Singapore unbans Mass Effect

Media Development Authority has a rethink, decides girl-on-alleged-girl love is ok after all.

Yesterday news arrived that gamers in Singapore weren't going to be able to get their hands on the highly anticipated Xbox 360 sci-fi action role-playing game Mass Effect.

The game was banned in the country after the Media Development Authority objected to a scene in which the main character (if selected to be a woman) kissed and caressed an alien character of female appearance as part of a romantic subplot.

Today, however, The Straits Times is reporting that the ban has been lifted and the game has been issued an M18 rating instead.

The Board of Film Censors issued a statement saying it would be creating a games-classification system in January, and in the interim, it would be selectively using game ratings to "enable highly anticipated games to be launched in Singapore."

To date, Singapore has been the only country to ban Mass Effect, however temporarily.

236 Comments

  • mikeydumbo

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 9:16 am PT

    less government = better? i think you fail to understand what's been going on behind the scenes in the government. game ratings in singapore? do you count "no rating, parental advisory and M18" as a rating?

  • haasebeagle

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 3:35 pm PT

    Do Politicians have nothing better to do? Sounds like they are the same no matter where they are from. Useless...which is why I dont understand how so many people in US want to vote for obama and clinton. Less govt = better!

  • ek_Theos

    Posted Dec 9, 2007 2:35 pm PT

    I cant believe they banned it in the first place its not as if its some completely unavoidable part of the game.

  • matty_sen

    Posted Dec 8, 2007 8:15 pm PT

    thats funny cuz on my box it has a 12 rating

  • SteveTwo

    Posted Dec 8, 2007 2:36 pm PT

    Heh, I did that subplot. Makin' it with blue or green skinned aliens is what space exploration is all about. Right Capn Kirk? lol :-D

  • gws898

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 9:57 pm PT

    yep, Last time singapore doesn't have any game ratings. And next year onwards, it will having a games rating system. (anyway I'm a singaporean)

  • Nbajam23

    Posted Nov 23, 2007 11:05 am PT

    Yes but in movies if there is a lesbian, but in real life that actress isn't one, we still ban that right? same tactics apply with this game.

  • mikeydumbo

    Posted Nov 20, 2007 1:18 am PT

    (bjmage16) oh by the way, everyone in asari is considered female(defined as gender that delivers offspring). you noticed that when you refer to asexual species, they're all refered to as she?

    but yea, not like commander had a choice. cant help it if the whole species is asexual right?

    btw, nesto423, in singapore, legal age is 18, not 17. adult is 21. so rating is as PG,NC16, M18, R21 (i'm 17 by the way >

  • vass86

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 9:56 pm PT

    good news

  • Yokuz1166

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 9:15 pm PT

    Bj must've read the book, too. Asari's are a very appealing race, but they are all asexual. It's in the book =)

  • prioritymail

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 7:50 pm PT

    I knew they couldnt keep a sure-to-be blockbuster off their shores

  • Devvy01

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 7:11 pm PT

    around and around we go.. banned, unbanned.. make up your minds. worse than a politician

  • buffyguy27

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 4:27 pm PT

    (Bench_Scientist) lol "bueller" thats a classic. Im glad they unbanned Mass effect that ban wasnt really called for, having a new system that (hopefully) makes sense will be a good thing for singapore.

  • bjmage16

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 3:18 pm PT

    It's not girl-on-girl action. The Asari are asexual. No gender.

  • nesto423 posted Nov 19, 2007 1:08 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    nesto423

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 1:08 pm PT (hide)

    now if it was man on man... i think i would be on singapores side . "dont think i would want to see master chief w/guy on guy action.

  • nesto423

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 1:06 pm PT

    M 18?? Do we have M18 or is it a misprint and it should b M 17??? cause ... here wouldnt that be rated AO?????

  • Olly464

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 11:18 am PT

    Wow, for the first time ever, for however brief, there was something you COULDN'T get in singapore .

    $0.99 hooker anyone?

  • shadow9669

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 10:42 am PT

    im happy that all them people in Singapore will be able to buy the game this game looks like so much fun and we dont want anyone to miss this fun game

  • Bench_Scientist

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 9:06 am PT

    LOL anyone notice the news paper cited in this article? The Straits Time! Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

  • DDSolar

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 8:57 am PT

    yeahhhhhh girl on girl action rules




    pd: If a moderator reads this can hey send me a message explaning why I whas banned(did no understand) thx:3

  • jaredcrazy3232

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 8:35 am PT

    mmmmm lesbians..... tasty

  • MastarrLee

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 7:24 am PT

    Talk about A Nanny State!!!

  • Hyaku68

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 1:16 am PT

    Lesbians 1 Singapore 0

    Haha...

