![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=91.6){kind=small}
Very strange, very troubling news from Australia...
As GamePolitics reported on January 30th, the Office of Film and Literature originally awarded Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure
Suddenly, the Aussies have reversed themselves, deciding that the game is not suitable for anyone, of any age. Getting Up has been "refused classification," a polite term for banned. The hip-hop culture title joins the like of NARC, Postal and Grand Theft Auto San Andreas in being denied admittance to Australian shores.
But Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock asked the board to reconsider. Ruddock was backed in that motion by the Local Government Association of Queensland. A hearing was held earlier this month. Yesterday it was announced that Getting Up was being banned throughout the country over fears it might promote graffiti-style vandalism.
Australia thus becomes the only country in the entire world to ban the game.
For his part, Ecko was not sparing in his criticism, telling the Sydney Morning Herald, " I'm extremely disappointed in the Australian Government Classification Review Board's move to ban my video game, based solely on a perceived notion that it somehow will promote the crime of graffiti..."
"To blame gaming for everything that is inherently wrong in our homes, in our schools and on our streets is much easier to do than to actually figure out ways to fix the systemic problems that exist within our culture. If a kid wants to learn how to write on the wall, he or she will figure it out. They have done it since prehistoric times, in fact. You just have to dig a little deeper and be willing to open your mind to two artistic mediums - gaming and graffiti - you may not fully understand or appreciate."
GP: I saw this game at E3 last year and, frankly, wasn't all that impressed. But this censorship by the Australian government makes me want to buy a copy just on principle.
← Ctrl← Alt
Ctrl →Alt →
February 16 2006, 19:22:11 UTC 6 years ago
February 16 2006, 19:32:07 UTC 6 years ago
Yeah, a game like that would be REAL popular with the kids. Lady, you just keep your public messages out of our games and let us deal with how these games affect our brains, mkay?
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
February 16 2006, 19:26:45 UTC 6 years ago
OH NOES! Spray Paint!!
Is Jet Set Radio Future also banned?They really have their priorities mixed up. They should censor the intertron too because you can get a lot more info on graffiti there than this game could even hope to relay. I'm glad the US isn't a nanny state... yet.
February 16 2006, 20:39:50 UTC 6 years ago
Re: OH NOES! Spray Paint!!
I'm going to take your JSRF comment seriously despite the fact that you were being sarcastic.No, JSRF is not banned. This is because it plays a message every time you start it up saying that graffiti is art, but when used as vandalism it is a crime and SEGA does not condone the real life act of vandalism.
6 years ago
6 years ago
February 16 2006, 19:27:09 UTC 6 years ago
Don't worry too much...
Australian politics works like this a lot, they also today re-reversed a law regarding an abortion drug, allowing women the choice to use it if they so wished.Australia tends to pull controversial stuff until they can settle the issue, it's just they do things slightly differently to the US.
February 16 2006, 19:31:16 UTC 6 years ago
I hate to say it...
Jack Thompson should move to Australia.February 16 2006, 21:12:24 UTC 6 years ago
Re: I hate to say it...
We already have a fantastic actor called Jack Thompson in Australia.. So he will need to change his name to MAry Poppins or something.As for our Govt.. Being in the local game development industry down here. I am disgusted by what I am hearing..
This politicial point scoring.. Mainly on the part of the Premiere of QLD, to cover up the fact that his poor management of the States Health system caused a lot of people to die in what are known down here as "Dr Death" cases.
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
February 16 2006, 19:38:20 UTC 6 years ago
Heh.
Well, it's a sucky game anyway. Hold it, didn't another game have graffiti artists spraying and running from the cops.Oh YEAH. Jet Set Radio.
February 16 2006, 19:39:43 UTC 6 years ago
Glad to see Dennis McCauley has dropped all pretense at being a journalist...
as now he clearly combines "news" with editorial comment.New Zealand and Australia can do whatever they want in banning a game, and so can any governmental entity in our country if a game is deemed to constitute a "public nuisance." Fascinating how freelancers who aren't even journalists think they're lawyers.
