The Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification has failed consumers yet again, depending on how far you buy into the controversy surrounding Dead or Alive: Dimensions. The game - which allows players to earn figurines of female characters that are under 18 years of age and then take voyeuristic photos of them - was classified PG for mild violence and sexualized gameplay. After some sensationalistic reports from the moral panic-prone Australian media - one article in the Sydney Morning Herald was titled “Nintendo "Child porn” game PG in Australia," - the game had its classification withdrawn on Friday; effectively banning the game from being sold. Nintendo, the game's distributor, is now resubmitting the game to be classified again; hoping to limbo under the bar of the MA 15+ rating.

I refer to this situation as a "moral panic," because I own the game myself. I pre-ordered it in February along with Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition as I consider myself to be somewhat of a fighting game aficionado; not because of the promise of some Nabukovian photography. The game arrived after a delay, and I've been playing it on-and-off for the past two weeks. I'm really happy with it on account of the comprehensive offering of modes, characters and locales, system-leading graphics, and 3D that pops out of the screen instead of sinking into it as most other 3DS titles seem to. Much like SSFIV:3D, the Showcase mode - where players can view and photograph collected figurines - proved to be nothing but a distraction. I decided to trial the mode upon my first figurine, that of Ninja Gaiden protagonist, Hyabusa. There was a little bit more flexibility in terms of camera control, but my figure collecting days are ostensibly (save for the odd pack-in with a collector's edition of an anticipated game) over. When selecting characters, I never paid much attention to their personal details with the sole exception of Bayman: I can't believe I never noticed that my favourite character was Russian. Once the controversy came to light however, I looked at the details for Ayane, Kokoro and Kasumi and their ages are listed "N/A." Mariposa - a character who is exempt from the furore - has her age listed as "Unknown." I otherwise would not have thought to question these details because a youth spent watching sitcoms and romantic comedies has impressed upon me that I should not ask a woman's age as it is considered rude. Why should this situation be any different?

I'll admit this doesn't look good

Now, to be clear: child pornography is indefensible. I can say however, without a shred of falsity, that my experience with the game has drifted nowhere near the pornographic, and only slightly towards voyeuristic. Besides, how can other - and I would argue, more reprehensible - iterations in the Dead or Alive series have avoided such controversy? Does anyone not remember the DoA Xtreme volleyball games or DoA Paradise which tasked players with completing mini-games and giving gifts to the same under-aged characters with the reward of isolating them and viewing these characters in revealing swimsuits? It seems to me as though some journalists are - loading up Dead or Alive: Dimensions, selecting Showcase mode and a child character, then positioning the camera - looking to be offended.

But how is this any more acceptable?