From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of banned computer and video games.

Contents 1 Australia 2 People's Republic of China 3 Germany 4 New Zealand 5 Saudi Arabia 6 South Korea 7 United States 8 See also 9 References

Video games in Australia cannot be rated R18+ because the rating only exists for film. This has led many games to be edited (to obtain an MA15+ rating) or refused classification.

• 50 Cent: Bulletproof was banned in 2005 due to the arcade mode 'counter kill' methods, which were determined to be of high impact^[1]. A censored version was later released.^{[citation needed]}
• BMX XXX was banned for its nudity and questionable content^[2]. A censored version was later released.^{[citation needed]}
• Dreamweb was banned in Australia. However the game was censored, and re-released with an MA rating in 1996 for "Medium level animated violence".
• Grand Theft Auto III was banned in Australia. A censored version was later released.
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Following the Hot Coffee controversy, involving unused sexual content contained in the disc, it was re-rated to RC (Refused Classification, means that games or movies cannot be sold), and therefore banned in Australia. A modified version minus sex scenes has since been reawarded an MA rating, returning the game to the shelves.
• Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude
• Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure was banned in Australia.
• Manhunt Released with MA15+, banned 6 months later.
• NARC (2005 update) was banned in Australia.
• Postal has been banned in many countries.
• Postal² was banned in Australia.
• Phantasmagoria was banned in Australia.
• Reservoir Dogs (video game) was banned in Australia.
• Rule Of Rose (video game) was banned in Australia in 2006
• Singles: Flirt Up Your Life has been banned in Australia for containing realistic propaganda flags and nudity.
• Shellshock: Nam '67 has been banned in Australia. The game was re-rated MA15+ in it's uncut form, upon appeal.
• The Punisher (video game) has been banned in Australia. However, it has been re-rated MA15+ by the OFLC.

• Command & Conquer: Generals was banned in China for "smearing the image of China and the Chinese army" despite the fact that the game presents China as a quasi-protagonist.^[3] It is largely believed that the game was banned because the GLA (a terrorist group) uses a nuclear device to destroy the Gate of Heavenly Peace. Additionally, the Chinese campaign has the player destroy questionable targets such as the Three Gorges Dam and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
• Hearts of Iron and Hearts of Iron 2 were banned in China because they depict Tibet, Sinkiang, and Manchuria as independent countries and Taiwan as under Japanese control.^[3]
• I.G.I.-2: Covert Strike was banned for "intentionally blackening China and the Chinese army's image".^[4]

See Censorship in the People's Republic of China, Video games

4 games have been banned by different courts, because of extreme violence - based on § 131 StGB (= Germany's criminal code):

• Manhunt
• Mortal Kombat
• Mortal Kombat II
• Mortal Kombat 3

There are some other games banned because of using Nazi symbols (most famously Wolfenstein 3-D), which is not allowed in Germany (except in arts and education).

In New Zealand, games are classified by the Office of Film and Literature Classification. If they are deemed objectionable in all cases, then they are considered banned. In this case, the game in question is not only illegal to sell, but illegal to own, possess or import.

• Manhunt The first game to be banned in New Zealand due to its violent nature and because of the bloody pixelated gore after killing them
• Postal² was banned in New Zealand.
• Reservoir Dogs

• The various Pokémon games were banned in Saudi Arabia for allegedly promoting Zionism and (particularly in the case of the trading card game) involving gambling.^[5]

• Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction was banned in South Korea.
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 was banned in South Korea.
• Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory was banned in South Korea.

• The Guy Game was banned in the US for revealing a minor's breasts.^[6] So far , this is the only game to have been banned in the US.

• Video game controversy
• Censorship in Australia, Video games