[UPDATE] Developer Compulsion Games has now written a blog post in which it said it is frustrated by the news. In getting denied a classification, that means We Happy Few is effectively banned in the country (though of course enterprising gamers will find a way to play it either by importing or other means). Still, it`s a roadblock that Compulsion is upset over. The studio said it is currently looking into the matter and has requested more information. `To our Australian fans, we share your frustration,` the studio said. `We will work with the [Australia Classification Board] on the classification. If the government maintains its stance, we will make sure that you can get a refund, and we will work directly with affected Kickstarter backers to figure something out. We would appreciate if you give us a little bit of time to appeal the decision before making a call.``We Happy Few is set in a dystopian society, and the first scene consists of the player character redacting material that could cause offense to `society at large,` as part of his job as a government `archivist.` It`s a society that is forcing its citizens to take Joy, and the whole point of the game is to reject this programming and fight back. In this context, our game`s overarching social commentary is no different than Aldous Huxley`s Brave New World, or Terry Gilliam`s Brazil.``The game explores a range of modern themes, including addiction, mental health and drug abuse. We have had hundreds of messages from fans appreciating the treatment we`ve given these topics, and we believe that when players do get into the world they`ll feel the same way. We`re proud of what we`ve created.``We would like to respond to the thematic side of We Happy Few in more detail at a later date, as we believe it deserves more attention than a quick PR response. In the meantime we will be talking to the ACB to provide additional information, to discuss the issues in depth, and see whether they will change their minds.`Th ...
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