Theo Samaritan:

karmapolizei:
A question on this one:
Who can ban games in Australia and on which grounds?

The Australian Videogames Rating Board. Not sure if that is their official name. Anyway, the Aussie government doesn't provide a Mature rating for videogames. This means that if a game is too violent/disturbing/anything than what is allowed under their highset rating, they cannot rate it and thus it is banned.

Gosh, I'd have to show that one to the kiddies in German forums bitching about "censorship" imposed on games in Germany. THIS is censorship, actual censorship.

Can't you just import the games that have been banned?

No region lockout any more.

harhol:
Can't you just import the games that have been banned?

No region lockout any more.

Well it's easier for PC and PS3, and I think SH V will be on Steam, though even Steam can have region locks.

i whould join but alas im irish

ElArabDeMagnifico:

harhol:
Can't you just import the games that have been banned?

No region lockout any more.

Well it's easier for PC and PS3, and I think SH V will be on Steam, though even Steam can have region locks.

Tell me about it...

Thank god I live in the ol US of A, not that its better. Some people have to lighten up, Silent Hill is supposed to be messed up. Thats what makes it good.

Just about any country in their right mind doesn't do this kind of crap. To my knowledge, there's only a handful of countries with such hard games legislation - the other one really notorious being Germany, the second one China (banning practically everything they get their fingers on, but to no avail because no one actually BUYS anything there) and one or the other isolated case from countries like Italy (they banned Resident Evil a few years ago). And I remember something about Indonesia, but maybe that was just chewing gums.

That being said, any country would do. I could go for Austria, they have Vienna, which is NICE. Dear Australians, don't bother, it's too far away and is, despite the name similiarity, way too cold for you. Just for the record :D

Eventually they'll ban a game with a really huge fanbase like say (the inevitable) Halo 4 being banned for having a master cheif-Cortana sex scene or something, then the resulting outrage will hopefully be enough to persuade the bastards that their ratings system is heavily flawed.

For the record I would steer the hell away from Halo 4 in the event of it's creation, even more so if there was said sex scene.

For now you can always come over to New Zealand and buy games while you're down here. You get your precious games and we get valuable tourist dollars.
On a side note I find it pretty funny that over here when there is a game that is banned over the tasman, the game will often actually have a sticker saying "Banned in Australia!"
Playing it off as a good point.

Theo Samaritan:

@ Reaperman Wompa
Calm down kid. Swearing and so forth does not help an argument as much as it makes you look even more childish than you should be. Also you are 15, by law you shouldn't be able to get a copy of Mature rated games anyway.

Sorry I am just very upset that this guy is trying to ban something as simple as a game, and am used to going to swearing to help express my point as I can't yell over the internet.

And I'm allowed to buy MA15 games because it's 15 up so I wouldn't have to care about the restrictions, or even if they raised the rating my parents don't care how violent what I play is.

Still absolutely fuming over the subject, I'll try to calm down a bit though.

Theo Samaritan:

karmapolizei:
A question on this one:
Who can ban games in Australia and on which grounds?

The Australian Videogames Rating Board. Not sure if that is their official name. Anyway, the Aussie government doesn't provide a Mature rating for videogames. This means that if a game is too violent/disturbing/anything than what is allowed under their highset rating, they cannot rate it and thus it is banned.

Most of australia has signed on this rating, as stated before, except for one guy who doesn't even know what a videogame is by the sounds of it.

It's called the Official Board of Literature and Classification. It's our classification board for all forms of media, but they they have guidelines to follow. Like Theo said, the one guy is blocking the R18+ rating, and his name is Michael Atkinson.

As for any possible action, Dingo, I'll see what I can do. Of course, stationed in Sydney.

stompy:

Theo Samaritan:

karmapolizei:
A question on this one:
Who can ban games in Australia and on which grounds?

The Australian Videogames Rating Board. Not sure if that is their official name. Anyway, the Aussie government doesn't provide a Mature rating for videogames. This means that if a game is too violent/disturbing/anything than what is allowed under their highset rating, they cannot rate it and thus it is banned.

Most of australia has signed on this rating, as stated before, except for one guy who doesn't even know what a videogame is by the sounds of it.

It's called the Official Board of Literature and Classification. It's our classification board for all forms of media, but they they have guidelines to follow. Like Theo said, the one guy is blocking the R18+ rating, and his name is Michael Atkinson.

Who is this Michael Atkinson bloke? He can't be a state governor, they have no actual power, same as the Governor-General.

