Adventure game The Walking Dead receives an MA15+ rating in Australia; can now be officially sold in the country. [UPDATE: Telltale responds.]
It looks like Telltale Games' episodic adventure series The Walking Dead is headed to Australian shores. The Australian Classification Board's website revealed that the game series has received a MA15+ rating, with consumer advice noting "strong themes and horror violence".
The news will appease Australian fans of the adventure game series. Telltale revealed early last year that it had no plans to release the multi-platform title in Australia and New Zealand due to strict rating laws. Australia officially introduced an adult classification for video games as of January 1 this year, allowing R18+ rated games to be sold at a national level.
Prior to its classification, the game series was obtainable on PC and Mac via digital games retailer Steam, or purchased online through Telltale's own site. With the new MA15+ rating granted, it will be officially available for Australian gamers.
GameSpot reached out to Telltale for comment last year on the possibility of an Australian release following the introduction of an adult rating for games. The studio's reply is below.
Telltale's The Walking Dead is a single-player episodic game that is based on Robert Kirkman's comic book series. It stars Lee Everett, a man convicted of a crime, but given a chance to redeem himself, albeit in a world infested with the undead.
UPDATE: Telltale today confirmed it is planning to release The Walking Dead in Australia, telling GameSpot:
"Telltale can confirm today that the award-winning game series The Walking Dead was submitted to the Australian Classification Board and has received a rating of MA15+. The game will be available for purchase digitally on consoles via Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network very soon. We will confirm expected release dates shortly. Retail release dates for The Walking Dead on XBOX 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in Australia will also be announced in the coming weeks."
Zorine is the Community Manager at GameSpot Australia. She enjoys competitive gaming, eating and winning. Is prone to gamer rage.
1 Like The whole R18+ rating excuse was just Telltale covering their butts. The TV show is rated MA15+ in Australia they didn't even try to do a New Zealand release and they've always had a R18+ rating. Obviously the huge fan demand has resulted in them to change their mind, but in the first place it wasn't a rating law issue. It was probably because the sales of past Telltale games in Oceania weren't great and instead of simply saying that. They blamed the classification office.
We gonna get this for EVERY game with some blood that gets an australian release now or something? We get it, they restructured their ratings system and mature games are getting more appropriate ratings/not being banned! They've moved on, can the news?
1 Like Still haven't played the last 2 chapters! Brilliant game/story though. The stuff that happened prior to getting the train started.. first time a game has really made me feel mentally/emotionally disturbed. From what I've heard it only gets more depressing, I'll hold out until I'm in an epically good mood before finishing it.
Played the first EP on Pc and really enjoyed it but I cant help be a little annoyed at the fact that it seems they only submitted the game to the Classification board after they realized how successful it has been.
1 Like So the wait for R rating was pointless in this case since it still would have been MA 15 either way. Telltale could have at least tried releasing it, though i guess theyre scared of losing money
@fobbs69 My thoughts exactly. What's funny is, it passed for PC and the iOS, but they never submitted it for consoles which has me wondering what they were worried about.
Anyway, it's still great news. Too bad EB Games are charging $48 for the disc version. Better to import from the UK, save over $10 and still be able to sell it for a decent price once you are done with the game.
1 Like already bought it on steam :)
great for people though who don't have good access to the internet
Shaun McInnis takes this video review on the road with Daryl and Merle for The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct.
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