The Australian Office
of Film and Classification (OFLC), has refused to rate 50 Cent’s new video game
“50 Cent: Bulletproof,” effectively keeping the video game out of
stores down under. The game was deemed to be excessively violent by The OFLC. The
organization cited the ability to kill victims who moaned or begged for their
lives, the ability to shoot injured characters as they attempt to crawl away
and blood splattering on the screen as reasons for not classifying the game.
“Bulletproof,” which is rated MA-18 for Mature in
the United States, is too violent to pass approval for the Australian rating
commission, which has an MA-15 rating.
“Bulletproof” is not the first game to be banned
in Australia. Games like “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,” “Manhunt”
and “NARC” have also been kept off the shelves due to violent content.
Vivendi Universal, the company that created “Bulletproof,”
has been given the option to resubmit a more toned down version of the game.
Watchdog group
Family Media Guide recently released this year’s listing of the top 10
most violent video games – and “Bulletproof” made the list
along with “Crime Life: Gang Wars,” “True Crime: New York
City,” “Resident Evil 4” and others.
In related news, 50 Cent was granted permission to enter Canada
to complete a tour that launches Dec. 3.
The rapper was granted a temporary resident visa by Immigration
officials despite the objections of Canadian MP, Dan McTeague, who claimed the
rapper’s criminal record and violent lyrics were enough to keep him out of Canada.