WHAT THE FUUUCK?

Australia, February 3, 2009 - In a shocking move this
morning, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Australian
retailers will no longer be allowed to sell any online game that has
not been classified by the Australian Classification Board.


This move directly affects games such as World of Warcraft,
Warrhammer Online, Age of Conan and Pirates of the Burning Seas –
titles that don't contain a single-player experience, and therefore did
not apply for classification. The previous understanding was that
online games were a social experience that fell outside of traditional
classifications – a loophole that the Classifications Board want
stitched up.


According to the report, a spokesperson for NSW Attorney-General
John Hatzistergos said the NSW Classification Enforcement Act
prohibited publishers and retailers from selling unclassified computer
games. The spokesperson also encouraged individuals to report any
retailer or individual found operating outside of the Classification
Act of 1995.


"The NSW legislation covers computer games bought online as well as
those bought in stores, and treats single, multi-player and online
games the same way," he said.


Australian police will be responsible for enforcing the penalties,
which range from $1100 to $11,000 for individuals and/or 12 months'
imprisonment, and approximately double those figures for corporations.


We've contacted Activision Blizzard for further comment. Please check back shortly as this story continues to develop.


Source: IGN http://uk.games.ign.com/articles/950/950795p1.html




I am /NOT/ moving to Australia if I can't has my WoW. D:
How are they gonna live now? >.<
&&@Dan: Is the above really true? o3o

I'm more concerned about my Aussie guildies :O


thats fucking homo though.

Nick wrote:

I'm more concerned about my Aussie guildies :O


thats fucking homo though.

Ohshit.

MOTH IS AN AUSSIE. >.<

I'd like. Die without him. D;

Tank can't live without a healer, plz. DDD:

This is gaaaaaaaaaaay.

WTF!

TL;DR

Ohkay, first, you need to understand how the Aussie gaming system works.
In America/your various regions of origin, ALL games receive a classification. Here, games have to /apply/ for a classification. Certain games (as mentioned in the above article) don't need to apply for one.
So no, it doesn't mean you won't be able to get those games. They'll probably just have to apply for one.

...It's still bullshit, though.

@ Fairy Danmother~ wrote:

Ohkay, first, you need to understand how the Aussie gaming system works.
In America/your various regions of origin, ALL games receive a classification. Here, games have to /apply/ for a classification. Certain games (as mentioned in the above article) don't need to apply for one.
So no, it doesn't mean you won't be able to get those games. They'll probably just have to apply for one.

...It's still bullshit, though.

...Why is that such a big deal? D;
It makes no sense to me.

Fangirl wrote:

@ Fairy Danmother~ wrote:

Ohkay, first, you need to understand how the Aussie gaming system works.
In America/your various regions of origin, ALL games receive a classification. Here, games have to /apply/ for a classification. Certain games (as mentioned in the above article) don't need to apply for one.
So no, it doesn't mean you won't be able to get those games. They'll probably just have to apply for one.

...It's still bullshit, though.

...Why is that such a big deal? D;
It makes no sense to me.

Two words: Australian government.
They suck. ;3

Actually, games here still have to apply before they can be sold in stores, it's just not much of a problem so you don't hear much about it.