Rebellion rises against Australia AVP ban

By Robert Purchese Published 4 December, 2009

Will not "sanitise" or "cut" content.

Aliens vs. Predator developer Rebellion has refused to "sanitise" its game, claiming the Australian Government does not consider adults "able to make their own entertainment choices".

SEGA's bloody and mature shooter was barred from sale when the Australian Classifications Board deemed content too strong for an MA15+ rating, which is the highest a videogame can be classified in the region. Films, on the other hand, can be labelled R18+ (restricted, "high level content") and X18+ (sexually explicit).

"Rebellion is disappointed that its upcoming title Aliens vs. Predator has been banned in Australia. However, as we understand the law in that country the authorities had no choice as we agree strongly that our game is not suitable for game players who are not adults," said the developer in a statement.

"The content of AVP is based on some of the most innovative and iconic horror movies, and as such we wanted to create a title that was true to the source material. It is for adults, and it is bloody and frightening, that was our intent. We will not be releasing a sanitised or cut down version for territories where adults are not considered by their governments to be able to make their own entertainment choices."

Aliens vs. Predator will be released here on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in February.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (51) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • bratmandu #1 2 years ago

    Austr-FAIL-ia.

  • bad09 #2 2 years ago

    "It is for adults, and it is bloody and frightening, that was our intent"

    Well said, but when you are dealing with people who think only children play games you're screaming to a brick wall. Look at that twat "agony aunt" on the BBC who sat there in the room with her child while he was playing MW2.

    Edited by 1 at 04/12/09 @ 14:55

  • WMain00 #3 2 years ago

    Frankly it's about time the publishers and developers did stand up to Australia and point out how bloody stupid they are when it comes to the rating system they use.

  • MiniAmin #4 2 years ago

    I bet at least one of them (Australian politicians who dislike games) used to play Contra back in 1989.

  • freakzilla #5 2 years ago

    The silliest part is that this is all ONE man's doing. I think his name is Michael Atkinson.

    I'm surprised Australia doesn't have safeguards against such things.

    Oh and he KNOWS most of Australia want a 18+ rating too. He just doesn't give a shit.
    Edited by 2 at 04/12/09 @ 15:13

  • kangarootoo #6 2 years ago

    Isn't this just the same article as before, but written by a different author with a handful of extra quotes? Rebellion have already said they don't want to cut anything from the game, and that is mentioned in the original article.

    I'm not one to usually complain about this sort of thing, but seriously, this times it is pushing the bounds of intelligence.

  • asphaltcowboy #7 2 years ago

    Oh SNAP, Rebellion! :D

  • kendoji #8 2 years ago

    Take that, Australia!

  • DarkMoon #9 2 years ago

    Yup just because 1 person doesn't feel like adults should play games that they have this problem. As long as they can import the game they should be a'rite. It is an inconvenience but hey at least they still have a chance of playing it. Its illegal for shops to sell them but not illegal to get imported copies.

  • NGCes26294BIV #10 2 years ago

    "We will not be releasing a sanitised or cut down version for territories where adults are not considered by their governments to be able to make their own entertainment choices."

    F*ckin' ay. Tell it like it is Rebellion.

  • davisorle #11 2 years ago

    Thumbs up for Rebellion. Rasied the bar for respect to a developing team. That said, all damn developers should do the exact same thing till they are not forced no more to adjust their products but instead they fix stupid and incapable laws like those ones. I dont get it. Do they pay out of their pockets to fix laws? Ive said it like million times. I see games the EXACT same way movies should be. nudity/violence? Adult rate it and release it. I dont get wf the problem is and its getting tiring every other release hearing about Australia banning games. Well hope they also crusify ppl that commit premarital sex and they imprison ppl that swear. And do it like ppl from arabic grounds do. Dont show no skin either. That should do it..

  • thesombrerokid #12 2 years ago

    here, here!

  • hiddenranbir #13 2 years ago

    I think we all know the truth:

    Australians are afraid to play AvP.

  • ObiChrisKenobi #14 2 years ago

    AvP = Australia v Publishers

  • myoptika #15 2 years ago

    Won't the Aussies who want this just import it from Europe, anyway? They're PAL, just as we are.

  • gjgjg #16 2 years ago

    well put. +1 Rebellion

  • TheTingler #17 2 years ago

    I like the way he started that comment with positive support of the Australian censorship system, and then finished with "you all suck"!

  • kangarootoo #18 2 years ago

    @squarejawhero

    Touchy?

  • kiroquai #19 2 years ago

    Wasn't so much support - more an understanding that the censorship board can only work within the limits that the government set them.

  • Feanor #20 2 years ago

    @myoptika

    They could just import it from New Zealand, which has an R18 rating for games.

  • icematt12 #21 2 years ago

    Too right. It would be like Batman Arkham Asylum without the cape or batarang. My first thought was of RE without zombies, but Capcom did that themselves.

