Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/20676-rimworld-video-game-classification-information on April 17, 2024 10:45

RimWorld Video Game Classification Information

J. Beddek made this Official Information request to Office of Film and Literature Classification

The request was successful.

From: J. Beddek

Tēnā koutou,

I would like to request classification information for the video game "RimWorld", Publication Number "2200047.000" [1].

The information I am requesting is the following:

- Examination transcript;
- Consideration Sheet;
- Summary of Reasons;
- Supplementary materials (video footage, content declaration questionnaires, debug information);
- Screenshots showing information from the database as seen by OFLC;
- Emails and their attachments to and/or from FVLB, OFLC, distributors, publishers, and developers;
- Forms and their attachments to and/or from FVLB, OFLC, distributors, publishers, and developers.

Additionally, I would like request all correspondence and materials otherwise mentioned above, which originated within, were sent to, or sent from the OFLC in relation to the decision of the Australian Classification Board (ACB) refusing classification of RimWorld [2], and later classifying the video game as R 18+ [3][4].

Please provide this information in an accessible, searchable format.

If any part of my request is unclear, please don't hesitate to contact me.

If any of the information that I have requested is unavailable or would be difficult to retrieve, but similar information might be readily available, I would be happy to discuss altering or refining my request.

Ngā mihi,
J. Beddek

[1]: https://www.classificationoffice.govt.nz...
[2]: https://www.classification.gov.au/titles...
[3]: https://www.classification.gov.au/titles...
[4]: https://www.classification.gov.au/about-...

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From: Information Unit
Office of Film and Literature Classification

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Kia ora J. Beddek,

 

Thanks for your request for information about the classification of
RimWorld [2200047.000].

 

We will provide a response via email within 20 working days of your
request (26 October 2022).

 

If you would like any more information as part of your request, please let
us know.

 

Kind regards,

Blair M

Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor

Te Mana Whakaatu | Classification
[1]cid:image001.png@01D8181F.64BF6FB0 Office

Ph: +64 4 471 6770 |
[2]classificationoffice.govt.nz

[3]Subscribe | [4]Facebook |
[5]Twitter | [6]Instagram

 

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From: Information Unit
Office of Film and Literature Classification

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Kia ora J. Beddek,

 

I am writing about your recent request for information about the
classification of RimWorld [2200047.000].

 

The Classification Office has received a number of similar requests about
game classification in the past, some of which we have refused.  These
requests are identical in places.

 

Requests can only be processed under the [1]Official Information Act 1982
if they are from a:

(a)    New Zealand citizen;

(b)    permanent resident of New Zealand;

(c)    person who is in New Zealand;

(d)    body corporate which is incorporated in New Zealand; or

(e)    body corporate which is incorporated outside New Zealand but which
has a place of business in New Zealand.

 

Please confirm whether any of these apply to you.

 

If not, we may be able to provide some of the information you have
requested within the timeframe in my previous email (26 October 2022). 
This would however be at our discretion and not under the Official
Information Act.

 

Kind regards,

Blair M

Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor

Te Mana Whakaatu | Classification
[2]cid:image001.png@01D8181F.64BF6FB0 Office

Ph: +64 4 471 6770 |
[3]classificationoffice.govt.nz

[4]Subscribe | [5]Facebook |
[6]Twitter | [7]Instagram

 

 

From: Information Unit
Sent: Wednesday, 28 September 2022 11:33 am
To: 'J. Beddek' <[FOI #20676 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - RimWorld Video Game
Classification Information

 

Kia ora J. Beddek,

 

Thanks for your request for information about the classification of
RimWorld [2200047.000].

 

We will provide a response via email within 20 working days of your
request (26 October 2022).

 

If you would like any more information as part of your request, please let
us know.

 

Kind regards,

Blair M

Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor

Te Mana Whakaatu | Classification
[8]cid:image001.png@01D8181F.64BF6FB0 Office

Ph: +64 4 471 6770 |
[9]classificationoffice.govt.nz

[10]Subscribe | [11]Facebook |
[12]Twitter | [13]Instagram

 

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From: J. Beddek

Tēnā koe‎ Blair,

"The Classification Office has received a number of similar requests about game classification in the past, some of which we have refused. These requests are identical in places."

Yes, some of the requested details are identical as I have copied some text from an OIA request as a template [1].

