2009 In Review

2009 was a strange year for gamers with many highly anticipated games refused classification.

Due out this year Alien vs Predator was first banned by the Classification Board but was granted an MA15+ rating by the Review Board two weeks later.

While Left 4 Dead 2 was in September, Valve had anticipated this and also submitted a cut-down version of the game which received an MA15+ rating
Valve replied that everyone there was "pretty bummed" while EA offered a scathing attack on the Classification Board.

"It's funny that a place like Australia, which has come up with some pretty violent material in the past with something like Mad Max, can effectively ban video games for the same reason," she said. "EA believes that adults should have the right to make their own choices when it comes to the content they consume."

The uncut version of the game was sent to the Review Board, but didn't receive a change of rating.

Shortly after receiving an RC rating for NecroVisioN, the developers created an edited version which received a modest M rating

Little known MMO Crimecraft was refused classification in November due to its drug use.

But it wasn't all bad news.

The long awaited R18+ Discussion paper was released, weighing the pros and cons of having an R18+ rating for games. It allowed the public to have a say in what they thought of it, which they are still able to do so until 28 February this year.