    Based on what I remember someone saying, there is one person opposing the move to get an adult rating. For it to be done, they all must agree, and this guy seems to be a cert to be re-elected. Poor Aussies really, have to make do with Cricket and Rugby games or something (which is more of a dig at us)

  • kwarive #22 2 years ago

    Looks like the pirate video game industry is about to get a big boost in australia and germany. Think I might buy a few dozen copies myself and take a plane over for a holiday in february...

  • RandomTerrain #23 2 years ago

    Well, they can always import the game if they really want it right?
    Although I would be annoyed if I lived there I admit.

  • jellyhead #24 2 years ago

    The aussies over on NeoGAF are none too chuffed with Mr Atkinson at the moment i can tell you :)

  • KillerMonkey #25 2 years ago

    At least one dev has the balls to set an example!

  • curtlikesmeat #26 2 years ago

    Awesome quote - hopefully more publishers will boycott Australia which will create pressure on dipshit politicians and finally get the situation sorted out. Adults can make their own decisions and don't need to be regulated on what they can and can't watch so long as it is within the law.

  • GamesConnoisseur #27 2 years ago

    I NEGGED squarejawhero just purely cos I take offence at his brash attempt to portray himself as being Squared Jawed Heroic figure!

    Only -49 at this time... poor him not to get enough dissrespect he is looking for!

    World Draw coming up anytime now.....

    Anyway yes Adult Aussie gamers DESERVES to be respected as adults the same way as Adult Movie Goer can go and watch 18 cert film... what the difference? Only the old fashioned viewing that one medium is only for the kiddies.

    I do believe that the age certification will change in Aussie and just a question of time, perhaps 8 more years of pains and where the culture would just becomes that most gamers are just importers. Then the local retailers get hurt for that.

  • Silvervein #28 2 years ago

    So, people in australia won't be able to buy this game in the shops. I have a question though: does it mean they won't be able to order a delivery from abroad? From amazon, for example? Or some digital download place?

    If so, it would be interesting to see if any of the australian politicians have shares in such venture. If that's the case, all the game bans in australia would find a simple explanation.

    PS.
    Dear Eurogamer. If any of the staff is reading this, I'd like to point out that your recent saboteur on side adds are getting really annoying. Could you please do something about it? Adds that are obscuring the site (for example, that man swinging from the rope) are getting on my nerves.
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/09 @ 18:21

  • tubaros #29 2 years ago

    Fair play to rebellion!!

  • dahsif #30 2 years ago

    They Will Not FOrce Us
    They Will Stop Degrading Us
    They Will Not Control Us
    We Will Be VICTOOOOORIOOOUUUUSSSS

  • ozallez #31 2 years ago

    a good stand for sega to take... this issue needs to come to a head down here, publishers submitting amended games are hurting the cause for an R18+ rating. Hopefully by games not being released, the local retailers will put more pressure on. They're just missing out to imports.

  • General_Zod #32 2 years ago

    I have heard wombat and kangaroo semen is the national drink of Australia, confirm/deny?

  • oerhoert #33 2 years ago

    <em>"Well, I guess they were innovative over twenty/thirty years ago...

    (much as I love them, we need some new monsters)"</em>

    Well said, +1.

  • Grayvern #34 2 years ago

    Don't get why squarejaw thought saying the avp films were rubbish would get negs, they were. I mean even Alien 4 was better than AVP.

  • DaemonSpawn #35 2 years ago

    @ squarejawhero
    much as I love them, we need some new monsters
    Like heroine of Twilight?
    F#ck it - I'd better fight an alien.

  • Sunyavadin #36 2 years ago

    "We will not be releasing a sanitised or cut down version for territories where adults are not considered by their governments to be able to make their own entertainment choices."

    THIS.

    Do Australia ban alcohol because they think adults are not capable of making a decision to drink responsibly?

    Do they ban cars, because there's a risk that some people who don't know how to drive may drive them?

    Do they outlaw sex because adults cannot give informed consent?

    So why this attitude on games?


    Adds that are obscuring the site (for example, that man swinging from the rope) are getting on my nerves.

    Try adblock. For this site I only ever enable it on ads which blast extremely loud sounds from my speakers or which pop up obscuring the text of an article, since the rest of the ads on EG sometimes link to something I actually might think about buying, rather than things which annoying ads would prevent me from ever spending money on...

  • wyldkard #37 2 years ago

    I'm Australian, I'm also a 38 year old father of 3 and to say that Michael Atkinson is an arrogant clown is an understatement. It all comes down to sensationalistic 7 pm shows that like to uncover shocking exposes. They ran a number of stories years ago getting underaged kids to buy games that they weren't old enough to leagally purcahse. Eg a 13 year old buying a 15+ game. Basically the Australian retailers gave a flying.... as to who they sold the games to. Then we have kids being able to access porn and other such unsavoury material on something called the internet(?) This moral crusader Michael Atkinson, the South Australian Attorney General keeps saying No to allowing the creation of a 18+ classification for video games in order to protect our children because obviously we parents aren't responsible enough to look after our children. In order for the M or R 18+ to go through parliament All of the state's Attorney Generals have to be unanimous in the decision which they almost are... except for the Australian Gamers most hated person... Michael Atkinson. So go easy on the comments on Australians and our Politicians (we give them enough of a verbal flogging with out you lot joining in) It's one person that is deserving of the publishers ire.. because he sure has ours.

