We reported last week that
Silent Hill: Homecoming was
finally classified by Australia's OFLC after having been
refused classification when it was first submitted last year. It was reported that changes had to be made to the game in order to be classified MA15+, the highest classification offered to video games by the OFLC. Now, thanks to
Edge, we know the
nature of those changes.
Atari, which will distribute the game Down Under, told
Edge that the majority of the changes are being made to the game's cutscenes, in which "new camera angles and techniques will be used to reduce the impact of the unclassifiable material." At least some of the "unclassifiable" material, if you'd like to know, was related to the improper and grisly use of a
power drill. Atari assures
Edge that the changes only apply to "some scenes" and that "the original storyline remains unchanged."
Keep in mind that the wording of the article implies that some changes may have been made to actual gameplay, though the nature of any such changes is unclear. Meanwhile, Atari stated that the New Zealand version of the title has received an R rating and that it will not receive any edits.
[Via
Joystiq]
{ Jan 14th 2009 at 5:30PM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dr Dave @ Jan 14th 2009 6:57PM
Let me get this right. Adults in Australia don't play video games? The government there dosn't think parants can be trusted to control the games their kids play? Talk about censorship. Of coarse this is the same Government that took George Bushs word on Iraqs weapons of mass destruction.
Ravi Nair @ Jan 14th 2009 7:21PM
Yeah, it is kind of stupid. The OFLC (which is the Office of Film & Literature Classification) seems to think its alright for movies to have ratings like R18+, X18+. They could've just applied the same to games. Instead they stupidly want developers to do work and cut the content down. This is the same country where brothels exist next door to Child care centers and their entire culture revolves around Beer.
barnaby dnfasdf @ Jan 14th 2009 8:46PM
yep i live in australia and hate the oflc with a passion but it would help if the game devs made the Us version region free so we could bypass the oflc idiots altogether.
yes in australia its still about 1955 with regard to alot of things. we are a laughing stock thanks to our ridiculously out of touch politicians.
Bruce @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:55AM
Its not the fault of the OFLC, its government legislation. The government have only legislated that thier be a maximum rating for video games of M15+ (Mature 15 years or older). The OFLC is purely there to work out what catagory the game fits into. If there is no Adult R18 rating then they cannot classify it (refused classification). The game has received an adult rating elsewhere, so the OFLC have not rated the original submission unfairly. Yes we do need an R18 (Restricted 18) rating in Australia for video games, BUT its the fault of government not the OFLC. Write to your local member, Federal member and the attorney general in your state. Only with pressure will legislation change.
Ravi Nair @ Jan 15th 2009 5:08PM
oh sorry..i thought the OFLC controlled what ratings are introduced, clearly I was misinformed. Yea, damn the government for not introducing R18+ for games!
David @ Jan 15th 2009 9:08PM
It isn't that Bad all they do is scare us with a refuse to rate, then they order the company to remove some content with a Slight Delay then release it. And in Return it's easier for a Teen to get it. But if you want the Gore that bad you can import one from England.
skin.bintin @ Jan 15th 2009 5:49PM
So very happy to hear the New Zealand version won't be edited down (like how we got Australia's edited version of GTA:IV until some store imported UK copies and paid for them to be rated himself). Will get this game for sure now that I've heard this :D Cheers Atari ;)
Shaunage @ Feb 2nd 2009 6:42AM
I imported the region free PS3 version from America the second I heard it was banned here originally. I'd like to remind everyone that as the PS3 is completely region free, this can be done for ANY game.