NARC Banned in Oz
Midway are behind a remake of NARC, an arcade title from 1988. The new PS2 version is described by GameSpy as “a third-person actioner with a stylized modern backdrop that’s based on the War on Drugs”, and expands on the style of gameplay found in Midway’s previous Rockstar Games release, State of Emergency. Sounds like a straightforward title… but perhaps overly optimistic to think that it would have any huge success locally. (btw. some of the marketing copy is bizarre, promoting game features such as “Ambient Crime”)
Well now the OFLC has voted 6-1 to ban NARC in Australia. The official reasons for the ban are yet to be published, but in-game drug references are likely to be the cause. So in one move the OFLC ensures that the game gets big publicity, gets played by more people than otherwise would have noticed it… and proves once again that the lack of an ‘R’ rating for games in this country is ridiculous.
posted by bruce · at 12:36 pm · filed under News
Well I’d have to pipe up here and say..
Obviously NARC is about taking down drugs. Walking the line or Crossing it. Well Obviously when the folks at OFLC played the game, they decided they would cross it. So it speaks volumes of their gaming expression, if they chose to cross the line, and then be offended by it on behalf of Australia, tough biscuts. Will this mean that games that allow for GOOD or EVIL modes of play will soon be banned? Would it be different if an Australian company made the game?
Two years from now the game will be so dated that there are far worse things for them to complain about. By then the panel will have rotated. Again I ask any gamer with a media deegree to apply to the OFLC for work on their review board, they do rotate staff, they have to do it every 2 years.
I for one would like to buy the 1 in 6 a beer.
The trailer is Available
http://www.midway.com/futuretense_cs/assets/images/Narc/NARC_Trailer01.wmv
Cause I know you all want to see the kind of things that get a game banned. Well I think if anything, it should be taken off the street for the overused NARC-cop-dealing-and-stealing-on-the-side-while-slamming-back-a-few-pills cliche.
Geez.
The game has “Golden Brown” by the stranglers in the soundtrack. Wah.
Pretty good mob voice actors involved including Michael Madsen.
However. the game has gotten bad reviews and is classed as a budget title by many people. One stating you get what you pay for.
If it is not banned in the UK, most UK Xbox games will work on your Aussie Box.