  • RedDaemon

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 11:05 pm PT

    yeah baby girls on girls is a-ok

  • drogaz

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 6:08 pm PT

    I am glad they unbanned it. Mass Effect looks like an awesome game and the reason why they banned it was just homophobic and stupid.

  • Spotswoode

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 4:50 pm PT

    hah it's a fantastic game.. ridiculously good, I've beaten Novaria and a lot of side quests.. can't wait for the Gamespot review

  • buffdaddy69

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 4:25 pm PT

    hahaahhahahahahahaha. They probably watched a porn of lesbians and they thought "Heeeeeey. this isnt half bad!"

  • titust755

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 2:11 pm PT

    lol, love how they just changed there mind

  • football_legend

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 7:53 am PT

    Now heres an Idea.

  • football_legend

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 7:52 am PT

    Now heres an Idea.

  • -lThe_Doctorl-

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 7:16 am PT

    Evil_shenanigan you completed it in a day?

  • SBel

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 6:31 am PT

    Didnt expect the ban to stop people in Singapore from somehow getting the game anyways but at least the Government over there has seen sense - hopefully when the new classifications come in over there they wont ban any other games.

  • herbertfkj

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 5:57 am PT

    Ok the Mass Effect of the game on Singapore would be to instigate the need for new classification standards for games in Singapore, which is just more employment created (read: much more troublesome for everyone).

  • TheoleDominion1

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 3:48 am PT

    I agree, men who are confused on the very basic point that women and men are "naturally" made for each other, the better it is for men who not confused.

  • Evil_shenanigan

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 2:45 am PT

    Ha ha ha, YES! EB Got the game in on Friday, picked it up, been playing since. Beat it earlier today (Friday). Gonna start it up again tomorrow. I think this game deserves about a 9.9/10. Only a few minor glitch's.

  • YInYangUXG

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 1:26 am PT

    Haha. I've only beaten Feros and now I'm on Noveria. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat game.

  • X-RS

    Posted Nov 18, 2007 1:12 am PT

    agreeing with bluebl

    if men like men then isnt there more chicks for strait men?

  • HyperMetaDragon

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 11:46 pm PT

    That's odd, I suggested in my comment last time that they should unban it, and look...

  • lilkikerman4450

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 9:31 pm PT

    ok so they get it now.... good for them!

  • bluebl

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 7:41 pm PT

    This created quite a ruckus it seems. I'll tell you this, i studied 1 year in Singapore, and it's more free than some American states. But there's a huge conservative rhetoric in the media, but most people really don't care. they even used to held the Nation party (google if you wish). Regardless, rhetoric gives votes, and you should be used to that already. as for Lord_pisces and Markfisher 2112, unlike what you say, the real problem in the world isn't guy-on-guy whatever. It's people like you the real problem, who are just plain hypocrites. I wish you would lose your right to even vote or to chose a person to marry, because you are a shame for everyone who ever fought for your rights to be even typing here now.

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 6:48 pm PT

    poor singapore, that's gonna be a great game, hopefully

  • sonofabear17

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 6:47 pm PT

    lol

  • kratos_karmakar

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 6:36 pm PT

    be glad and appreciative of this unbanning. som 1 down there isnt from australia.

  • kratos_karmakar

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 6:35 pm PT

    be glad and appreciative of this unbanning. som 1 down there isnt from australia.

  • 8th_pacifist

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 4:18 pm PT

    These guys have got to get over their homophobia.

  • crave4more

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 3:51 pm PT

    and what an awesome game it is too... My local EB got it on friday and was able to pick up my copy sooooooooooooo good controversy is the best type of advertising anyway so it should sell like hotcakes in singapore now...

  • Kravyn81

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 9:39 am PT

    That's ironic coming from a country where a hooker costs you $5....

  • jon181

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 8:45 am PT

    I mean it is understandable when oral sex and anal sex (only between a man and a woman) were only made legal in Singapore last month. note it is still illegal to have anal sex between too men in Singapore. Google this if you don't believe it.

  • Bangagonging

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 6:43 am PT

    And thus their sanity was regained.

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

Mass Effect Boxshot
Mass Effect

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    129 of 59,115
    (up by 10)
    X360 Rank:
    36 of 1,490
    Tracking:
    24,099 Track It»
    Wishlists:
    12,501 Wish It»
  • Users Now Playing:
    6,172
  • Number of Players:

    1 Player

  • Top 5 User Tags:
    1. mass effect
    2. bioware
    3. rpg
    4. xbox 360
    5. mass
  • Mature Rating Description

    Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. Learn more

Full Game Details »Close
Also on

Recent News

See All News »

Site Blogs