Ruqayyah Snyder
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, a violent shoot-’em-up game, was banned in Australia in 2015 due to a scene that implied sexual assault. The game was refused classification, which effectively banned it from sale in the country. In 2019, four years after the ban, the Hotline Miami Collection, featuring Hotline Miami 2, was released on the Nintendo Switch in Australia. However, there is uncertainty around how and why the game became available, and there is a possibility that the game's rating will be challenged or overturned, resulting in its removal from sale once again.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game | Hotline Miami 2 |
| Reason for ban | Implied sexual assault scene |
| Date of ban | 2015 |
| Platforms banned on | PC and consoles |
| Current status | Unbanned on Switch, still banned on other platforms |
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What You'll Learn
- Hotline Miami 2 was banned in Australia due to sexual violence
- The game features a scene where the protagonist appears to sexually assault a female character
- The Australian board has a history of intolerance toward video game violence
- Hotline Miami 2 was refused classification upon release, banning it from sale
- The game is available on the Nintendo Switch in Australia, despite being banned
Hotline Miami 2 was banned in Australia due to sexual violence
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, a violent shoot-em-up game, was banned in Australia due to a scene that implied sexual assault. In the scene, the male protagonist punches a female character, knocks her to the floor, and is seen pinning her down and thrusting, implying rape. The female character is depicted struggling, with her legs kicking beneath him.
The game was refused classification by the Australian Classification Board, which meant it was banned from sale. The Board's report described the scene as depicting "thrusting actions", which the publisher, Devolver, disputed, claiming that the Board had "stretched the facts". Devolver also stated that players could choose at the start of the game whether to experience content "that alludes to sexual violence".
The game was unavailable in Australia for four and a half years, until 2019, when it was released on the Nintendo Switch with an MA15+ rating, the second-highest in the Australian system. However, it is unclear how or why the game became available, and there is a possibility that its rating will be challenged or overturned, resulting in it being removed from sale again.
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The game features a scene where the protagonist appears to sexually assault a female character
The game Hotline Miami, a top-down action video game known for its graphic violence and intense gameplay, has faced scrutiny and controversy in Australia due to its content. While the game has not been officially banned in the country, it has certainly drawn attention from Australian authorities. One of the primary reasons for this is a particular scene in the game that depicts a potential sexual assault.
In the scene in question, the player character, Jacket, encounters a female character named Helen in a hotel room. The game presents the player with a choice: they can either spare Helen or attack her. If the player chooses to attack, a cutscene plays that suggests Jacket is sexually assaulting Helen. The scene is disturbing and has been the subject of much debate and criticism.
This particular scene has been a major factor in the game's controversial reputation in Australia. The Australian Classification Board, the organization responsible for classifying and censoring films, video games, and other media, has strict guidelines regarding the depiction of sexual violence. According to their guidelines, "detailed or prolonged depictions of sexual violence are not permitted."
The scene in Hotline Miami, while not explicit, implies an act of sexual violence, and this implication was enough to raise concerns. As a result, the game was refused classification when it was initially reviewed by the Board, which effectively prevented its sale in Australia. The refusal of classification was based on the game's "high impact violence and themes."
To address this issue and make the game accessible to Australian players, the developers of Hotline Miami released a patch specifically for the Australian market. This patch removed the controversial scene, replacing it with an alternative cutscene that does not imply sexual assault. With this change, the game was able to obtain a rating of "R18+" in Australia, allowing it to be sold to adult gamers who meet the age requirement.
While the game is not outright banned in Australia, the controversy surrounding the sexual assault scene has undoubtedly impacted its availability and accessibility in the region. The need for a specific patch to address this content showcases the impact of regional sensitivities on video game development and distribution. It also highlights the ongoing discussions and challenges surrounding the depiction of violence, particularly sexual violence, in interactive media.
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The Australian board has a history of intolerance toward video game violence
Australia has a long history of strict censorship when it comes to video games. The Australian Classification Board (ACB) has the power to refuse classification to games deemed too inappropriate, which effectively bans them from being sold in the country. Games refused classification by the ACB are banned for sale, hire, or public exhibition, carrying a maximum fine of $275,000 and/or 10 years in jail.
The ACB has a particular intolerance toward video game violence, with games that include high-impact violence or cruelty often being refused classification. For example, the game Manhunt was banned in Australia due to its themes of severe violence, including torture. The Mortal Kombat series has also faced censorship in Australia due to its violent content.
