Crying koalas...

So I have just played through my first run of South Park The Stick of Truth. For you that don’t know our “Please won’t somebody think of the children” government has decided to heavily censor our version of the game even after giving it an R18+ rating. The censored parts involve anal probing and aborting fetuses and are accompanied by a picture of a crying koala and a footnote describing whats happening in the scene.

It's not only us who have to deal with this. Europe got one too...

Now I am a big fan of south park and have been for many years. The game is magnificent. Just what I expected the Stick of Truth to be. However with our nanny government I feel as though I have been robbed a little. Surely a game that is rated R18+ (which is for mature adults) should not have any censorship like this. Now they tell us its because of the interactivity and that probes look like marital aids, but then allow you to beat people with a dildo later in the game.

With the release of MW2 and the “No Russian” mission you were given the option on whether or not you wanted to play the level.

This level would have to be one of the most disturbing levels with a high emphasis on interactivity that I have ever played but was still allowed to pass censorship in Australia under a MA15+. So playing an R18+ game with a probing scene is completely unacceptable, but mowing down an airport full of innocent civilians is fine... 

I am not for one second saying that this should of been censored or banned. But whats good for the goose is surely good for the gander. 

This has really annoyed me not because I have some fetish for probing or a dream of being an abortion Doctor, but because of the nanny state we have to put up with.

Since the introduction of R18+ in Australia it seems as though there is something that needs to be censored in every release.

It really annoys me with the censorship people that it is OK for people to watch gratuitous violence and sex scenes in television shows and movies but in video games we are slapped with censorship for everything.

I know it is because of the “interactivity”, but as with everyday situations we are usually given a choice. If you do not like something you see, don't watch it. If you do not like something you hear, dont listen. If you do not like a game, don’t play it. It really is that simple.

The whole idea of a rating system is so that inappropriate material does not land in the hands of those that it is not appropriate for. I am an adult and should have the choice to watch, listen and play what I want and if I don’t like it then I won’t.

I do not play many games with my 2 1/2 year old present as I do not want to expose her to it at her age. But as I raise her she will be taught what is right and what is wrong and exposed to certain materials as see they are appropriate for her.

I see worse things each night on the 6pm news.

Video games are not to blame for the violence in our society. There was violence a long time before they were invented.

In the words of the great Jimmy “C C C C Come On”

Keep your hands off our games and maybe have a look at what is really screwing up society… 

Would love to hear your responses.

Cheers
Thorncliff
Aussie Gamers