Please also consider taking this letter and submitting it to the Australian Classification Board here.

Addressed to the Australian Classification Board and Board Members,

Thank you for taking the time to read this petition.

I am starting this petition in response to the recent Refused Classification of the game Valkyrie Drive Bhikkuni on the 9th August 2016. Your response on the matter was due to Games 1(a) The computer game is classified RC in accordance with the National Classification Code, Computer Games Table, 1. (a) as computer games that "depict, express or otherwise deal 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 to the extent that they should not be classified." Further stating to a question asked by TechRaptor that "the reason why the game was Refused Classification is because the game promotes elements that offend standards of morality, and also uses sexuality as an incentive and reward. A major factor in the refusal of classification is due to “implied sexual violence” in the game, especially if they pertain to incentives or rewards..".

We unfortunately do not feel the same way about the subject and feel that there is bias against this matter. Further more due to the vagueness and subjectivity of Games 1(a) ("offends standards of morality") you are able to accept this due to your own and others morality without an opposing viewpoint or understanding of culture. Hopefully with this we be able fill for an opposing view point and explain the themes that can be misinterpreted.

Offends standards of morality

This game in question we admit is extremely goofy and tasteless but does it "offend standards of morality"? No. The fact that the rest of the western world can accept a game such as this without being banned or hitting the highest rating of each countries rating standards should come as no surprise. Unfortunately here in Australia the fact is we're the only western country where the rating system completely depends on the morals of the members. Due to each individuals bias and ignorance to the subject at can get a harmless game like this banned. Due to this we feel that this is breaking section (a) of The Code ("adults should be able to read, hear, see and play what they want;"). Furthermore several games similar to this have been release in Australia with at most a R18+ rating, further proving that the system used is subjective not objective.

Sexuality as an incentive and reward

Does this game use sexuality as incentive or reward? If it does it is little to none. In the game pairs of girls form relationships and through this one of them turns into a weapon for the other to wield. The girls can then advance there relationship through "Drives" which generally involve things like a consensual breasts touch to a kiss. This as a result powers up the duo for a amount of time increasing damage. It's not sexuality that rewards the player like getting sex from a character after finishing a quest, it's the bonds between the two girls that make them stronger. The "Drives" are there to illustrate the progression. The other possible thing this could be referring to is the "Oppai Rank" system where characters give you items based on the relationship with them. As you interact with them by touching them in various places (face, chest, butt) using the Playstation Vita touch screen your "Oppai Rank" goes up and rewards you with various items and bonuses. At surface level this can be seen as sexuality for reward but in truth it's actually relationship building that gives reward. This again demonstrates your teams misunderstanding to the context that these things are presented in.

Implied sexual violence

Does this game have implied sexual violence? No. The thing you could be proposing with this is again the "Oppai Rank" system. Upon interaction with the character they will say a phrase depending on where you touched them and your relationship level with them. At the start touching the girls anywhere but the face will result in a "Don't" or "What are you doing" in a disarming tone but as the relationship strengthens the girls tone soften and lines change to fit the relationship eventually ending with them saying things like "That tickles" in a loving tone.

Once again we believe you should classify the game R18+ due to the sexual themes contained with this game instead of out right banning it. Banning this game will simply reinforce that the current system is flawed and is in need of a review to match America's and Europe's standards of classification. As well as treating Australian adults as children for the sake of the boards morals, while the rest of the world's adults can enjoy this game as they please. Please seriously take this into consideration for the sake of Australian adult video gamers everywhere as well as the rest of the world's view on Australia's classification laws. We have an adult rating, please use it.

Sincerely, Australian adults.