Nintendo 3DS game pulled from shelves after government revokes initial rating

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The Nintendo 3DS game Dead or Alive: Dimensions was banned from sale in Australia late late week. It had previously been given a PG rating by government censors, and had already gone on sale in Australia on May 28.

Before its Australian release, the game's launch in Sweden was cancelled following claims that it may breach Swedish child pornography laws. Additionally, the game was not released in Denmark or Norway.

Three of the game characters — Ayane, Kokoro and Kasumi (pictured at right) — are listed as being under 18 years of age. In Dead or Alive: Dimensions, the in-game photography mode allows players to look up characters' dresses in certain poses.

Following the game's release in Australia, the Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O'Connor, asked the Classification Board to re-examine the game and its rating. O'Connor and the Board said in a statement on Friday that the Board was not initially notified that the game may contain sexualized material inappropriate for the PG rating. The Board told Nintendo on June 2 to provide reasons why the game should be reclassified within seven days. The Board accepted Nintendo's response, but decided to ban the game on Friday until it is it re-submitted for classification.

O'Connor added, "The material in this game is clearly not appropriate to be played by children. […] I am pleased the Classification Board took swift action to address community concerns."

Nintendo explained that it did not believe the game contained child pornography. Another company, THQ, had already submitted the game for classification, but "did not provide adequate information regarding the contents of the game." A spokeswoman added, "Nintendo Australia is currently working with the Classification Operations Branch on this."