Australian R18+ rating been delayed indefinitely

[Kayos]

If off let me explain what an R18+ rating is. In Australia, unlike in the USA, there media such as video games, movies, books etc... are all regulated by the government. This essentially makes them in control of what is allowed and not allowed to be given to the Australian population in terms of media.

Now, currently the Australian government uses a rating system, not unlike the ESRB (M, T, E10, E, Ec). With one exception of course, they have no rating to the equivalent of our Mature rating.

What that means is that when games are released in other parts of the world, they are allowed to have unrestricted content because they are given a rating. In Australia, if a game gets rated and it is deemed too violent, too much sex, too much drugs, etc... Then it would essentially be banned unless said things are removed to fit into an MA15 rating.

Now, the following has happened:

The introduction of an R18+ rating for computer games has been delayed indefinitely after South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson withdrew his support for a discussion paper and public consultation process.


Censorship ministers in March agreed "in principle" to canvas public opinion on the proposed introduction of a R18+ classification for games and release a discussion paper on the issue, but Mr Atkinson has refused to agree to make the report public, effectively shelving it.

So, what's the problem? It's not like Australians want an R18+ rating for there games.

Wrong.

Over 90 per cent of Australian adults, including both game players and non-players, believe Australia should have an R18+ rating for games according to a report released this week by Bond University and the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia.

This is a classical case where a government has failed it people.

Here's the source of the article:

http://blogs.theage.com.au/screenplay/archives//010915.html


Comments?

 

[kkenny]

These things don't even work on USA.
ESRB is just a bunch of hippies trying to protect the youth, but it does nothing against what we purchase because no one has the right to limit the freedom of speech we have here in the US.

Hopefully your thing gets passed so those exciting games go to the AU though.

 

[Smith6612]

Here in the US, sure the cashiers ask if you're 18 or older when you get a Raten M game or ask a parent if it's OK, but basically, it's not too hard to get a rated M game. Besides, why would Australia want to do such a thing when 90% of games in my PC gaming collection is Rated M and are all shooters?

 

[Kayos]

These things don't even work on USA.
ESRB is just a bunch of hippies trying to protect the youth, but it does nothing against what we purchase because no one has the right to limit the freedom of speech we have here in the US.

Hopefully your thing gets passed so those exciting games go to the AU though.

The ESRB is there to protect the freedoms that gamers have. If we didn't have the ESRB our games would be government regulated which means that our government could ban games outright just like it has happened in places like Australia, Germany and United Kingdom.

And yes you are right in that most of the laws that get past here in the US are shot down, but they have started showing up more and more. If we have one law passed then that puts the governments foot into the door and it will lead to more and more regulations on the games we play.

I'm not from Australia either, I'm just outraged at how there government treats them even when the majority want them to change. The politicans are blindly focused on "protecting the children". They use arcaic policies to govern the games industry and it will effect them in the long run.

Here in the US, sure the cashiers ask if you're 18 or older when you get a Raten M game or ask a parent if it's OK, but basically, it's not too hard to get a rated M game. Besides, why would Australia want to do such a thing when 90% of games in my PC gaming collection is Rated M and are all shooters?

That's how it should be. Parents should have the ultimate say in what there child shall be able to play or not.

I'd like to note that here in the US games have the best track record in turning down sales to minors yet it's the most attacked by politicians to regulate the sales to minors.

 

[Smith6612]

Thats how it should be. Parents should have the ultimate say in what there child shall be able to play or not.

I'd like to note that here in the US games have the best track record in turning down sales to minors yet it's the most attacked by politicians to regulate the sales to minors.

Exactly. And without the Minors buying games, you wouldn't see games flying off of the shelves or even making that much money at all, as after all, minors often have more time and do wind up playing the games anyways.

 

[Kayos]

Exactly. And without the Minors buying games, you wouldn't see games flying off of the shelves or even making that much money at all, as after all, minors often have more time and do wind up playing the games anyways.

Minors contribute a lot but they really aren't the average gamer, but still they do provide a lot of revenue to developers.

That's not really the point I was trying to make though. When a law passes that will penalize a business establishment for selling a M rated game to a minor will be the day that the constitution should be torn up. What would be the point of following it now when it has no say in any matters any longer? It has yet to happen but and we've come close quite a few occasions.