Read the frontpage newsbites for Thursday 17th Feb and Friday 18th Feb if you want the links...
http://www.ausgamers.com/Getting Up Refused Classification in Australia
Post by trog @ 05:10pm | 46 Comments | AusGamers News
Atari have confirmed that the Office of Film and Literature Classification have refused classification for their title Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure - which means it is effectively banned in Australia:
Wednesday 15th February 2006 - On February 15, the Office of Film & Literature Classification Review Board announced it had determined that Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure should be refused classification. This decision overturns the OFLC's original MA15+ rating given in November 2005.
Atari Australia who is the official distributor of Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure strongly disagrees with the Office of Film & Literature Classification Review Board's decision and defends the original classification by the OFLC as a title that attracts a rating of MA15+.
The press release has more information, including Atari's plans to appeal. The OFLC's official statement is also available. Here's an excerpt:
In the Review Board's majority opinion, Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure warrants refused classification as it promotes crime. Some factors contributing to this promotion include:
. the realistic scenarios whereby the central character Trane acquires his knowledge of graffiti tips, techniques and styles - including meeting with five real graffiti artists who pass on details of tips and techniques
. the reward for and positive reinforcement of graffiti writing on public buildings and infrastructure, and
. interactive biographies of 56 real graffiti artists, with details of their personal tags, styles and careers. The game detail states that all these artists began their careers performing illegal graffiti on public buildings and infrastructure and that some continue with this practice today.
Update: They're talking about this on TripleJ's Hack this afternoon, so tune in at 5.30pm AEST.
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Marc Ecko on Triple J Tonight
Post by trog @ 01:58pm | 4 Comments | AusGamers News
Atari have laid down the smack on the OFLC, saying that the decision to ban Getting Up has been made by a "tyrannical government". Seriously!
Yesterday afternoon on Triple J's excellent Hack programme last night, Steve Cannane interviewed Maureen Shelley from the OFLC, who was involved in the decision (you can download the audio here).
Tonight, Triple J actually have Marc Ecko (the namesake of the game) in the studio for an interview. Tune in at 5.30pm AEST to listen (mp3, RM and WM available).