The game publisher behind the highly regarded Mortal Kombat video game series has announced it will appeal a decision by Australia’s classification board to ban the game’s sale in Australia, rejecting the argument that the title was more extreme than other games already on sale locally.

Original versions of the franchise have been available in Australia for more than a decade, but late last week the Australian Classification Board gave the Mortal Kombat remake a ‘Refused Classification’ rating, deeming the game’s violence outside the boundaries of the highest MA15+ rating which video games can fall under.

The board’s decision stated that the game contains violence which “goes beyond strong in impact” and is therefore unsuitable for those under the age of 18 to play — particularly noting Mortal Kombat’s famously gruesome ‘fatality’ finishing moves. The ban attracted immediate criticism from the gaming industry — which has long been campaigning for an R18+ rating locally.

“After careful consideration Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment Australia have decided to appeal to the Australian Classification Review Board against the RC (Refused Classification) decision given to Mortal Kombat,” the game’s publisher said today in a statement.

“After reviewing both the game play and the Board’s original decision, WBIE Australia believe the violence in the game is on par with numerous other titles readily available for sale in the Australian market. As such the company wants to exhaust all options to make the game available to Mortal Kombat fans in this country. An identical version of the game will be submitted for appeal.”

A number of other fighting titles are already on sale in Australia — with games like Street Fighter IV featuring similar gameplay to Mortal Kombat, although not all feature the same degree of realistic violence which the Classification Board found objectionable.

One organisation to comment on the issue last week was the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association, which represents a number of video game manufacturers and distributors in Australia, including heavyweights such as Microsoft, Nintendo, Activision, Sony Computer Entertainment and more. The organisation has for several years been pushing for the introduction of an R18+ rating locally.

iGEA chief executive Ron Curry said the fact that another game “clearly designed and targeted at adults” had been refused classification again highlighted the shortcomings of the current classification scheme.

“As with many other forms of media, there is a demand and place for an adult themed narrative. We trust adults with this material in other media forms, yet deny them similar access simply because it’s a ‘game’. We would not accept the argument that because it’s “unsuitable for a minor to see or play” that it should therefore be banned in any other media form, so why video games?” he said.

In December, Australia’s Federal and State Attorneys-General — who are required to reach unanimous agreement on the need for an R18+ rating for it to be introduced — further postponed reaching a decision on the matter. The NSW election is expected to postpone any agreement further.

Image credit: Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment Australia

Related posts:

1. New Mortal Kombat banned in Australia
2. Federal Govt releases R18+ game guidelines
3. R18+ game legislation hits Federal Parliament
4. R18+ games: We’ve already debunked you, Barbara
5. Attorneys-General delay R18+ game decision

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1. gary
   Posted 05/03/2011 at 11:54 am | Permalink | Reply

   Cmon warner bros i know you wont give up on us aussies who really want this game

   its not fair for us aussie adults who play videogames to miss out while the rest of the world get to play mortal kombat

   our country seriously needs to see that not just kids play videogames

   PLEASE PLEASE let us aussies have mortal kombat

2. Joel
   Posted 07/03/2011 at 12:45 pm | Permalink | Reply

   Dead space 2 and God of war from what I’ve seen are a lot more violent than mortal kombat and they get released without any issues being raised. Bulletstorm didnt have any troubles either.. i was surprised by some of the racist remarks in the game referring to Ishi the asian character in the game.
   And now a Wii spanking game foreplay game targeted available to 12 year olds…

   No consistency in the classification board… good representation of how most things in Australia are at the moment. Totally screwed.

3. Hails
   Posted 10/03/2011 at 8:22 am | Permalink | Reply

   Simply put, the behead and removal of Helios head in God Of War 3 he rips it right off the shoulders of Helios, also there is a new Wii game set to release with sexual activities being conducted such as spanking, sex, and rumoured to have a scene of gross leather bound action……..and it got a M rating? puh lease!