2ndclasscitizen:
Who is this Michael Atkinson bloke? He can't be a state governor, they have no actual power, same as the Governor-General.

He's Attorney-General of South Australia. He's got a Wikipedia page if you're interested.

For those who don't understand how this one is causing the damage: in order to change the maximum rating for video games to R18+, we need a unanimous vote of support from the states' Attorney-Generals. All the Attorney-Generals are in support, with Victoria even spear-heading it, except for the South Australian one. I unfortunately don't know how Attorney-Generals are selected, but it's obviously not democratic...

The problem is that the government down here wont recognise games as a legitimate form of entertainment. The only reason they wont allow an R 18+ rating is that they think that video games = children. Even though the bulk of the modern gamer community is 18 or over. Just give us an adult rating and STFU already

falcontwin:
The problem is that the government down here wont recognise games as a legitimate form of entertainment. The only reason they wont allow an R 18+ rating is that they think that video games = children. Even though the bulk of the modern gamer community is 18 or over. Just give us an adult rating and STFU already

Have they researched the average gamer age? I think before they can make a decision like this they have to know who they are making this law for, and if it's above 17 then I think we should be allowed the rating.

Other than that does anyone know what reason he gave for not allowing the rating?

Reaperman Wompa:

falcontwin:
The problem is that the government down here wont recognise games as a legitimate form of entertainment. The only reason they wont allow an R 18+ rating is that they think that video games = children. Even though the bulk of the modern gamer community is 18 or over. Just give us an adult rating and STFU already

Have they researched the average gamer age?

Other than that does anyone know what reason he gave for not allowing the rating?

For the first question, it's 28 years old in Australia. Source.

For the second question, I believe it's the general bullshit: "Think about the children!"

28?

That's just... i can't even describe it. I bet he's trying to get in with your run of the mill Jesus loving PTA members. It's annoying that they don't just have a vote, then he'd be on the losing side and our purchases wouldn't be restricted by his idiocy.

stompy:

2ndclasscitizen:
Who is this Michael Atkinson bloke? He can't be a state governor, they have no actual power, same as the Governor-General.

He's Attorney-General of South Australia. He's got a Wikipedia page if you're interested.

For those who don't understand how this one is causing the damage: in order to change the maximum rating for video games to R18+, we need a unanimous vote of support from the states' Attorney-Generals. All the Attorney-Generals are in support, with Victoria even spear-heading it, except for the South Australian one. I unfortunately don't know how Attorney-Generals are selected, but it's obviously not democratic...

Ah thanks for the page. Attorney-Generals are chosen the same way all ministers are, from the House of Reps or Senate by the party in power.

Fellow oppressed Australians, our mission is clear, we must *dispose* of the Atkinson, we shall lead a campaign on his place of residence, brandishing nun-chuck remotes and possibly those special edition RE4 chainsaw controls for the Game Cube. To South Australia! (Awaiting a quote of this reply with "You have my Sword!", "And My Axe!")

Thats sick man, its a shame you can't violently assault them because then they can blame it on computer games! I hope you can order it on ebay or something that really sucks my heart goes out to Australian gamers..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banned_video_games

Wow sucks to be in australia. To think I was pissed off at the NZ censor banning Manhunt 2.
To think a nation founded by criminals would be soo hard on video games.
wait... im moving to Oz in a few months... FUCK! >.<

avykins:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banned_video_games

Wow sucks to be in australia. To think I was pissed off at the NZ censor banning Manhunt 2.
To think a nation founded by criminals would be soo hard on video games.
wait... im moving to Oz in a few months... FUCK! >.<

I know right, we're even known for being relaxed so sh^t like this is really annoying.

Dammit our national song is about stealing something then falling asleep in the shade! How does a country like that have the biggest list of banned games.

We really need an R18 rating, just so we can get "too violent etc." games. I don't mind censorship but there's a point when it crosses from protecting people to becoming idiotic.

Don't worry though, that's pretty much the only thing wrong with our country.

They banned the Marc Ecko game? That's just ridiculous. I live in Austria so I don't have to worry about banned games or censored games but the GTA games, Duke Nukem 3D and Reservoir Dogs (ok that game sucked but that's not the point)? Have fun with not playing God of War 3....

Reaperman Wompa:
Don't worry though, that's pretty much the only thing wrong with our country.

