Kapow! The Aussie Classification Board lands another hit with their almighty banhammer.

The Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) Board has reported to the Media that Fallout 3, an upcomming RPG title for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC has been banned. The game would receive a R+18 rating, but with a lack of this classification for Video Games, it has instead been offically banned.

A OFLC report was given to Journalists saying that the reason for the ban was regarding the Drug's theme or within Fallout 3 'chems' which have more a positive, rather than negative effect on the character in which the player controls.

There has been the use of drugs in recent Triple A titles such as Haze and Bioshock, in which a form of Drug is taken to enhance the character, but both show an obvious negative effect from taking the drugs.

The OFLC classifies Video Games according to Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995. It states that it will allow a game with Drug themes that would fall into the MA+15 classification if the game does the following: 'Drug use should be justified by context'.

The Gaming community and Media haven't taken this report with the much support and have also been warned that they are not permitted to import Fallout 3.

For more infomation regarding the classification of games, follow the link to download the Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/comlaw/Legislation/LegislativeInstrumentCompilation1.nsf/0/404495489915EE76CA25741100165EFA?OpenDocument,

[As a later note, Fallout 3 was resubmitted by it's development team and the modified version was permitted the Australian MA15+ rating]

Dan Byron