.

  • GQIQ

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 9:04 am GMT

    cant austrailians just order a ps2, xbox, gamecube or whatever system the US version off of ebay and then just buy the american versions of the game and have them shipped to you??? if i lived there id just get the us versions of the systems and then order the games i wanted off of ebay rather than wait forever for the games to be released there.

  • mjc0961

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 8:32 am GMT

    Uhm... GTA 3 and GTA San Andreas bad... But GTA Vice City is okay? Explain that one, OFLC.

  • blackjack4124

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 8:12 am GMT

    Yep. Praise be to the fact that whilst we have two major political powers, and a bunch of minor ones, they all have very similar ideologies. It's like voting between brie and camembert.

    Personal - a lot of those games are complete garbage anyway. It's just annoying that the OFLC is so openly subjected to pressure from interest groups and politicians (but then again, so is every institution in the country. Nothing violent, just threats of money withdrawing). It's probably why GTA endlessly rants on about Australo-American wars.

    And the hilarious thing is - it's not that the game is banned, it's just that "it can't be sold legally". Doublethink is here.

    I think, in ending - I should mention that VCR's and iPods have only in the last few weeks been actually legalised in Australia - and yet they've sold like hotcakes (despite the fact actually using them was illegal, should you tape shows or listen to music on an iPod). If someone really wants game X, they'll import it. Or worse, pirate it...

  • grave_rob

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 8:05 am GMT

    the aussies are pretty cool people. censorship is a bummer, but it doesn't look like this game is going to be any good.

  • slackboy72

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 8:05 am GMT

    The reason for this is pure and simple:
    Corruption of power.

    The censor Appointees to the OFLC are appointed by one man - Phillip Ruddock, the Attorney General. He hires and fires censors based on his own opinions. This is the same man that has introduced draconian laws stripping Australians of all freedoms such as freedom of expression in the name of protecting us from 'terrorists'. What we used to be able to do under common law he stripped away with statutes. He is an evil, bitter old man who takes more cues from Hitler than the Australian people. Never mind that he has breached numerous UN charters on the treatment of refugees and human rights. Australians are too gutless to think for themselves and media organisations too willing to tow the line.

    We used to be free to think for ourselves,
    We got too lazy and look what's happened.

  • Miztic-Berzerk

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 7:53 am GMT

    Oh man this is hilarious. I think game spot should restrict the comments to Australians only due to the stupidity of those who don't live here. Video games are the only form of media here that is really censored closely, even though most of those games aren't worth salt except for the GTA series (which can still be bought here anyway).

    I can say after 9:40 pm here on television all censorship ends, even though all words bar the C word (sounds like caaan't for those idiots out there) can be said anytime of the day.

    Who cares, it's only one game. People might be being saved from wasting money if the game is crap.

  • diablusx

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 7:37 am GMT

    I can kind of understand why they would ban them temporarily but I hope it is not permanent. I do think it is funny that this is coming from the same country that has the idea to use old, mood music like Barry Manilo to chase off holigans. Seriously, its in the news.

  • Etheral_Filcher

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 7:28 am GMT

    Australia is a nut with laws. Am I the only one that isn't suprised?

  • snugglebear

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 7:23 am GMT

    Wow. Banning a game after its already been approved and shipped. That seems like they're just trying to stick it to the game companies. It's not cheap to produce a game , let alone plackage thousands fo them that are never going to see the light of day. Seems someone needs to remove a REALLY big stick.

  • VenomousOne

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 7:15 am GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • Dakes

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 7:14 am GMT

    Look everyone Australia is a great country run by conservative dickheads. Gaming is being blammed as the source of all evil with anything to do with anything. These conservative politicians and soccer mums with too much time on their hands are looking to blame everything thats wrong with society on gaming. I was able to walk into R rated movies at the age of 15 with people not caring, but if a game has any violence or questionable material, every gamer must suffer because its demeed that it will negativly influence us. They refuse to give us an R rating for games where it is a logical answer, so us older gamers can actually enjoy our spare time, instead of making it so no one regardless of age can play a game. Our country needs to sort this out. And yes Resevoir Dogs the film is out over here and is one of my favourite films but dont really know how it would make a good game.

  • Extherium

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 7:06 am GMT

    Hey all.

    I'm Australian and I can tell you all personally that censorship here is not at all as bad as this article makes it out to be.

    All those games mentioned in the last paragraph of the article, bar the Postal series, I've seen on the shelves here, and still continue to be sold.

  • Paul_TheGreat

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 6:56 am GMT

    I'm glad I don't live in Australia.

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 6:50 am GMT

    Australia has to be one of the worst places for videogame players to live.

  • sickindividual

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 6:43 am GMT

    i was so sure that i read this game was axed .. or maybe i was thinking of kill bill?

  • aus_pride

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 6:42 am GMT

    USA PUTS MONEY FIRST PEOPLE SECOND, AUS PUTS PEOPLE FIRST and money last

  • Quolnok

    Posted Jun 27, 2006 6:41 am GMT

    *Why the R18+ rating is for movies and not games:

    They don't believe gamers are over said age. But also, they also believe that parents believe all games are suitable for children.

    *Why Reservoir Dogs would have gotten an R18+ rating:

    The movie, upon which the game is based, recieved an R18+ rating.

    *Why don't I care:

    While I am an Australian gamer, so far none of the games banned have sounded all that great. I do, however, support the introduction of an R18+ rating for games.

    *X ratings:

    The territories (ACT, NT) have an additional X18+ rating for movies, for some reason.

    *More about clasifications:

    http://www.oflc.gov.au/resource.html?resource=60&filename=60.pdf
    http://www.oflc.gov.au/resource.html?resource=62&filename=62.pdf

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