Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment's (WBIE) has released a statement confirming that Mortal Kombat has been banned by the Australian Ratings Board and calling for the introduction of a mature rating for games in Australia.
"The highly anticipated video game Mortal Kombat, published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) in Australia, has been refused classification by the Australian Classification Board and will not release in Australia. We are extremely disappointed that Mortal Kombat, one of the world's oldest and most successful video games franchises, will not be available to mature Australian gamers. WBIE would not market mature content where it is not appropriate for the audience. We understand that not all content is for every audience, but there is an audience for mature gaming content and it would make more sense to have the R18+ classification in Australia. As a member of the iGEA [Interactive Games & Entertainment Association], WBIE is reviewing all options available at this time."
According to the Classification Board's official report, Mortal Kombat is unable to accomodate the maximum MA15+ rating guidelines due to its explicit violence and limb dismemberment during fatalities.
"Kung Lao throws his metal hat into the ground and it spins like a buzz saw. He grabs his prone opponent by the ankles and drags their body through the saw, explicitly slicing them vertically in half. Copious bloodspray is noted. Kung Lao then holds up both halves of the corpse as blood pours out," reads the report.
"The game includes over 60 fatalities (some of which are noted above), which contain explicit depictions of dismemberment, decapitation, disembowelment, and other brutal forms of slaughter. Despite the exaggerated conceptual nature of the fatalities and their context within a fighting game set in a fantasy realm, impact is heightened by the use of graphics which are realistically rendered and very detailed. In the opinion of the board, the game contains violence that exceeds strong in impact and is unsuitable for a minor to see or play. The game should therefore be Refused Classification pursuant to item 1(d) of the computer games table of the National Classification Board."
Mortal Kombat is due to hit retailers April 19, 2011 for the Xbox 360 and PS3. It has been rated "Mature" by the ESRB and "18+" by PEGI.
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