Hooah! Jack Thompson
February 16 2006, 19:49:36 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Glad to see Dennis McCauley has dropped all pretense at being a journalist...
Not as fascinating as lawyers who aren't even competent thinking they know everything.Hoo-fucking-ah!
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
February 16 2006, 19:44:14 UTC 6 years ago
It's the job of politicians to take away the rights of the people they represent. It's the job of the citizens to get angry enough to stop them from doing that. I guess the voting-age gaming community in Australia isn't big enough to stop this.
February 16 2006, 19:59:56 UTC 6 years ago
funny how corporations, according to your stupid generation...
never do anything wrong. that nonsense is what led to viet nam, junior. hooah!6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
Deleted comment
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
February 16 2006, 19:45:01 UTC 6 years ago
February 16 2006, 20:01:22 UTC 6 years ago
They have the right to refuse classification to any game they want, and I personally feel that they should be glad that they don't have to be exposed to the game, cuz it's just that bad. :> But it would be interesting to see if the Jet Set Radio series is available there. That's the original grafitti game.
-Bobby Blackwolf
Host, The Bobby Blackwolf Show
P.S. I never was able to receive contact from Mr. Thompson when I requested clarification and his side of the story on a recent news item, without annoying GP readers with my questioning. I guess I'm still too small-time for Mr. Thompson!
February 16 2006, 20:26:47 UTC 6 years ago
Theres no news whatsoever of Jet Set Radio (I nearly typed Jey Set Willy.. I'm getting old) being scrutinised or even criticised in Australia that I could find. Strange huh? ;)
6 years ago
February 16 2006, 20:34:51 UTC 6 years ago
Some quotes and a few thoughts
http://smh.com.au/news/NATIONAL/CouncilThe board said the game gave users graffiti tips and positive reinforcement for the illegal activity.
"We have fought the release of this game, which urges players to indulge in graffiti `to make a statement', since its existence was first brought to our notice in August last year." - Association president Paul Bell
Mr Bell said Australian councils spent up to $60 million a year removing graffiti.
So graffiti’s a problem without the influence of this game, eh?
http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking/aus
Set in a city of the future, the game features a world where freedom of expression is suppressed by a tyrannical city government.
Ironic, no?
With the four board members split 2-2 over the decision, it was the casting vote of the convenor, Ms Maureen Shelley, that broke the deadlock. Ms Shelley told smh.com.au that the dissenting view could be summarised as: "This game was fantasy and didn't promote crime."
The President of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, Mr Cameron Murphy, described the basis of the ban as ""ridiculous". "We don't ban films that include criminal activities - we would not see The Godfather if this policy was in place with films." he said. "The problem is clearly the Classification Review Board does not understand the technology."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking/aus
Andrew Eisen
February 16 2006, 20:56:36 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Some quotes and a few thoughts
Good Stuff! Thanks Andrew!February 16 2006, 21:36:57 UTC 6 years ago
Oh Jack...
"New Zealand and Australia can do whatever they want in banning a game, and so can any governmental entity in our country if a game is deemed to constitute a "public nuisance." Fascinating how freelancers who aren't even journalists think they're lawyers."Jack, you are a filthy piece of infected scrotum, aren't you?
Australia can ban any game that the OFLC deem is inappropriate for the age-limit set by the rating system we have - a system that for some reason does not include an R18+ rating for video games. I'm told changes to this system are in the works but I'll believe that when I see it.
As far as I know New Zealand doesn't have anything like an OFLC, and usually just go with our ratings. A notable exception is GTA3, which was allowed by the sheep fuckers and banned over here.
Anyway, you hideously deformed insignificant chunk of rectal waste, by all means keep clinging to your public nuisance defence for the suppression of free speech. I know you're losing ground here, so I guess you should take what you can get. But the day I see a video game declared a public nuisance is the same day I'll run around my University's sports field in my underpants. With your name printed on the arse.
Incidently, please don't waste your time coming to Australia. We hate you here.
Yours in caramel-covered loathing,
Alex Morris
February 16 2006, 22:00:41 UTC 6 years ago
Said with venom - nicely done!
