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A trio of reports obtained by IGN have detailed the offending portions of South Park: The Stick of Truth

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Ubisoft’s first two attempts to have South Park: The Stick of Truth rated for Australian release were unsuccessful; the original version was refused classification on September 19 and a modified version was also refused classification on November 7. A further modified version was eventually rated R18+ by the ACB on November 21.The Classification Board notes in its September 19 report “pursuant to the Guidelines for the Classification of computer games, computer games will be refused classification if they contain: Descriptions or depictions of child sexual abuse or any other exploitative or offensive descriptions or depictions involving a person who is, or who appears to be, a child under 18 years.”The Board reiterates that “[i]mplied sexual violence that is visually depicted, interactive, not justified by context or related to incentives or rewards is not permitted.”The problem section was an “interactive animated sequence titled Alien Probing [which] features buttock-nude male characters, captured by aliens, repeatedly having an oversized, phallic probe thrust into their buttocks. The probe is repeatedly thrust in and out, mimicking sexual thrusting and accompanied by squelching sound effects.”“While one character, Mr Slave, seems to find the probing pleasurable and says “can we try the big silver one again” no indication of explicit or implicit consent is viewed in the sequence,” the report continues. “The characters are secured to the tables and comments made by the probed characters include “Not that way!”, “Oh God no! Shut it off!” and “no no no that kills! Switch it back!”“The child character, referred to as “the new kid”, never speaks, but is viewed being dragged across the ground, a look of fright on his face, before being placed on the table. As the probe implicitly enters his buttocks, he grimaces in pain. After the probe has been removed, the Randy Marsh character comments that “this is the kind of stuff you put up with living in a remote mountain town.” While the probe is inserted, the player is given instruction to bring about a “dragonshout” which, if carried out successfully, causes the new kid character to fart flames which causes the probe to be destroyed. The probe breaks off in the new kid’s anus.”In addition, a minority of the Board believed the game contains “thematic content which, due to the interactive nature of the sequence, also warrants Refused Classification.”This sequence is set in an abortion clinic with male characters disguised as females.“The player controls the doctor’s hands and repeatedly thrusts a length of wire between the patient’s splayed legs (implicitly to bring about an abortion) before applying a vacuum device to the patient’s genital region (below screen),” explains the report. “A minority of the Board is of the view that, due to the interactively of this sequence, it is very high in impact and offends against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that it should not be classified.”The Board conceded it is aware the game is “satirical in tone and intent”, but as the game “features animated sequences depicting sexual violence which also features a child character” the content of South Park: The Stick of Truth exceeded “what can be accommodated within the R18+ guidelines.”Ubisoft submitted a modified version of the game, but this was also refused classification on November 7.“Again, while the Board acknowledges that the game is satirical in tone, intent and context, is based on, and true to, the South Park television series, and that limited modifications have been made to the original game, this modified version includes visually depicted, implied sexual violence and, as such, exceeds what can be accommodated within the R18+ classification,” the report reads.A further modified version was subsequently submitted and was rated R18+ on November 21 with the consumer advice “High impact crude humour, sex scenes and references to sexual violence.”The ACB report describes the offending sequence has changed to segments of text in this version.“At several stages throughout the level which involves the player character being abducted and taken aboard an alien spacecraft text appears on screen which describes instances of sexual violence,” goes the report. “The text includes “aliens forcibly probe your rectum with a dildo-shaped probe”, “probe his ass with violent force” and “causing his anal probe to penetrate him over and over.”“The references are comedic in intent and are accompanied by a still image of a koala crying and the word “censored” written in large red text.”The ACB explains that because these references to sexual violence “are justified by context, not visually depicted, interactive or related to incentives or rewards” they can be accommodated within the R18+ rating.

Luke is Games Editor at IGN AU. You can find him on IGNor on Twitter, or chat with him and the rest of the Australian team by joining the IGN Australia