Fallout 3 banned in Australia

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 10th July 2008

According to the Australian government the gore in Fallout 3 isn't an issue - the drugs are.

Fallout 3 is featuring in the news a lot lately, but one place where you're unlikely to hear it discussed is in Australia, where the game has just been refused classification by the Office of Film & Literature Classification - effectively banning the game from shelves.

Apparently though, according to Kotaku Australia, the reason the game was banned was nothing to do with the level of gore or death, both of which feature heavily in the post-apocalyptic RPG. Instead, the game was banned because of the drug use featured in the game:

"Corresponding with the list of various "chems" are small visual representation of the drugs, these include syringes, tablets, pill bottles, a crack-type pipe and blister packs. In the Board's view these realistic visual representations of drugs and their delivery method bring the "science-fiction" drugs in line with "real-world" drugs."

Drugs have long been an important part of the gritty world of Fallout, with the use of chems and the possibility for addiction being a key element of the gameplay for characters who were lacking in certain stats.

Apparently though, the drugs were a little too much this time and the Australian regulatory body has refused classification to the game rather than giving it the highest rating it can, MA15+.

The whole arguement that the drugs weren't sci-fi enough seems a little weird to us too - but what do you think? Let us know in the forums.