The practice of banning highly anticipated games here in Australia due to the failed video game ratings system is becoming commonplace. We all know about Left 4 Dead 2 getting butchered by the ratings board due to excessive violence and gore and now the Australian edited version is a hollow skeleton of its former self, garnering 5 out of 10 from sites that also reviewed the original American version and gave that one a 9.

Now the ratings board has struck again this time hitting SEGA's Aliens vs. Predator. The game, which allows players to control 3 different races with 3 unique fighting styles (I can't remember if I read that the Predalien hybrid was playable or not so there's at least 3 races), is one of the most anticipated games of the New Year due to its multiplayer potential and varied campaigns. Unfortunately the games depiction of the violence, horror and gore which made the films the games is based on so popular has resulted in it being refused classification due to its failure to fall within the MA 15+ classification, the highest we've got due to

"first-person perspective, close-up depictions of human characters being subjected to various types of violence, including explicit decapitation and dismemberment as well as locational damage such as stabbing through the chest, mouth, throat, or eyes,"

SEGA Australia have stated that "We will continue to investigate all options available to us, including the possibility of appeal."At least this time Australia isn't the only one missing out as SEGA haven't even bothered to release the game in Germany as they believe the game will require far too many alterations to get a salable rating there. The game was set to be released in February and from what I'd seen it looked freaking awesome due to its blending of the 3 distinct styles of gameplay from the Aliens, Predators and human Marines to create a unique gaming experience. Seriously how cool would that multiplayer be, 1 player a Predator the rest Aliens to see who is the best hunter or a survival mode where Marines have to fend off waves of Aliens. Freaking sweet, Check out the gameplay footage to judge the awesomeness for yourself. Unfortunately this is all I'll have to go on depending on how much is cut from the Australian release and once again the gamers lose out to nanny politics.