Mortal Kombat is the latest game to be refused classification in my home country. This is rather disappointing news as I was quite looking forward to the game. I still am because I know that I will be able to play it as an import, but let’s get to a few important points about the flawed classification system in Australia and why the industry is never likely to see an R Rating any time soon.

• First of all, I have seen a few comments from international observers who must think we live in some sort of police state over here. I can assure you that this isn't the case. Australia is a very relaxed country truth be told and we are quite liberal on artistic classification. This is part of what makes game classification so frustrating and why gamers in Australia feel particularly picked on.
• Naturally, the major flaw of the system is the lack of an R rating. Had Australia had one, Mortal Kombat would be released. Why isn't there one yet? Well a few different people with different political backgrounds need to agree on something. At the last meeting, the federal government backed the move, unfortunately the federal government is part of the Labor party, not everyone else who needed to agree with them was from the same party. Are you beginning to see the picture? States have their own governments and political agendas.
• These people (State's Attorney Generals) are more often than not senior politicians. Generally speaking, old men. Not only are they most likely not gamers, they generally couldn't care if Mortal Kombat was or wasn't released in Australia. In fact, if most of these people saw the game, they would probably agree that it shouldn't.
• Where the hypocrisy lies is that the only reason the game can't be sold in this country is because it is a game. If the DVD that Warner Bros gave the classification board of the game was given to them as a film, it would probably be given an R (although this is unlikely due to its cartoonish nature, it would probably be hit with an MA, but yeah...) and people would be able to buy it. In fact, within a week of the games US release, I'm sure I will no doubt be able to access Youtube to watch every Fatality in the game. An act that anyone over the age of...I don't know, 8 would be able to do with a lot more ease than actually performing the feat within the game.
• The Fatalities which the classification board seems to take most issue with are actually one of the most non interactive things in the game. All the game requires you to do is essentially enter a few buttons to unlock a film. A gory film, but still a film. Button presses in this case don't directly correspond to violence.
• With all that being said, Mortal Kombat shouldn't get an R rating anyway. This game should be and, I'm assuming that Warner Bros are planning on resubmitting it will be MA (gamers only over the age of 15). There is no sexual violence in this game, the game isn't psychologically disturbing, the games depiction of violence is so cartoonishly over the top that if a 15 year old mistakes it for reality they have psychological issues of their own.

 
So best of luck to WB, I do hope you resubmit the game and it is given its rightful MA rating. If you don't then it doesn't really matter to me, like I said, I'll still find some way to play it. Personally what I want to see happen is for retailers such as JB Hi Fi and EB Games go to the various State's Attorney Generals and show them how much money they are going to have to refund to consumers on pre orders they have taken. Retailers in Australia have recently complained about Australians importing products to get a better price. I'm sure governments are happy to see businesses lose money because of an outdate system right?