Well, we’ve hit a bit of a brick wall for now. After repeated attempts to get anything from distributor Red Ant, and an expanded “no comment” from Bethesda, it’s unlikely we’ll know what the exact differences are between our version of Fallout 3 and the original. Well, that is until the OFLC report is leaked.
According to Bethesda’s PR dude Pete Hines, the developer does not “publically discuss” the classification of any of its games, which is understandable, if unfortunate. As for Red Ant, it’s like there’s no one home. Anything Fallout 3-related is flat out ignored. Not the most professional approach, but hey, what can you do?
Retailer rumours? Bah! This is more like it. The Office of Film and Literature Classification has acknowledged that it is has a new version of Fallout 3 from Bethesda, and is in the process of judging its appropriateness for our market. Note this build could also be refused classification, though it’s highly unlikely.
Last month, Fallout 3 was refused classification by the OFLC for its depiction of real-world drugs. An edited version will assure the game gets into the hands of the average consumer, however, those seeking sane pricing and a “pure” experience will still look to the miracles of importing.
Fallout 3: May see an Australian release, after all [Internode Games Network]
Gamerchip is reporting that Fallout 3 has been edited and is on-track for a local release. Excellent. Awesome. Fantastic. Well, it would be all three of these if I was to believe the story.
The piece mentions that the game is due out later this year, with all drug references removed. Apparently this info came from “EB and Game representatives”. That’s great, EB Games and GAME can say whatever they want, but until I hear word from the OFLC, Red Ant or Bethesda, Fallout 3 is still refused classification.
There’s also mention that the two retailers are taking preorders, yet, as far as I can tell, the title remains in exile from EB’s Oz site. Even if they are, why wouldn’t they? That’s what retailers do – they take your money. If they have to refund it later, they’ll cross that bridge when the come to it.
Saying the game is “confirmed” is wishy-washy anyway. It’s unlikely Bethesda won’t create an edited version of Fallout 3 for our market, and perhaps others like Germany. It’s not a matter of if, but when, and the degree of content that’s altered. Only when I have this information in hand will I be confident enough to throw around words like “it’s confirmed” and “import it anyway”.
Fallout 3 Confirmed For Australian Release [Gamerchip, thanks Nick]
The quality isn’t that great, and the text is blurry, but it’s good enough to make out the word “Morphine” and the monochromatic image of a syringe. Apparently, the OFLC, going by the classification guidelines, felt this imagery would twist the fragile, innocent minds of gamers. Wait, doesn’t Hugh Laurie pop vicodin like a junkie in House? Surely that’s worse than this? Michael Atkinson better get a move on before season 5 starts!
Not sure about you, but having witnessed this image, I don’t in the slightest feel the need to shoot up. Yet, it’s unlikely we’ll have an R18+ rating by the end of the year (or even 2009), so, Bethesda should just change the name to “Fizzy-Good-Make-Feel-Nice” – to borrow from Bernard Black – and we can pretend it’s Berocca or something.
The full clip after the jump. FYI, the “action” starts at 5:08.
When I woke up this morning, I thought the Fallout 3 ban had been a dream. Yet, when I opened my browser to Kotaku AU’s front page, there it was: my own post declaring the event as fact. When I wrote the post, I could only guess at the reasons why the game was refused classification, though rumours suggested drug references as the likely cause.
Well, Australian Gamer managed to get its hands on the OFLC’s report for Fallout 3. The ban had nothing to do with decapitation, gore or dismemberment. It was the drugs, and only the drugs. I should be shocked, but all I can do is shake my head. And shake it hard.
From the report:
Yes, the rumour was true. The Office of Film and Literature Classification has handed an RC to Bethesda’s Fallout 3, making it illegal to sell the game in Australia. It’s not known at this stage if the ban was for drug use, as the original rumour states, or gore as I was predicting.
I was ready to dismiss the rumour when I first heard it, but my suspicions were raised when Red Ant failed to confirm or deny it. It’s not unusual for a publisher to do this, but it seemed particularly odd as Red Ant had no problem in the past commenting about Fallout 3 and the OFLC.
We’ll be on Red Ant and Bethesda’s backs to see what they plan to do. Most likely the game will be edited to remove the offending content and resubmitted, as AFA Interactive did with Dark Sector.
Even if it is edited, I don’t think it’ll stop some from importing the title, as was the case with Grand Theft Auto IV after it was censored for Australia.
Update #1: According to Bethesda’s Pete Hines, the developer has no comment regarding the ban. [Thanks briosafreak]
Update #2: A leaked OFLC report reveals exactly why the game was banned.
Fallout 3 Game (Multi Platform) [OFLC] Rumour: Fallout 3 Refused Classification Because Of Drug Use? [Kotaku AU]
So what was it that had
Distributor Red Ant has confirmed that Australia will be receiving the collector’s edition of Fallout 3, the details of which we saw not so long ago. The pack is very similar to the kits given to press during last year’s preview at Bethesda’s HQ, minus the Vault 101 T-shirt and Nuke-a-Cola (I still haven’t opened mine).
A release schedule from Red Ant places the game’s arrival in October 2008. Unfortunately, the company was unable to provide a more specific date, or pricing for the CE. Stay tuned.
Update: EBGames has the PC CE going for $119.95, while the Xbox 360 and PS3 boxes are $10 more. [Thanks tsengan]
So, you’ve played it on PC. Actually, you can only play it on PC. Soon, there will be a second option – the Xbox 360, seeing as Red Ant has picked up the rights to distribute the game locally. True, its release in the US was pushed back to “later this year”, but it does mean its debut here “later this year” makes perfect sense.
Sadly the 360 version doesn’t include Forged Alliance, the PC expansion, but there’s no reason to believe to won’t come at a later date in the form of a download or some such.
I’ve asked Red Ant if it has any idea of an RRP. Hopefully the price will be tempting enough to convince us to buy the game here.
Press release after the jump.
Speaking of Red Ant, the distributor has just penned a deal to handle Zenimax Europe’s workload here in Australia. According to the release, Red Ant will start off with Star Trek: Conquest, due March 20 on the Wii and Playstation 2, and AMF Bowling: Pinbusters for the Wii on March 27.
It’s safe to assume Zenimax’s European operation is eager to filthy up its publishing mitts, considering the business was announced only three days ago.
I’ve been told there’s a press release after the jump, but it’d be best if you checked for me.
