Australian Gamer has managed to get hold of the board report that resulted in Fallout 3 being refused classification by the Office of Film and Literature Classification. It turns out that the drugs in the game are, as speculated, what's behind the decision. From the report:<blockquote>The game contains the option to take a variety of "chems" using a device which is connected to the character's arm. Upon selection of the device a menu selection screen is displayed. Upon this screen is a list of "chems" that the player can take, by means of selection. These "chems" have positive effects and some negative effects (lowering of intelligence, or the character may become addicted to the "chem"). The positive effects include increase in strength, stamina, resistance to damage, agility and hit points. Corresponding with the list of various "chems" are small visual representation of the drugs, these include syringes, tablets, pill bottles, a crack-type pipe and blister packs. In the Board's view these realistic visual representations of drugs and their delivery method bring the "science-fiction" drugs in line with "real-world" drugs.
The Guidelines also state that "Material promoting or encouraging proscibed [sic] drug use" is Refused Classification.
The player can also select and use "Morphine" (a proscribed drug) which has the positive effect of enabling the character to ignore limb pain when the character's extremities are targeted by the enemy.
The Authorised Assessor's report also states that "chems are an essential part of Fallout 3, and the player will likely use a variety of them throughout the game".
In the Board's view the drug use in particular the use of a proscribed drug, via means of selection from a menu, is related to incentives and rewards as the incentive to take the drug is to progress through the game more easily and the reward is an increase in the character's abilities and as such is Refused Classification.
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The Board notes that the violence throughout the game could be accommodated at an MA 15+ level of classification.</blockquote>I learned something today: the Classification Board really don't like you to select things, especially not from a selection. Of course, news sites such as Kotaku have not been slow in pointing out the gross inconsistency in the verdict.
Link: Fallout 3 - OFLC documents @ Australian Gamer
Link: OFLC Report: Why Fallout 3 Was Banned In Australia @ Kotaku
The Guidelines also state that "Material promoting or encouraging proscibed [sic] drug use" is Refused Classification.
The player can also select and use "Morphine" (a proscribed drug) which has the positive effect of enabling the character to ignore limb pain when the character's extremities are targeted by the enemy.
The Authorised Assessor's report also states that "chems are an essential part of Fallout 3, and the player will likely use a variety of them throughout the game".
In the Board's view the drug use in particular the use of a proscribed drug, via means of selection from a menu, is related to incentives and rewards as the incentive to take the drug is to progress through the game more easily and the reward is an increase in the character's abilities and as such is Refused Classification.
[...]
The Board notes that the violence throughout the game could be accommodated at an MA 15+ level of classification.</blockquote>I learned something today: the Classification Board really don't like you to select things, especially not from a selection. Of course, news sites such as Kotaku have not been slow in pointing out the gross inconsistency in the verdict.
Link: Fallout 3 - OFLC documents @ Australian Gamer
Link: OFLC Report: Why Fallout 3 Was Banned In Australia @ Kotaku
