NEWS
Syndicate banned in Australia
Australian gamers can again head into mourning with the loss of another AAA title to our shores. This time it is EA's Syndicate which has been Refused Classification by Australia's archaic Classification Board, since there is no R18+ rating yet in Australia (which is still being debated in Parliament).
EA's response to the ban was the following...
"It’s regrettable that government policy in Australia is denying adults the right to play Syndicate. The game will be not be available in Australia despite its enthusiastic response from fans. We were encouraged by the government’s recent agreement to adopt an 18+ age rating for games. However, delays continue to force an arcane censorship on games – cuts that would never be imposed on books or movies. We urge policy makers to take swift action to implement an updated policy that reflects today’s market and gives its millions of adult consumers the right to make their own content choices."
EA will not be appealing the RC decision. Syndicate is a game made for a mature audience and any changes to would significantly affect the game's quality and appeal. Gamers across the water in New Zealand can still play the game due to the R18 classification available.
Disappointing...