In market dampening news for Bethesda Softworks, the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) has announced Fallout 3 has been banned from importation into Australia. The news comes hot on the heels of internet rumors that unfortunately have turned out to be true. Fallout 3, to be released on the PC, Xbox 360, and the PS3 later in the year, is a post apocalyptic role playing game that many are calling a cross between Oblivion and the original Fallout. It is listed as number one on many gaming news sites as the most anticipated game of 2008 (we have it as number 3, but that's just us). No reason has yet been offered by the OFLC, our best guess is that it relates to the games inclusion and references to the drug morphine. Yes, in Australia it's ok to shoot a thousand people dead in a video game, but don't make reference to drugs as that's deemed morally much worse than, well, killing! In fact, in Fallout 2 you kill children to earn the title 'Child Killer', which was of course approved by the OFLC. Go figure.

The obvious question comes next: Why don't the OFLC simply classify it as rated R? The answer is simple: Australia doesn't have a rated R classification for games, a clear indication that the classification bodies and/or the Australian Governement fail to understand that the gaming community is not just made up of children. Sadly for the Aussies Fallout 3 won't be coming their way any time soon. If you live in another country then this should also be recognised for the bad news to the gaming industry that it is. Although Australia doesn't offer the same financial market to the gaming industry that a country the size of the US does, it nonetheless contributes greatly to the support and continuation of our industry. Whenever a major title, especially one as eagerly anticipated as Fallout 3, suffers such a major set back in it's potential sales, it is bad news for the industry as a whole.

Of course, the OFLC can announce the game is banned, but the adult gaming community in Australia can still fall back on the tried and trusted method that the classification systems can't seem to overcome: buy it online.

Official Fallout 3 website: http://fallout.bethsoft.com
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