  • dacicus #38 2 years ago

    Hey, not only Australia has problems. Remember?!

    Germany has too. And any nation that hides certain symbols, sanitizing history (and I'll add the fact that swastika it's a religious symbol for quite a few asian nations, so that shows disrespect about their beliefs)

    Things must change, retail shop must start act responsible ( not selling to kids, asking for an ID if they have doubts about the age, informing the parents about the game rating). Parents should start act responsible ( informing themselves about the ratings and the game that their precious kids wants so ardently).

    Banning games because the content does not please certain dinosaurs it's not a solution. Educating people is. And people should start to ask for a referendum about any law that they consider unjust. What happened with people's rights in the last two decades is a disgrace....
    Edited by 1 at 05/12/09 @ 07:48

  • Fleeby #39 2 years ago

    thesombrerokid

    'here, here!'

    Where? Where?

    Oh, you mean 'Hear! Hear!"

  • Adaptor #40 2 years ago

    @Sunyavadin :

    AFAIK the Australian government did actually outlaw alcohol and porn. But only for aborigines. Because, like video game violence being the cause of real violence, alcohol and porn are the cause of the aboriginal people's troubles...
    Edited by 1 at 06/12/09 @ 00:16

  • YoungPayters #41 2 years ago

    at the end of the day its a legal issue. since there is no 18+ ratings for games then it has to justify that this game is sutible to younger folk, which it doesnt, so its banned, end of. when this rule will change is anyone's guess, i dont follow autralian politics, unfortunately

  • canIdoyabombsforya #42 2 years ago

    If Australia thinks kids are still going to get their hands on 18 rated games (which they will) there's not really much incentive to change the law. They also banned smoking on Bondi beach, which to be fair, was a bit of a shit hole.

  • ChocNut #43 2 years ago

    Hoo-Ah! Charlie ma boy, you just done an old man proud. Other developers hiding while Rebellion do the right thing.

    They oughta take a flame thrower to Oz media law. Oh and Germany - FUCK YOU TOO!

  • actionfitz #44 2 years ago

    "We will not be releasing a sanitised or cut down version for territories where adults are not considered by their governments to be able to make their own entertainment choices."

    I fucking love Rebellion!
    :D
    seriously! fantastic that they are taking a stand against this bullshit.
    while some Aussie gamers might be upset that the game wont be on general release there...
    it's for your own good.
    If you live in south Australia, and consider yourself a consenting adult then you need to Vote in an attorney general that isn't a retard.

  • Fightclubber #45 2 years ago

    Who cares? This game is being made by one of if not the worst game developer working today!
    Just look at their list of games on wikipedia its fuckin shocking.
    Last good game? AVP in like 1999, now thats pretty poor.

  • Hexagon #46 2 years ago

    Great job, Rebellion! Informed Germans and Australians will import the game from the United Kingdom where censorship is no issue anyway. With websites such as MyMemory.co.uk, importing becomes even easier due to the likes of free, worldwide delivery. Australia can't do anything about importing video games, right?

  • figaro7 #47 2 years ago

    Why we dont have an R rating in australia is beyond me, but good on them! Valve butchered left 4 dead just to release it here and its been getting woeful reviews accordingly. In short, our government is stupid, immature and cannot accept that gaming is a medium just as film, tv, etc. Gaming just isnt taken seriously in australia and its as simple as that.

  • Janyamik #48 2 years ago

    GTA IV, Fallout 3, now Rebellion has put the things on the right way: the problem is the double moral for violence. Allowed in films, not in a videogame focus on a public which may also be adult too. Sad fact.

    Wiill you change your film because in a country do not have adult ratings for adult movies ? In a survival horror -like in horror movies happens too- I guess zombies won´t kill you in a sweet nice way neither reading you classic literature in a loudly way. Aliens do not bite?

    Australia Classifications Board should admit that videogames -like cartoons, comics, books, movies or TV serials- could have more than "+15" years old consumers and it will be a good thing to reconsiderate its actual way of rating videogames. Without any kind of guiltyness and proud of doing things in a common & modern way. It is never too late.

    I guess a lot of gamers will celebrate it with joy, wine and a bunch of new brand videogames for adults which are coming.
    Edited by 2 at 07/12/09 @ 00:05

  • Reihn #49 2 years ago

    @Janyamik: Huh????

    You sir, have stumped me.

  • Reihn #50 2 years ago

    Also, I'll simply be importing this from the UK. Just as I have with the GTA games, and a few others that (rightly) don't belong in an MA+ category. I'm not gore obsessed, but if I'm going to play an adult oriented game, then I want to play it as it was meant to be. I'm not interested in an edited, cut down version - just as I wouldn't be interested in a cut down version of Full Metal Jacket or A Clockwork Orange.

    But I'll admit that this opinion isn't exactly news to anyone here!

  • Xeopuppy #51 2 years ago

    STRUTH...