Mortal Combat Banned In Australia

Like many in Australia I was looking forward to some outrages and hilarious fun in the upcoming Mortal Combat game, though now it looks like I'll be missing out on the fun.

Minutes ago Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment confirmed that the latest in the long series of fighting games has been refused classification from the Australia Rating Board. Although I was scared this would happen, when it did I must admit my rage metere hit a high.

Below is the official statement put out by WBIE.

"The highly anticipated video game Mortal Kombat, published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) in Australia, has been refused classification by the Australian Classification Board and will not release in Australia. We are extremely disappointed that Mortal Kombat, one of the world's oldest and most successful video games franchises, will not be available to mature Australian gamers.

WBIE would not market mature content where it is not appropriate for the audience. We understand that not all content is for every audience, but there is an audience for mature gaming content and it would make more sense to have the R18+ classification in Australia. As a member of the iGEA, WBIE is reviewing all options available at this time."

Assuming from the statement this has all boiled down to the violence in the game and with the statement "is reviewing all options available at this time" I'm assuming there considering doing a cut down version for Australia. Upon that note i would like to proudly say to the Australia Classification Board for all the mature aged gamers in Australia that WE ARE NOT BABIES. That's right we are not babies nore are we living a few behind the rest of the world. We are in the same year as everyone else and thus we do deserve the same treatment as everyone else.

Recently the Government in Australia has stated they 'hope' to resolve the R18+ argument for games around June, I'm sorry but in four months? If the issue of 'our country's children' was so important then wouldn't this be further up on the to-do list?

Better step your game up Australia because for every second you waste some ten year old is playing GTA IV and attempting to rob a jeweler and kill prostitutes.

-Dylan