"Please confirm whether any of these apply to you."

Sections (a) and (c) apply. I am a New Zealand citizen who currently resides within NZ. Regardless, I have doubts that there is a genuine need for confirming my residential status.

The Ombudsmen states that "Agencies should only query eligibility if there is a genuine need to do so, and they should be mindful of their obligation to provide reasonable assistance to requesters" [2]. This follows the wording in s.13 of the Official Information Act 1982 [3].

If you could please elaborate on which information would have been withheld were I not an NZ citizen, that would be helpful.

Regards,

J. Beddek

[1]: https://fyi.org.nz/request/16727-far-cry-6
[2]: https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/site...
[3]: https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1...

Link to this

From: Information Unit
Office of Film and Literature Classification

Attachment image001.png
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Kia ora J. Beddek,

 

Thanks for confirming that.

 

In practice, we would likely provide the same information whether or not a
request is made under the Official Information Act.  However, determining
whether requests are made under the OIA allows us to be clear about why we
are withholding any information.

 

If you had not made a request under section 12 of the OIA, we would likely
have provided the information you have requested under [1]section 88(2) of
the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 instead.  This
requires the Office to receive enquiries about the classification system
and provide information about how publications are classified.

 

Unlike the OIA, the Classification Act does not specify duties,
timeframes, or withholding grounds for responding to enquiries.  If any
requested information needed to be withheld, such as for reasons of
commercial sensitivity, we would have done so at our discretion rather
than under one of the grounds under the OIA.

 

We aim to respond to enquiries received under the Classification Act
within five to 20 working days, which is no later than the timeframe set
out in the OIA.

 

We will provide a response to your OIA request via email by 26 October
2022.

 

Kind regards,

Blair M

Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor

Te Mana Whakaatu | Classification
[2]cid:image001.png@01D8181F.64BF6FB0 Office

Ph: +64 4 471 6770 |
[3]classificationoffice.govt.nz

[4]Subscribe | [5]Facebook |
[6]Twitter | [7]Instagram

 

 

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Link to this

From: Information Unit
Office of Film and Literature Classification

Attachment image004.png
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Attachment 20221025 OIA Response to J.Beddek 5599.pdf
221K Download View as HTML

Attachment 20221025 RimWorld release.pdf
856K Download View as HTML

Kia ora J. Beddek,

 

Please find attached a response to your request under the Official
Information Act 1982 which was received by the Classification Office on 27
September 2022.

 

Kind regards,

Blair M

Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor

Te Mana Whakaatu | Classification
[1]cid:image001.png@01D8181F.64BF6FB0 Office

Freephone: 0508 236 767 | Phone: +64
4 471 6770

[2]Subscribe | [3]Web | [4]Facebook
| [5]Twitter | [6]Instagram

 

 

From: Information Unit
Sent: Wednesday, 12 October 2022 9:35 am
To: J. Beddek <[FOI #20676 email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - RimWorld Video Game
Classification Information

 

Kia ora J. Beddek,

 

Thanks for confirming that.

 

In practice, we would likely provide the same information whether or not a
request is made under the Official Information Act.  However, determining
whether requests are made under the OIA allows us to be clear about why we
are withholding any information.

 

If you had not made a request under section 12 of the OIA, we would likely
have provided the information you have requested under [7]section 88(2) of
the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 instead.  This
requires the Office to receive enquiries about the classification system
and provide information about how publications are classified.

 

Unlike the OIA, the Classification Act does not specify duties,
timeframes, or withholding grounds for responding to enquiries.  If any
requested information needed to be withheld, such as for reasons of
commercial sensitivity, we would have done so at our discretion rather
than under one of the grounds under the OIA.

 

We aim to respond to enquiries received under the Classification Act
within five to 20 working days, which is no later than the timeframe set
out in the OIA.

 

We will provide a response to your OIA request via email by 26 October
2022.

 

Kind regards,

Blair M

Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor

Te Mana Whakaatu | Classification
[8]cid:image001.png@01D8181F.64BF6FB0 Office

Ph: +64 4 471 6770 |
[9]classificationoffice.govt.nz

[10]Subscribe | [11]Facebook |
[12]Twitter | [13]Instagram

 

 

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Anyone:
Office of Film and Literature Classification only: