Australia bans Halloween: The Game over advantage from marijuana use

Australia’s Classification Board has refused to classify the video game Halloween: The Game, meaning it is banned from sale in the country. The reason was not the violence in the game about Michael Myers, but a mechanic that allows players to smoke marijuana to see Michael Myers’ location and avoid death. This was reported by The Guardian World.

Gameplay advantage

Under Australia’s 2023 Computer Games Classification Guidelines, games are not granted classification if illegal or prohibited drug use is linked to incentives or rewards. The board said that in Halloween: The Game, the use of a drug gives the player a gameplay advantage. On this basis, it refused to classify the game under the code and guidelines.

US company IllFonic is developing the game based on the Halloween film series. It includes scenes of violent killings, including the ability to kill another player by smashing their head against a toilet seat or throwing them into a television screen. Following the board’s decision, IllFonic’s social media pages were flooded with comments from dissatisfied Australians. An officer handling freedom of information requests said the board had received more than 500 complaints about the game.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Debate over classification rules

Flinders University associate professor Clare Henry believes the board correctly applied the current rules, but the situation demonstrates a mismatch between classification standards and public attitudes. Australia previously refused to classify State of Decay, Wasteland 3 and Saints Row IV for the same reason — incentivized drug use. After certain gameplay elements were censored, these games were later reclassified.

Monash University media professor Dan Golding said Australian regulation has historically been based on assumptions that participation in a game has a stronger effect than watching a film, as well as on the idea that games are intended primarily for children. The Australian government is reviewing classification rules to make the approach to films, games and printed materials simpler and more consistent. Among the proposals is easing the stricter approach to video game interactivity.