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Target Australia's war on mature gaming continues

So I had a quick search here and on kotaku aus, and so such news.
Target have now made 18+ rated games plain packaging, the same thing the Australian Government made Cigarette companies do a few years ago.

Target Australia was in the news a 2 years ago for pulling GTAV from the stores after a social media campaign
http://www.target.com.au/medias/marketing/corporate/PDF/media-release/GTA-Media-Release-v2.pdf

Update: After being featured in a few blogs and making its way onto /r/games/, Kotaku has contracted Target and its been removed.
http://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/03/south-australias-r18-laws-are-a-complete-shambles/


0kQ4VKo.jpg
 

cheezcake

Member
Hahahahahahaha

I can't believe they voluntarily did this that's hilarious, everyone going to JB or online retailers anyway
 
Hey, if it stops ignorant parents buying GTAV and Call of Duty for their 8 year old, more power to Target.

And now the question we all wonder, will any of them read the packaging.
 
What the hell is going on with Straya and age ratings? What kind of cruel German USK bureaucrat bit your officials and store managers?
 

Renpatsu

Member
What the hell is going on with Straya and age ratings? What kind of cruel German USK bureaucrat bit your officials and store managers?
Target shouldn't be taken as the norm down here, but I guess it is a barometer of the extreme conservative take on video games.
 

DJMicLuv

Member
[Looks at photo]

You're right! IT'S WAR!!! The most passive aggressive war so far in history but a WAR none the less.

I'm not sure I can see it really matters much in the scheme of things.
 

Corpekata

Banned
Seems weird to even give the shelf space to the games if they aren't going to cover them like that. At that point you might as well keep them in the back or locked up elsewhere and just have a list printed up. A lot of the point of premium shelf space is to capture the attention of the casual shopper and that's not going to happen with them all covered.
 
Target shouldn't be taken as the norm down here, but I guess it is a barometer of the extreme conservative take on video games.

Honestly, I see it as just Target adapting to their market. Older gamers tend towards JB and Arab Games, whereas Target tends to attract kids and grandparents buying presents.
 
If this is from South Australia, it's not new and not a Target specific thing at all. Been law since 2010.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...r-rated-cover-up/story-e6frg6nf-1225819431495

Adults aged over 18 seeking to buy or borrow a copy of Mad Max, the acclaimed desert war drama Three Kings, starring George Clooney, the Brad Pitt classic Fight Club or the 2009 Blu Ray release of Sasha Baron Cohen's fashion parody Bruno will now find them in plain packaging displaying nothing more than the film's title.
 
Seems weird to even give the shelf space to the games if they aren't going to cover them like that. At that point you might as well keep them in the back or locked up elsewhere and just have a list printed up.

Maybe retailers are contractually obliged to put the goods on shelf, or maybe they just want to somewhat minimise the hassle.
 

cookienut

Banned
No, you cannot see the cover of this R18 game, but you can see the cover of this R18 DVD or BluRay. And yes, we will sell skimpy underwear to your 8 year old because, well reasons.

What a joke.
 

Boss Mog

Member
So they removed GTA V for violence on women. I'm curious do they do anything for hip hop CDs that demean women? If not seems kind of unfair to just target one medium.
 
Boss★Moogle;197189897 said:
So they removed GTA V for violence on women. I'm curious do they do anything for hip hop CDs that demean women? If not seems kind of unfair to just target one medium.

It's just a bullshit reason to get the most violent game out of there. If that was really the reason, they should also be removing COD Black Ops 3 and Far Cry Primal. GTA has always been the big one that all moral guardians complain about though.
 

jwk94

Member
So if you buy the game, can you get the original cover?

Boss★Moogle;197189897 said:
So they removed GTA V for violence on women. I'm curious do they do anything for hip hop CDs that demean women? If not seems kind of unfair to just target one medium.

Don't other musical genres also demean women? Why stop at hip hop?
 

Bishop89

Member
Hahahahahahaha

I can't believe they voluntarily did this that's hilarious, everyone going to JB or online retailers anyway
Yep.

God bless JB and price matching.

FUCK target...

So if you pick it up for collection, do you get the original cover or this shit?
 
So if you buy the game, can you get the original cover?

From what I see, this is just a piece of paper slipped into the original box (look at Wolfenstein TNO for Xbox One in the middle). Still... I hate when stores mess with boxes. So many covers ruined by RFID tags put behind the box art sleeve...
 

Bishop89

Member
Must not pay much attention to R18 classifications anymore.

Watchdogs R18?Really?

urgh... it depends who reviews it I guess.

For example deadpool apparenty is r18+ in the states, but its MA15+ over here.

I dont really see why its r18+ but whatever.
 

JBwB

Member
Hahahahahahaha

I can't believe they voluntarily did this that's hilarious, everyone going to JB or online retailers anyway

Yep JB Hi Fi is the way to go for games these days. Out of all the major stores they generally have the best prices.

Also F^&* Target for this crap lol.
 
I don't have a problem with this.

I shop at Target quite often, but I never even bother to look at their game's section. It is small, poorly stocked and basically a complete non-event.

So the only people who would be buying games there clearly have absolutely no clue what they are looking for, or what they are buying. The more protection/help these people are given the better.

So yeah, slight inconvenience for those people wanting to pick up a warcraft battle chest or the sims 3, but otherwise they should be able to do what they want.
 

virtualS

Member
Must have a seriously out of touch managing director.. or a store manager gone rogue.

Just pull them from sale entirely if you're that against mature games.

In their defence, lots of parents are dumb and negligent.
 

PigzFly

Member
Hahahahaha. This is incredible.

I basically only shop online or buy digitally so it's fun to see what the real world looks like sometimes. Keep fighting the good fight Target.
 
One of NZ's largest retailers pulled all 18+ movies and games from shelves to make themselves more family "friendly".

Whatever, I buy everything digital now.
 
There is a chance they were caught or in trouble for breaking the rule possibly. So they got fined or in trouble? So someone stepped up thier game
 

Darmik

Member
I'm pretty sure you get a sealed copy from behind the counter with the regular cover. This has been the case when I pick up games for cheap at launch from Target. I've never seen this myself but I haven't been to Target the last few weeks.
 
Cover art is made to get people to pick up the games and consider a purchase. It's bad for consumers, some of whom will just pass on it now, and bad for the developer who puts in the work to make the game look appealing.

Utter lunacy.
 

Darmik

Member
why does australia do/tolerate this?


how about the fact the aussie government thinks its people are morons and need to be protected from covert art.

This is Target's decision. There are no laws requiring them to do this like with cigarette packets.
 

Atomski

Member
This is Target's decision. There are no laws requiring them to do this like with cigarette packets.
Yeah sure but I hear weird things about Australia all the time when it comes to gaming. Banning racing games because of street racing and such.. Its just super strange. Like from the outside I don't hear much about violence I Australia. What exactly is setting off politicians about this stuff?

Same with Germany.. Im the words of David Cross "what violent video games did the Nasis play?"
 

dity

Member
Yeah sure but I hear weird things a out Australia all the time when it comes to gaming. Banning racing games because of street racing and such.. Its just super strange. Like from the outside I don't hear much about violence I Australia. What exactly is setting off politicians about this stuff?
What?
 
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