Banned: Dark Sector gets the chop in Australia

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By Stevie Smith Feb 15, 2008, 10:00 GMT

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Based on form, you really have to consider the possibility that regional classification boards often decide which videogames they ban based on a drunken game of Pin The Tail on the Donkey. Aussies may never get to taste Hayden Tenno's impressive blade... because Dark Sector has not received classification. Credit: Digital Extremes.

Aussies may never get to taste Hayden Tenno's impressive blade... because Dark Sector has not received classification. Credit: Digital Extremes.That’s probably how Australian gamers are feeling this week following news that Digital Extremes’ sci-fi action title Dark Sector has emerged from the country’s OLFC classification process sporting an ill-fitting tail and resembling somewhat of an ass.In explaining its decision to refuse the game classification, the board described Dark Sector as a “violent and sometimes gruesome game with a sinister storyline and ominous outcome. The violence and aggression inflicted upon the protagonist is of a high level, naturalistic and not stylised at all.”The board goes on to outline particular gameplay details that contributed to its decision, describing how the game involves large amounts of graphic dismemberment and resulting blood spurts, the twitching of said dismembered body parts, neck-breaking twists, and even exploding bodies, all of which can be achieved with relative ease throughout the game.

Credit: Digital Extremes

The problem for game fans in Australia is that the country does not have an upper tier age restriction classification such as the BBFC’s ‘18’ in the UK, and the ESRB’s ’M for Mature (17+) in North America. This means that any assessed videogame deemed too strong to carry an MA15+ classification is likely to face the chop -- or severe editing and a resubmission.The problem for game fans in Australia is that the country does not have an upper tier age restriction classification such as the BBFC’s ‘18’ in the UK, and the ESRB’s ’M for Mature (17+) in North America. This means that any assessed videogame deemed too strong to carry an MA15+ classification is likely to face the chop -- or severe editing and a resubmission.While this latest ban is bound to dredge up the debate regarding the establishment of an older age classification in the region, the latter solution would appear to be the only course of action left open to Dark Sector if it is to ever grace Aussie retail shelves. Speaking with game site IGN, Adam Zweck, Sales & Product Manager at Dark Sector’s Australian distributor AFA Interactive, commented that: “This is (hopefully) not the end of the line for the game however, just a pretty substantial, but temporary, set-back.”It’s worth noting that while Dark Sector is facing the OLFC chopping block, games such as Condemned: Criminal Origins (unnerving realism and violence), Dead Rising (excessive blood, gore and violence), and God of War (excessive blood, gore and violence) are all readily available for sale at EBGames.com.au. Bearing that in mind, Dark Sector must be overflowing with blood and guts. Crikey the mind boggles. Dark Sector will be released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on March 25. It's main character (Hayden Tenno) is being voiced by Smallville actor Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor).

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