Subject says it all for me.6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
February 16 2006, 22:16:57 UTC 6 years ago
Re: funny how corporations, according to your stupid generation...
Actually, if you were to go into any given college, you'd see that most people between the ages 16 and 30 are extreme liberals and believe the corporations are the ones to blame. Viet Nam was an off shoot of the Cold War in which America was trying to ward off the growth of Communism, just like the Korean conflict, Bay of Pigs and the space race. These have nothing to do with video games.-Alyson
February 16 2006, 22:24:25 UTC 6 years ago
Re: funny how corporations, according to your stupid generation...
Baloney!The game companies engineered Vietnam so that they'd have subject matter later. DUH! Look how obvious it is.
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
February 16 2006, 22:45:00 UTC 6 years ago
Jack and Viet Nam
Hrmmm... speaking of Viet Nam...Jack is in his mid 50's, isn't he?
Depending on the day and year he was born, maybe Jack could have skipped out on the draft.
I am NOT making an accusation of any kind. I am asking for information so I can get the facts correct.
If I had a birthdate, I could have the answer in 5 minutes.
February 16 2006, 22:49:28 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Jack and Viet Nam
Born July 23, 1950. I think it's from his book, but I grabbed it from wikipedia.6 years ago
6 years ago
February 16 2006, 22:55:06 UTC 6 years ago
Vietnam is one word, isn't it?
Why do people keep using 2 words?Am I totally off base here?
February 16 2006, 23:08:30 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Vietnam is one word, isn't it?
The vietnamese spell it Viet Nam. 2 words. But in English I believe it is officially Vietnam. So I'm wagering either way is correct.6 years ago
February 16 2006, 23:03:51 UTC 6 years ago
On Disconnects
I think it is completely reasonable to assert that allowing teenagers to kill demons with futuristic weapons in a game won't cause them to turn into cold-blooded killers in real life.I think it's much more difficult to assert that allowing teenagers to tag the world in a game won't encourage them to become vandals in real life.
I think it's completely reasonable to support the game as a matter of free speech. I just think it's bit of a stretch to claim a vandalizing game does nothing to encourage vandalism.
February 16 2006, 23:06:48 UTC 6 years ago
The actual media release (PDF)--Jackie please read it!
Here is the actual media release for the game, I sent it to dennis at GP but didn't see it in the link, sorry if its been posted beforehttp://www.oflc.gov.au/resource.html?re
This is the most interesting quote from it
In the Review Board’s majority opinion, Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure warrants refused classification as it promotes crime. Some factors contributing to this promotion include:
· the realistic scenarios whereby the central character Trane acquires his knowledge of graffiti tips, techniques and styles – including meeting with five real graffiti artists who pass on details of tips and techniques
· the reward for and positive reinforcement of graffiti writing on public buildings and infrastructure, and
· interactive biographies of 56 real graffiti artists, with details of their personal tags, styles and careers. The game detail states that all these artists began their careers performing illegal graffiti on public buildings and infrastructure and that some continue with this practice today.
I can kinda see it from their point of view, but I tend not to agree with their final outcomes. Unfortanetly for Australia, any arguement with this will die off fairly quickly
BTW there was an article on last night's Hack program (avaliable at http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/podc
February 16 2006, 23:08:59 UTC 6 years ago
Mr. Thompson was born on July 23, 1950.
In the 1969 Draft Lottery, the first and only one he was eligable for, his birthdate number was 172.
The numbers pulled for that year ran from 1-195.
Given these facts, Mr. Thompson should have been inducted in 1970 into the service.
So, Mr. Thompson, care to explain why you weren't? College deferment perhaps?
Please note, I am NOT accusing you of being a draft dodger. At this time. I am offering you a chance, since you brought the topic of Vietnam up, to explain it.
And before you go looking at something to insult me with, I served in the Air Force in Desert Storm, and was honorably discharged the year after.
February 16 2006, 23:10:04 UTC 6 years ago
http://www.sss.gov/lotter1.htm
That's the Selectice Service System website.
