Hey, so I'm DarthHomer. I'm an Aussie, and I like gaming. Anyone here from Gamespot and 1UP should know me. Anyway:

No doubt you've heard the news?

Turns out the main reason why Australian's can't get the game is because of drugs - or chems as the game calls them, is because it simulates realistic drug use, or so the OFLC report says. Didn't get a chance to read it? Here you are:

"These chems have postive and some negative effects (lowering of intelligence, or the character may become addicted to the chem). The positive effects include increase in strength, stamina, resistance to damage, agility, and hit points. Corresponding with the list of various chems are small visual representations of the drugs; these include syringes, tablets, pill bottles, a crack-type pipe, and blister packs. In the Board's view, these realistic visual representation of drugs and their delivery method bring the 'science-fiction' drugs in line with 'real-world' drugs"

Yes, I'm sure that MOST PEOPLE USE GAMES TO LEARN HOW TO USE DRUGS. Jesus christ, I'm honestly stupefied that the sole reason the game is banned isn't because you can harm children, but because the OFLC don't want kids to learn how to use drugs in their videogames. Bollocks - this was a game MADE for adults.

What's more annoying is that the previous Fallout games had such feautres - and can be legally sold here. Hell, you can buy copies of the previous PC games at any game store, and rated so that anyone over 15 can buy a copy. No content was removed at all from both games for the European/Australian game (as far as I know). Hell, the drug angle is basically the same - you can take a variety of drugs that can boost your stats, but they can also affect you negatively. The first health recovery item you get in the game heals you at the cost of some stats (I think speed and perception are altered).

Then again, let's think about some other examples of games with drugs. Max Payne featured Painkillers solely used to heal Max, Bioshock features the character taking drugs to replenish vital statistics (and you saw the hypo being used), Kane & Lynch saw you use Adrenaline shots to come back from the dead and so on. You could argue that any game where drugs are used in only a POSITIVE LIGHT (i.e. there are no negative benefits whatsoever), that it's ok, but when a realistic intepretation of drugs are in place, then it's a problem. Blitz the League, which was infamously banned here a few years ago, had the same feature - there were drugs in place, and they presented negative benefits as well as positives.

Chalk this one up to changes in standards and practicses over 10 years or so. Does it suck? Oh yes it does. I was REALLY looking forward to the game. If it does get released here - then it gives me more incentive to get the PC version (so I can mod all that stuff back in).

Back to our regularly scheduled "IMPORT TIME" and whatnot...