The ACB has also demanded cuts from popular game titles such as Saint's Row IV, Grand Theft Auto IV, and South Park: Stick of Truth. In the case of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the game was initially allowed to be sold in Australia, but when a modded scene depicting sexual content was discovered, public outrage led to the game being pulled from shelves.
In addition to violence, the inclusion of drugs in games is another common reason for bans in Australia. For instance, Katana Zero was banned due to the inclusion of Chronos as a core concept. Even after the introduction of an R18+ rating in Australia, many games still require editing and reclassification to meet the country's strict standards.
The Australian Classification Board's strict stance on video game violence and other mature content has led to many popular games being banned or altered for the Australian market. While some may argue that this protects consumers from inappropriate content, others may see it as a form of censorship that limits their access to certain games and storylines.
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Hotline Miami 2 was refused classification upon release, banning it from sale
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, a violent shoot-’em-up game, was refused classification and effectively banned in Australia upon its release. The game features a scene in which the protagonist punches and sexually assaults a female character. The victim is depicted as pinned down and struggling during the sequence.
The Australian Classification Board refused to award the game an age rating, citing that the game "depict [ed], express [ed], or otherwise deal [t] with matters of sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence, or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults."
The game's publisher, Devolver, criticized the Australian board for "stretching the facts" in its description of the scene. Devolver pointed out that players could choose at the start of the game whether to experience content "that alludes to sexual violence." However, the company stated it had no plans to challenge the ruling at the time.
In 2019, four years after its initial release, Hotline Miami 2 became available for purchase in Australia on the Nintendo Switch. The game received an MA15+ rating, the second-highest in the Australian system. However, it is unclear how and why the game became available, and there is a possibility that the game's rating will be challenged or overturned again, resulting in it being removed from sale.
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The game is available on the Nintendo Switch in Australia, despite being banned
The Hotline Miami video game series has been the subject of much controversy in Australia. The second instalment of the game, Hotline Miami 2, was banned in Australia in 2015 due to a scene that depicted sexual violence. The scene in question featured the protagonist bursting into a room and killing several people before approaching a female character, knocking her to the floor, and then pinning her down and implicitly raping her. The Australian Classification Board refused to award the game an age rating, effectively banning it from sale in the country.
Despite the ban, in 2019, the Hotline Miami Collection, which includes both Hotline Miami 1 and 2, was released on the Nintendo Switch in Australia. This was made possible by the game being classified under the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) system, which allows developers and publishers to submit their games for an automated classification process. The game received an MA15+ rating, the second-highest rating in the Australian system. However, it is important to note that the game had been refused classification by the Australian Classification Board previously, and there is a possibility that the game's rating will be challenged or overturned again in the future, resulting in its removal from sale.
The availability of the game on the Nintendo Switch in Australia despite its controversial content has sparked mixed reactions among gamers and the public. Some have expressed excitement and relief at being able to purchase the game, especially after it was banned for several years. However, others have criticised the decision to release the game, arguing that the controversial content is unnecessary and gratuitous. There are concerns that the game's availability could set a precedent for the release of other banned or refused classification games in Australia.
The situation highlights the ongoing debate around video game violence and the responsibility of developers, publishers, and classification boards in ensuring that games do not cause harm or offend against generally accepted standards of morality, decency, and propriety. While some argue that the Australian Classification Board is overly strict and intolerant towards video game violence, others defend their decisions as necessary to protect the public, especially minors, from disturbing and inappropriate content.
In conclusion, while the Hotline Miami Collection, including the previously banned Hotline Miami 2, is currently available on the Nintendo Switch in Australia, its presence in the market is tenuous and subject to potential future challenges and reversals. The game's release underscores the complexities surrounding content regulation in the video game industry and the ongoing efforts to balance creative freedom with social responsibility.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Hotline Miami was banned in Australia due to a scene that implied sexual assault.
Hotline Miami was banned in Australia because of a scene in which the protagonist punches and sexually assaults a female character. The scene was deemed to be too graphic and disturbing.
Hotline Miami 2 was also banned in Australia due to a scene of sexual violence. However, in 2019, the ban was lifted for the Switch version of the game, and it was given an MA15+ rating.
