The Australian Classification Board has refused classification for the PS3's
House of the Dead Overkill: Extended Edition, despite offering an MA15+ rating for the original Wii title two years ago.
In defending its decision (as
reported by Gamespot), the board said the extended edition's additional modes -- including a headshot-only "hardcore" mode and "extra mutants" mode -- increased the impact of the original game's blood and gore to the point where a rating was no longer appropriate.
Sega Australia said in a statement it plans to formally appeal the board's decision, which would effectively prevent Australian retailers from offering the game for sale in the country.
"There are far worse titles currently available in the marketplace, which involve more than shooting down mutants in humorous circumstances," Sega managing director Darren Macbeth said. "We will do everything we can to prove that
House of the Dead: Overkill is worthy of an MA15+ rating in Australia."
The board's decision comes a little over a month after the Australian government
agreed "in principle" to support the introduction of a new R18+ rating, which would allow games judged stronger than the current top MA15+ rating to be classified and sold in the country.
New South Wales attorney general Greg Smith recently said
he was ready to support that agreement, after slowing progress by abstaining from a vote on the matter last month.
