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World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:35 pm
by Hoodcom
One of the major stories that is breaking today around the internet is the fact that in Australia a number of MMOs are no longer legally able to be sold. This is due to their lack of classification, things like M for Mature, PG, 18+, etc...
Our sister site Massively covered this extensively last week, and Tateru Nino's article on it has been picked up by the editors over at Slashdot. This is in particular interest to World of Warcraft folks in that WoW doesn't have a classification, and thus cannot be legally sold in Australia.
According to Tateru's research, the only two MMOs that are presently available for Australia are Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and EVE Online.
If someone was to sell WoW in Australia, they would face a possible penalty of AU$27,220.80 or two years in jail.
There was a brief comment by a blue last night on the situation, basically saying that Blizzard "will always respect the law of the countries in which we operate." That's one of those "duh" PR statements that they have to say however, and gives no real insight as to what they're doing to solve this.
One thing that isn't clear to us, and that we're looking for confirmation about (hint hint, maybe one of you Aussies that read the site can help us out), is if the game can still be bought online. I suspect that it's possible given the transactions will occur in the US, but there might be international trade laws that make that impossible.
We'll have more on this interesting story as things develop.
http://www.wowinsider.com/2009/02/04/wo ... #continued
... Okay, so Australia has become the worst place for gamers... but why the hell are they suddenly banning a game that is a few years old? Pretty stupid to be honest.
I don't really care for the game, but GAWD.
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:07 pm
by stan423321
Errr, wait a moment. Who rate the game - and does it cost producer extra money? If so...
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:11 pm
by Xenon
To be honest I'm not that surprised, although it does sound a little stern. I think I once heard somebody attempted to kill their own mother because they were so frustrated with the game, and not to mention somebody starved to death as a result of incessant gaming. 8O
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:19 pm
by Hoodcom
People who go that far don't have any self-control, period.
There ARE those who play the game and go to school and still get very good grades still.
Just you get a lot of morons playing who don't have self-control that causes all the havoc...
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:08 pm
by Tobbe
World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
I wanna live there.
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:30 pm
by Shawn
Tobbe wrote:World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
I wanna live there.
I know what you mean.
I have a couple friends who quit their jobs to play WoW. And they become nerdy assholes.
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:26 am
by Holy Crap
Tobbe wrote:World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
I wanna live there.
Hehe.
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:58 am
by Tobbe
Seriously, I wanna live in Australia. You've got the nice weather, the second most awesome English accent in the world (behind Jamaican), and now; no WoW!
Kinda thought about doing my last year of high school either in Melbourne or Wellington, New Zealand. That would be awesome, but I don't think I will.
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:00 am
by Shawn
I went to Australia once.
Hey
Guess
What?!
I ONLY HEARD "MATE" TWICE!!
Stereotypes suck.
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:31 pm
by Acarr
I deteste stereotypes
We get it, and it really pisses me off.
Re: Curls Of Carcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Austria
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 4:56 pm
by El Dango
Holy Crap wrote:Tobbe wrote:World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
I wanna live there.
Hehe.
That means there's a chance he becomes your neighbour!
Well, a very small chance...
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 5:07 pm
by Joshua822
Hey, that's why hackers invented torrents isn't it
And yeah, i would like to go to Australia to for about a year or so, but not for my entire life, my life lies here in Genk a.k.a end of civilization XD
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 6:35 pm
by stan423321
Well well well, I want to live in country with simple and hard law. That's all.
In case of World of Warcraft... have you heard about "GIVE US YOUR MONEY"?
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 5:28 am
by Holy Crap
Tobbe wrote:Seriously, I wanna live in Australia. You've got ... the second most awesome English accent in the world (behind Jamaican)
Ya mon.
Anyway, as my friend often says:
"WoW takes it in the 'o'!"
So yeah, it's good news for me.
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 5:49 pm
by stan423321
Hey, if the "GIVE US YOUR MONEY" thing is real, WoW shouldn't be also officialy sold in Poland, as Polish law says there shouldn't be any under-mind advertisments!
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:34 pm
by Hunchman801
I'd like to go to Australia too, but I couldn't leave my friends for too long
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:31 pm
by Acarr
Hunchman801 wrote:I'd like to go to Australia too, but I couldn't leave my friends for too long
I could
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 7:38 am
by Holy Crap
Hunchman801 wrote:I'd like to go to Australia too, but I couldn't leave my friends for too long
I spot a trend.
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:48 pm
by El Dango
Nah, i'd rather go to the North Pole.
Re: World Of Warcraft No Longer Legally For Sale In Australia
Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 4:06 pm
by Acarr
Same
It looks cold.