Warner Bros to Seek R18+ Australian Classification for Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition

We are all we’ve got. Watch the full trailer for Call of Duty: Ghosts.
Pre-order Now!

We take Naughty Dog's latest graphical masterpiece for a gameplay spin to see if it handles as well as it looks and sounds. Click here for our full hands-on preview!

We Talk with Acti's Daniel Suarez!

Ahead of the Xbox One reveal, AusGamers had a chance to see Call of Duty: Ghosts up close and in person. We also spoke with CoD VP of product Daniel Suarez. Click here!

Injustice: Gods Among Us Reviewed!

We take NetherRealm's Injustice: Gods Among Us for the review spin and walk away very happy with what the MK creators have built here. Click for the review!

Warner Bros to Seek R18+ Australian Classification for Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition

Post by Dan @ 02:20pm 15/01/13 | 15 Comments

With the recent implementation of an R18+ rating for videogames in Australia, Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment has revealed that they will be submitting Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition to the Australian Classification Board, offering the following statement:

Warner Bros Entertainment Australia will be submitting the Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition for classification under the new R18+ classification category.

The outcome of Komplete Edition's ratings submission will be a real test for the new R18+ classification guidelines, as the original release of Mortal Kombat in 2011, when the highest rating available was MA15+, received a Refused Classification stamp due to "explicit depictions of dismemberment, decapitation, disembowelment and other brutal forms of slaughter".

Komplete Edition is not a censored version of the game, but rather a compilation release that includes all previously released DLC, and the Mortal Kombat film. It is understood that this modified reissue sidesteps the requirement of a two year waiting period before a formerly refused title is able to be resubmitted for re-classification.

mortal kombat r18 r18+classification

Buy now from ozgameshop.com Only AUD$22.99!

(compare all prices)

Link

mission
Posted 02:32pm 15/1/13

"explicit depictions of dismemberment, decapitation, disembowelment and other brutal forms of slaughter".

SOLD!

I hope this gets released, I've been a MK fan since the mega-drive.

Link

Khel
Posted 02:38pm 15/1/13

Its so good, I'd be tempted to buy it again if this gets released since I never got most of the DLC, and it'd be worth it to have austraian people to play against online.

Link

DM
Posted 02:42pm 15/1/13

If MK still doesn't get a release inside australia with the new R18 rating, then it's safe to say all they plan on doing is making it the new MA15

Link

thermite
Posted 02:42pm 15/1/13

PC?

Link

Hogfather
Posted 02:50pm 15/1/13

This should be interesting.

Link

Dan
Posted 02:58pm 15/1/13

If MK still doesn't get a release inside australia with the new R18 rating, then it's safe to say all they plan on doing is making it the new MA15

It's really not safe to say that at all, there are several factors that could adversely affect it that aren't necessarily a long-term reflection on how things are going to be under the new classification scheme.

Read this article I linked in the last r18 comments for a educated speculation on the state of things http://www.mcvpacific.com/news/read/opinion-why-r18-will-make-a-difference/0104517

Having games rated in the correct light depends heavily on the way it is presented by the publisher, to demonstrate that any violence in the game is contextually fantastical enough to not be of "high impact".

It's also quite possible that MK: KE could get shot down simply because the situation is too sensitive at the moment, and permitting a previously refused game could stir up unwanted controversy.

There's a lot of discretion in the process, so MK has quite a bit working against it, that just would apply to other brand new games seeking the same approval.

Link

DeadlyDav0
Posted 03:05pm 15/1/13

Never owned a console but Mortal Kombat's release made me seriously think about getting one.

Link

Crust
Posted 03:07pm 15/1/13

@hogfather this should be very interesting indeed

Link

Dazhel
Posted 03:09pm 15/1/13

It's also quite possible that MK: KE could get shot down simply because the situation is too sensitive at the moment, and permitting a previously refused game could stir up unwanted controversy.

WB are paying for reclassification - I reckon they'd have every right to be pissed off if instead of comparing the game against the new classification rules, the classification board instead decided to compare the political environment to some arbitrary yardstick for controversy.

Link

Reverend Evil�
Posted 03:50pm 15/1/13

The new Mortal Kombat game is one of the best games to play with mates when drinking. So much damn fun.

Link

thermite
Posted 06:04pm 15/1/13

I can post?

Link

HERMITech
Posted 06:17pm 15/1/13

Actually, MK:KE on triple screen 27" for PC would be insane!

Link

Sanguinicus
Posted 06:25pm 15/1/13

I imported a copy from the UK (on 360). Can I play with players of Komplete Edition if it gets classified?

Link

Nick
Posted 08:13pm 15/1/13

It is interesting as I would think if this gets banned then expect any other mortal kombat release to be refused as well as any other game that normally wouldn't fit into the MA15 slot. My feelings are R18 is the new MA15 and we will see about 90% of the normal MA15 releases get an R18. Call of duty and GTA are going to be R18 no doubt about that.

I could be wrong and I hope that I am and we get MK Komplete on our shelves very soon!

Link

WirlWind
Posted 01:52pm 16/1/13

Looks like most Aussie gamers are going to be looking at this in the future and seeing if what alot of people have been saying is true or not (the whole R18 = MA15 thing).

I, for one, am seriously hoping to be proven wrong.

You must be logged in to post a comment. Log in now!

15 Comments

Show

Join the zombie horde on Facebook:

Follow the leader on Twitter:

Google +1!

More...

Create Account | Lost your password?