EA not releasing Syndicate in Australia, notes 'arcane censorship'

[jkipp82]

Syndicate will not launch in Australia next year and EA will not alter the original game or seek an appeal.

The publisher informed Joystiq this afternoon that it finds the Australian government's policy to deny adults the right to play Syndicate "regrettable."

"The game will not be available in Australia despite its enthusiastic response from fans. We were encouraged by the government's recent agreement to adopt an 18+ age rating for games. However, delays continue to force an arcane censorship on games – cuts that would never be imposed on books or movies," EA Corporate Communications' Tiffany Steckler wrote Joystiq in a statement. "We urge policy makers to take swift action to implement an updated policy that reflects today's market and gives its millions of adult consumers the right to make their own content choices."

Syndicate was recently refused classification in Australia, due to it being "unsuitable for a minor to see or play." Australian classification standards reject classification for video games only deemed suitable for citizens over the age of 15.

[Paprika]

unsuitable for a minor to see or play.

Oh my fucking god really? really? We finally get to the point where or classification scheme is "Supposed" to change yet here we are again down the road of this Bullshit, Man fuck my government's half assed attempt to bring in laws, shit I'll tell you right now had this been something our PM was fully behind, this would in the front page news every day with her bitching complaining and crying about not getting her way.

[CloudStrife7x]

well that sucks for Australia, i may not love the the U.S. but im glad we get most games here

[longy999]

And Australian gamers get shafted again. Its a very strange government over there, I remember reading about all the trouble over there when Mortal Kombat 9 was due for release. It's just a game, stick an age rating on it and let over 18's only buy it. Simples.

[Paprika]

And Australian gamers get shafted again. Its a very strange government over there, I remember reading about all the trouble over there when Mortal Kombat 9 was due for release. It's just a game, stick an age rating on it and let over 18's only buy it. Simples.

funny this is though we now should technically have an Adult only rating, it just keeps getting delayed being implemented for no apparent reason, fucking beaurocrats being beaurocrats.