UPDATE: The Australian Classification Board has now given Fallout 3 a rating of 'MA 15+', meaning that the game will be allowed to go on sale Down Under.


Reports are spreading that Fallout 3 has been allowed release in Australia. Alas, none of them actually come from the Australian body that classifies games for release.

This scuttlebutt started with Australian website, Gamerchip. It reports that the Australian arms of both EB Games and GAME have confirmed that Fallout 3 will be released over there, with both retailers now taking pre-orders. The site claims that representatives from both retailers have said that modified version of the game - minus the drug-use that got it refused classification - will be out later this year.

A quick glance at the Australian Classification Board's website, however, shows the game as still carrying the letters 'RC' 'Refused Classification'. Do retailers get to veto decisions by the government now? Sadly, SPOnG suspects not.

Furthermore, Fallout 3 appears to be absent from EB Games Australia's website, not available on pre-order as Gamerchip claimed. The good news is that you can indeed send your money off to GAME in Australia for a game that may not get released over there so that they can hold onto it for an indefinite period of time.

It also seems that having "the drug use removed that saw the game banned in the first place" (Gamerchip's words) would be a tad over-enthusiastic on Bethesda's part. As SPOnG pointed out, the reason the game was refused classification in the first place was not that it simply contained drugs, but the fact that their representation is too realistic. As such, removing them altogether should be unnecessary, Bethesda should just be able to make the drug use a bit more wholesome. Maybe have them as suppositories?

Basically, everyone should take a moment, have a sit down and a nice cup of tea and wait for official word from either the Australian Classification Review Board or Bethesda.

On a happier Fallout 3 note, SPOnG brought you some new screens from the game earlier. You can see them here.

This whole Fallout 3 fiasco, of course, stems from the fact that Australia doesn't have an 18 rating for games, although it does for film. Other games such as darkSector and GTA IV have been adversely affected by this in the past.

You can see some Aussie politicians having a squawk about the whole thing here.

^{Source: Gamerchip}