Singapore Bans, Unbans Game

All within a few days, Singapore announced that it was banning the science fiction RPG "Mass Effect", then announced that the ban was lifted and that the game will be issued an M18 rating instead.

The brief ban was caused by a love scene (part of sub-plot in the game) between the player's character and an alien (which resembles a blue-skinned human woman). Singapore objected to the scene that occurred if the player had selected a female character (apparently using a male character was not an issue).

In any event, Singapore has lifted the ban and has stated that while it is waiting for its new game-rating system to come into effect (in January 2008), it will "selectively" use game ratings to allow highly-anticipated games to be sold.

Singapore has banned other games for objectionable content, so the "Mass Effect" episode was nothing new. However, it may be the shortest game ban ever.

Coverage at GameSpot and Game Politics.