Sega has won its appeal to Australia's ratings board on behalf of Rebellion's
Aliens vs. Predator, which had initially been denied a rating due to its gory gameplay.
Titles denied a rating in Australia generally have to be edited to the classification board's satisfaction before they can launch in the region, but publishers usually appeal the ratings denials at first.
It's rare that appeals succeed as Sega did in this case. Valve's appeal on behalf of
Left 4 Dead 2 failed, and ultimately the developer had to
release an edited version of the game in the region.
The classification board takes particular issue with the nature, manner and "impact" of human death in games, often citing dismemberment, impalement or bone-breaking as specific factors behind ratings denials.
Rebellion had said that while it understood the board's determination that
Aliens vs. Predator was appropriate only for adults -- a category for which Australia presently lacks a rating -- it
would not release a "sanitized" version of its game.
"We are particularly proud that the game will be released in its original entirety, with no content altered or removed whatsoever," a Sega spokesperson
told consumer weblog Kotaku today.
Australia's lack of a mature, or "R18+" rating for video games has been hotly contested in recent months. Numerous classification denials for major titles have led the region's developers and some of the gaming public to press for changes in the way the Board approaches game ratings.
Attorney General Michael Atkinson has
firmly opposed the institution of a mature rating for video games in Australia, expressing concerns that an excess of violence will have a harmful effect on citizens.
But just this week, the government
opened the issue to public debate, offering a full report presenting both sides of the issue and inviting consumers to submit their feedback.
"This is a big win for Australian gamers," says Sega. "We applaud the Classification Review Board on making a decision that clearly considers the context of the game, and is in line with the modern expectations of reasonable Australians."
