The Classification Board Is Reviewing We Happy Few’s Ban

In a press release this afternoon, the Classification Board has announced that it will be reviewing the refused classification ruling for We Happy Few.

The review was triggered after the board received an appeal against We Happy Few‘s effective ban earlier this year. The ratings board had previously found that the prevalent use of Joy — despite the overarching dystopian themes, and the general principle of trying to subvert a society controlled by mood enhancers — was a violation of the classification guidelines.

“A player that takes Joy can reduce gameplay difficulty, therefore receiving an incentive by progressing though the game quickly,” the Board’s report said.

[referenced url=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/2018/05/why-we-happy-few-was-refused-classification/” thumb=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/05/we-happy-few-410×231.jpg” title=”Why We Happy Few Was Refused Classification” excerpt=”The latest game to be banned in Australia. We Happy Few. The announcement was a shock, but a reading of the board’s report reveals that the decision is one gamers have become accustomed to from the country’s censors.”]

In the press release announcing the review, the Board said they would meet on July 3. They also opened the floor for public submissions, saying that anyone who wished to stand “as an interested party to this review” could write to the Convenor of the Review Board either by email or through this postal address:

The Convenor
Classification Review Board
Locked Bag 3
HAYMARKET, NSW 1240

The deadline for applications and public submissions on behalf of the game is June 29, with the board noting that they could “only consider submissions about We Happy Few itself and not any other matters relating to computer game classification policy or issues generally”.

You can read the Board’s press release in full below:

The Classification Review Board has received an application to review the classification of the computer game We Happy Few. We Happy Few was refused classification by the Classification Board on 21 May 2018. The Classification Review Board will meet on 3 July 2018 to consider the application. The decision and reasons will later be published on www.classification.gov.au.

If an individual or organisation wishes to apply for standing as an interested party to this review, please write to the Convenor of the Review Board. The names of interested parties will be disclosed in the Review Board’s final decision report, unless requested otherwise. The closing date to lodge your application for standing as an interested party and any submissions is 29 June 2018. Please note that the Review Board can only consider submissions about We Happy Few itself and not any other matters relating to computer game classification policy or issues generally.

Submissions should be emailed to crb@classification.gov.au or sent to:

The Convenor
Classification Review Board
Locked Bag 3
HAYMARKET NSW 1240

The Classification Review Board is an independent merits review body. It makes a fresh classification decision upon receipt of an application for review. The Classification Review Board decision takes the place of the original decision made by the Classification Board.


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