WoW Rated Down Under

[Oct 09, 2009, 11:59 am ET] - Share - Viewing Comments

GameSpot Australia reports that World of Warcraft has finally received a rating in Australia, after operating for several years without a classification, as MMOGs have been allowed to operate unclassified. Blizzard explains this: "However, back in 2004, we were advised by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) that the online-only nature of World of Warcraft was unclassifiable under its definition of computer games at that time. Recent changes at the Classification Board have led to their ability to classify online only games such as World of Warcraft." The classification board disagrees, saying it should have been rated all along: "It is the Board's view that World of Warcraft meets the definition of a computer game provided in the Classification Act and therefore can be classified." Either way, the game and its Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King expansions all now carry an M rating for "fantasy violence," along with consumer advice stating "online content variable." Thanks Big Download.

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13.

Re: WoW Rated Down Under

Oct 10, 2009, 11:31

DrClown

Age of Conan, Rohan: Blood Feud, and Requiem: Bloodymare are all ESRB: M.

12.

Re: WoW Rated Down Under

Oct 9, 2009, 18:55

Kxmode

Wow, that only took them five years. That's pretty fast for a government board. No kidding. Good lord. Way to bring to fail Australia.

11.

Re: WoW Rated Down Under

Oct 9, 2009, 17:11

Talisorn

For anyone who's ACTUALLY interested in the (as opposed to just making smart-arse comments), watch episode 2 of Byteside ( http://byteside.com/blog/2009/10/01/byteside-games-2/ ). The vast bulk of it is about the current state of the ratings debate in Australia. It may put things in perspective a bit. This comment was edited on Oct 9, 2009, 17:11.

10.

Re: WoW Rated Down Under

Oct 9, 2009, 16:24

Creston

Wow, that only took them five years. That's pretty fast for a government board. Your tax dollars at work, Australia! Rejoice! Creston

Re: WoW Rated Down Under

Oct 9, 2009, 13:52

Donkey_Punch

Of course the government knows what is best for the people. What could possibly go wrong when you have a large group of people who choose a job to get power and the opportunity to make easy money from corrupt businessmen.

Re: WoW Rated Down Under

Oct 9, 2009, 13:49

Blue

IIRC a M rating in Australia means 15+. I guess this is in accord with many other counties.

No, that's their MA15+ rating. The M rating is one notch lower. Here's the Wiki description:

"The M rating is recommended for mature but moderately young audiences, around the teen years. Language is relatively free, but “aggressive or strong coarse language” should be infrequent, and sexual innuendo is freely thrown around and sex may be mildly implied, and there is slightly more violence present. Sexual violence is not allowed. Drug use can be depicted in context. This was formerly known as "M15+", but was changed to M to be consistent with film ratings. This rating is not restricted."




Stephen "Blue" Heaslip Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life

Re: WoW Rated Down Under

Oct 9, 2009, 13:45

MTechnik

Do they figure that unless you are 15 you can't deal with being ganked while doing quests?

Re: WoW Rated Down Under

Oct 9, 2009, 13:42

Buckermann

IIRC a M rating in Australia means 15+. I guess this is in accord with many other counties.

Re: WoW Rated Down Under

Oct 9, 2009, 13:08

PHJF

Yeah, they do. Except the ESRB is at least REASONABLY SENSIBLE about it and is careful to exclaim, "Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB."




Steam + PSN: PHJF

Re: WoW Rated Down Under

Oct 9, 2009, 13:02

necrosis

How can you classify something like an MMO? Hell the US does not even rate them IIRC.

Re: WoW Rated Down Under

Oct 9, 2009, 12:28

Techie714 ©

Australia get your shit together! Your making us nervous over here...




Steam (ID) http://steamcommunity.com/id/techie714/ DEAD SH0T

Re: WoW Rated Down Under

Oct 9, 2009, 12:23

Efflixi

If WoW is rated M, does that make Australians' heads explode fantastically at the sight of Age of Conan? No kidding... an M rating for WoW? Really?

Re: WoW Rated Down Under

Oct 9, 2009, 12:04

PHJF

If WoW is rated M, does that make Australians' heads explode fantastically at the sight of Age of Conan?




Steam + PSN: PHJF

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