Syndicate Co-Op Demo Coming

EA have sent word that a 4 player co-op demo of Syndicate will be hitting Xbox and PS3 later this month, letting everyone try out 1 of the 9 co-op missions available in the full game when it comes out in February.

Well, when it comes out in New Zealand since the game was refused classification in Australia because we still don’t have an R18+ classification. But hey, we get to check the demo out. So I guess that’s something.

Check out the new co-op trailer on Youtube below or download the full HD version from 3FL entirely quota-free for iiNet, Westnet and Netspace customers.

[Update] EA Australia have confirmed that the Syndicate co-op demo will not be available in Australia, only New Zealand. I wasn’t aware they bothered limiting specific Xbox Live/PSN titles to specific regions, other than whether it’s available for EU or NA (Australia and New Zealand both falls under EU). I guess we’ll find out later this month.

Syndicate Refused Classification

The Syndicate remake has been refused classification in Australia for being too violent and will not be released here as a result.

The decision report from the Classification Board states:

In the opinion of the Board, the game contains intense sequences of violence which include detailed depictions of decaptitation and dismemberment that are high in playing impact. The game also contains the ability to inflict repeated and realistic post mortem damage which exceeds strong in playing impact. It is therefore unsuitable for a minor to see or play and should be Refused Classification pursuant to item 1(d) of the computer games table of the Code.

EA has released the following statement regarding the decision:

It’s regrettable that government policy in Australia is denying adults the right to play Syndicate. The game will be 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. 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.

Some day we’ll all laugh about this whole refused classification thing. That’s the day when we finally have an R18+ classification and Australian adults can enjoy being able to purchase the same games that adults in every other country in the world can purchase. We’ll get there eventually.

R18+ classification for video games vote TODAY! …. delayed :(

Was anyone else as excited as me about todays vote by our Attorney Generals?  Well, it’s been delayed.  Apparently the WA AG – Christian Porter – has requested more time to consider the issue.  He’s also been a vocal opponent of R18+ game classifications, so this could be a good or bad thing – time will tell.

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R18+ rating to be discussed today

Early this year public submissions were sought by the government on the topic of an introduction of an R18+ rating for video games, and the general public responded with some 55,000+ people submitting their thoughts and opinions on the issue.  Separate from this process, games retailers EB Games and GAME have collected over 90,000 signatures on a petition supporting the introduction of an R18+ rating as well, so the message should be pretty loud and clear.

Electronics Arts president Frank Gibeau has also weighed into the debate, having sent an open letter to the Australian Government supporting the introduction of an R18+ rating as well.  Below are some of the excerpts from his letter:

Government policies that don’t allow for the rating of mature content in video games effectively censor entertainment choices for adults. These policies show a poor understanding of today’s video gaming audience.  Existing legislation in Australia that limits age ratings of games to 16, demonstrates a distance between those policies and the reality of the video game industry and the people that play interactive games in Australia today.

…..

A change in the Australian age rating system is needed. We call on the Attorneys General in their next general session to vote unanimously in favor of the introduction of an 18+ rating for video games to allow adults to make their own choices about the entertainment they choose to enjoy. The implementation of a new 18+ age rating classification is the right step for consumers, and for the industry, in Australia.

I’m sure that I’m not alone in hoping that we get a positive outcome out of today’s meeting of the state Attorney Generals, and that it represents the significant public interest and opinion that has been raised by this issue coming to a head.

Via:  News.com.au

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Michael Atkinson: Gamers are criminals

Atkinson is well known for his vehement opposition to the introduction of an R18+ rating for computer games in Australia, with him holding the power of veto over any changes to the Classification Act currently as the South Australian Attorney-General.  But with his latest tirade, he seems to be taking things a little far, with his accusations being rather inflammatory and certainly not something that is going to promote reasonable and measured discussion on the topic.

As we previously posted last year, submissions are currently open for public comment on the issue of the introduction of an R18+ rating for games.  So hit up our previous news post and have your say if you haven’t already.

Via:  Gamespot

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R18+: Have your say

Public submissions can be made using a supplied form that asks a number of questions and allows you to add additional comments.  The forms and the consultation document itself are available from the AG’s web site by going the following address – http://www.ag.gov.au/gamesclassification.  Submissions will close on the 28th of February, so you’ve got 2 and a half months to submit your opinion on the issue.

Its as simple as filling in a Word document template provided at the above web site and emailing it in.  Submissions will be made publicly available unless you request on your submission that it be anonymised.  I’d strongly encourage as many gamers within the community to voice your opinion, whether you’re for or against the issue.  The more submissions that are made shows that the general community do care and have genuine concerns and thoughts about the issue.

Other news that has been made public today, is that the ACT Attorney General Simon Corbell has confirmed that he is in support of an amendment to the Classification Act to allow an R18+ rating for games.  So out of the Attorney Generals across Australia, that makes 2 including Victorian AG Rob Hulls who have made public their support for amendments to be made to the Classification Act.  Michael Atkinson from South Australia currently stands alone with his vocal opposition to the proposed amendments, with the other State and Territory representatives yet to make public their stance on the issue.

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Michael Atkinson defends lack of R18+ gaming classification

Kotaku have an article up with excerpts from a letter from South Australia’s Attorney-General Michael Atkinson.  The letter is in response to a gamer concerned with our lack of an R18+ classification for computer games and provides Atkinson’s view in quite a lot of detail.  The full letter (scanned PDF) is available here.  Watch out for Evony ads.

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