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
February 16 2006, 23:27:12 UTC 6 years ago
This Game Not Banned Because of Grafitti, So Says Me
You sechs craved lunatics must see the sexual conotations in the title "getting up". Even someone as old as myself knows this is a term about achieving an errection. This game won't contain so much as a paintbrush, only extreme hard core filthy pornography. Whatcha gonna do when the Jack Thompson runs wild on YOU!February 16 2006, 23:32:34 UTC 6 years ago
Re: This Game Not Banned Because of Grafitti, So Says Me
I pray to god that you are not Jack Thompson.6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
February 17 2006, 01:41:49 UTC 6 years ago
Sprite interview of Jark Thomsen (repost)
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/fJust a repost.
- Cecil
February 17 2006, 02:19:05 UTC 6 years ago
It's sad...
So sad that we hardly need to bend the truth to parody the man....6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
February 17 2006, 02:19:28 UTC 6 years ago
"Funny how corporations, according to your generation..."
"never do wrong. That nonsense is what led to vietnam. Hooah!"Jack, fuck you for that comment. I seriously mean it. FUCK YOU! I don't care if I get banned for that comment and I don't care if the other users of this board tell me that I'm immature for expressing that.
Do you even understand what you even said? The Vietnam War was not caused by corporations you dipshit! The Vietnam war was started by the tensions between North Vietnam (would was allied by the Soviet Union) and South Vietnam (which was allied by the United States). The war had started because of government tensions between North and South Vietnam.
"Funny how corporations, according to your generation, are never wrong. That nonsense led to vietnam."
That comments how stupid you are about history about the vietnam war.
But the thing that really pisses me off about your comment is that you are willing to compare a horrible bloody conflict to the bloodless flame wars we are having with you almost every single day.
What is even MORE insulting is the fact that you didn't go to fight in Vietnam while my dad did. Let's see the statistics, shall we?
Robert Lawrence Hubbard.
Birth: November 27th, 1949
Death: August 1st, 2001.
Let's se about you Mr. Thompson
Birth: July 23th, 1950
Death: Still living
Now do you even see what the fuck is wrong with this picture?
The vietnam war had emotionally affected my dad for the rest of his life. Its what helped contribute to his death.
And you here, Mr. Jack Thompson, never having to go to Vietnam to witness atrocities my dad witness that would make Manhunt, Postal 2, and Grand Theft Auto look like Sesame Street. Want to know one horrible story? There were times when the vietcong had used little children as suicide bombers. The children would carry grenades in their apple baskets and explode on american soldiers. My dad's general had trained him to either run away on site or kill them with a machine gun. Do you know how horrible that is? Did video games caused my dad to kill those underage suicide bombers? No! It was out of pure fear you dipshit. The war situation was kill or be killed. He fought the war with courage and he fought for survival and he came back to america an emotionally scarred man. But he was a great man,a greater man than you'll ever be, who I admire for his kindess, his courage, and his humanity.
You, Mr. Thompson, will never have the humanity that my dad had.
The fact that you even brought vietnam into this flame war is what really pisses me off.
Deleted comment
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
February 17 2006, 02:28:49 UTC 6 years ago
So true!
That is so true! Let's see what Jack can come up with! He's a wonderful dude who likes mentioning his own hypocrisys.God help his kid.
February 17 2006, 02:32:18 UTC 6 years ago
And Jack
He's completely right:""never do wrong. That nonsense is what led to vietnam. Hooah!"
Jack, fuck you for that comment. I seriously mean it. FUCK YOU! I don't care if I get banned for that comment and I don't care if the other users of this board tell me that I'm immature for expressing that.
Do you even understand what you even said? The Vietnam War was not caused by corporations you dipshit! The Vietnam war was started by the tensions between North Vietnam (would was allied by the Soviet Union) and South Vietnam (which was allied by the United States). The war had started because of government tensions between North and South Vietnam.
"Funny how corporations, according to your generation, are never wrong. That nonsense led to vietnam."
That comments how stupid you are about history about the vietnam war.
But the thing that really pisses me off about your comment is that you are willing to compare a horrible bloody conflict to the bloodless flame wars we are having with you almost every single day.
What is even MORE insulting is the fact that you didn't go to fight in Vietnam while my dad did. Let's see the statistics, shall we?
Robert Lawrence Hubbard.
Birth: November 27th, 1949
Death: August 1st, 2001.
Let's se about you Mr. Thompson
Birth: July 23th, 1950
Death: Still living
Now do you even see what the fuck is wrong with this picture?
The vietnam war had emotionally affected my dad for the rest of his life. Its what helped contribute to his death.
And you here, Mr. Jack Thompson, never having to go to Vietnam to witness atrocities my dad witness that would make Manhunt, Postal 2, and Grand Theft Auto look like Sesame Street. Want to know one horrible story? There were times when the vietcong had used little children as suicide bombers. The children would carry grenades in their apple baskets and explode on american soldiers. My dad's general had trained him to either run away on site or kill them with a machine gun. Do you know how horrible that is? Did video games caused my dad to kill those underage suicide bombers? No! It was out of pure fear you dipshit. The war situation was kill or be killed. He fought the war with courage and he fought for survival and he came back to america an emotionally scarred man. But he was a great man,a greater man than you'll ever be, who I admire for his kindess, his courage, and his humanity.
You, Mr. Thompson, will never have the humanity that my dad had.
The fact that you even brought vietnam into this flame war is what really pisses me off. "
I agree. Why don't you go over to Iraq and kill people or become a Muhammadist extremist? I think your already a North Korean spy.
So, get out of our country you lousy patriot. Bring your friendsk George and Dick.
February 17 2006, 07:13:09 UTC 6 years ago
Re: And Jack
*Stands and applauds*February 17 2006, 03:24:32 UTC 6 years ago
Jack, you embarrassingly poorly-endowed gutter slime,
Just what the ring-burning fuck are you talking about? You're already a hopeless excuse for a lawyer in your own country. Please spare us your bumbling attempts to grasp international law.
Australia will not become a state of the United States of America. I'm not entirely sure how much of the state of the world your alcohol and drug-addled frontal lobe has been able to absorb, but you may rest assured that Australia is perfectly content and able to run its own affairs and live with our own legal, democratic and rating systems (that latter of which, I should point out, current circumstances aside, is far more effective than anything you could possibly hope to try and fail to reproduce).
Yours faithfully in a sparkly green and gold tower of Australian rage,
Alex Morris
February 17 2006, 03:36:32 UTC 6 years ago
Gotta agree with the australian
Jack, are you so fucking stupid that you need a baseball to knock you in the head in order to restore logic back into your head. You want to know something funny? Did you know that the U.S wanted to annex Canada? They were asked Canada but Canada wasn't interested so Canada and U.S agreed to just be neighbors. Now your telling me that Australia has the possibility to be annexed by the U.S? Now that is way, way, WAY TOO farfetched because Australia is able to run its own country and Australia is one the other side of the world. If we were even able to succeffully annex Australia (which is extremely unlikely), it would be a pain in the ass to govern.
6 years ago
February 17 2006, 04:22:38 UTC 6 years ago
as an australian
Let me say firstly: we sure as hell do not want Jack Thompson here...Secondly: JT the US will never "annexx" Australia your ignorant prick.
Thirdly: They have banned the game here, that pisses me off to no end, maybe we should start burning books as well... I didn't realise how fascist the government here is.
It wont stop me from playing the game, in fact im going to play it more... just to piss them off. I hate the fact that we are following suit in the "lets blame everything we can for our own shortcomings" race.
*censored string of expletives complaining about this shit*
February 17 2006, 04:42:00 UTC 6 years ago
Jet Set Radio
A few of you have asked if that was banned, not only was it not banned it came bundled with the X-Box for a while on the promotional DVD. Not just a Demo but the whole game :DI'm sorry but i fail to see the difference, what a bunch hypocritical assholes...
February 17 2006, 17:33:49 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Jet Set Radio
JSRF isnt as realistic as this probably.Or maybe when it was rated there wasnt so many anti-game crusaders around.
← Ctrl← Alt
Ctrl →Alt →