Apart from the australian accent plus the fact that 90% of the country is barren desert. <.<;;;

I say we go to the middle of australia, plant a new flag and claim it in the name of gamerdom! Can build our own damn city just like a real life sim city (no trying to lure godzilla to it) and have no damn censorship laws.
Cmon why not ? I mean from what I hear theres a small island off the coast of australia that has been dedicated to homosexuals. Why cant we have a gamer territory. ;.;

Reaperman Wompa:
28?

That's just... i can't even describe it. I bet he's trying to get in with your run of the mill Jesus loving PTA members. It's annoying that they don't just have a vote, then he'd be on the losing side and our purchases wouldn't be restricted by his idiocy.

We don't have PTA, and Christianity is nowhere near as big here as it is in the U.S.

ultra_v_89:
Fellow oppressed Australians, our mission is clear, we must *dispose* of the Atkinson, we shall lead a campaign on his place of residence, brandishing nun-chuck remotes and possibly those special edition RE4 chainsaw controls for the Game Cube. To South Australia! (Awaiting a quote of this reply with "You have my Sword!", "And My Axe!")

...why would Wii owners care since none of their games ever get banned?

avykins:

Apart from the australian accent plus the fact that 90% of the country is barren desert. <.<;;;

I say we go to the middle of australia, plant a new flag and claim it in the name of gamerdom! Can build our own damn city just like a real life sim city (no trying to lure godzilla to it) and have no damn censorship laws.
Cmon why not ? I mean from what I hear theres a small island off the coast of australia that has been dedicated to homosexuals. Why cant we have a gamer territory. ;.;

I say we steal Tasmania. It's small, nicer temperature, close to fish (island) and all we have to do is kick people off and we have our own country.

And I think we should use a game name for our country, gamerdom is cool but If the name for gamers change then we've got a redundant game.

Oh yeah and the desert is in the middle, the coast is quite nice, except for the country wide heat.

Indigo_Dingo:

Reaperman Wompa:
28?

That's just... i can't even describe it. I bet he's trying to get in with your run of the mill Jesus loving PTA members. It's annoying that they don't just have a vote, then he'd be on the losing side and our purchases wouldn't be restricted by his idiocy.

We don't have PTA, and Christianity is nowhere near as big here as it is in the U.S.

I know but it's like a term describing people like that. The jesus loving meaning like how Americans use it, Very conservative very against anything not in line with god etc. etc. and PTA as a bunch of idiots campaigning against anything they don't like. Watch The older South Park movie for the type of people I'm referring to.

I vote for Midgar! Although I get the feeling id be outvoted in favour of something like Rapture ;.; (possibly a new thread "What to call our city")
What would amuse me no end is although per capita we would probably have a higher percentage of obesity (admit it, gamers in general are ususally a lazy bunch XD) the violent crime rate would probably be non existant.

avykins:
I vote for Midgar! Although I get the feeling id be outvoted in favour of something like Rapture ;.; (possibly a new thread "What to call our city")
What would amuse me no end is although per capita we would probably have a higher percentage of obesity (admit it, gamers in general are ususally a lazy bunch XD) the violent crime rate would probably be non existant.

You can start it if you want.

avykins:

Reaperman Wompa:
Don't worry though, that's pretty much the only thing wrong with our country.

Apart from the australian accent plus the fact that 90% of the country is barren desert. <.<;;;

I say we go to the middle of australia, plant a new flag and claim it in the name of gamerdom! Can build our own damn city just like a real life sim city (no trying to lure godzilla to it) and have no damn censorship laws.
Cmon why not ? I mean from what I hear theres a small island off the coast of australia that has been dedicated to homosexuals. Why cant we have a gamer territory. ;.;

...whats wrong with our accent..?

:(

Steve Irwin... Sorry, it had to be said.
Plus this guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYMloZpfelc

*EDIT*

To be fair apparently some of us sound like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdVHZwI8pcA
If so I am moving to england and changing my accent as soon as possible >.<

Reep:
...whats wrong with our accent..?

:(

I'm a New Zealander and even I find it annoying.
Go on, call me out on the "fosh and chops" thing, I don't care. especially since it's a fictional stereotype and your accents are actually annoying.
Far too high pitched.

harhol:
Can't you just import the games that have been banned?

No region lockout any more.

Customs have a list of banned games and software and will confiscate anything they find that is illegal. Though you can get away with it in some cases like if your incompetent grandmother sends you a copy of a game that happens to be illegal, you might get it still through pity.

The Iron Ninja:

Reep:
...whats wrong with our accent..?

:(

I'm a New Zealander and even I find it annoying.
Go on, call me out on the "fosh and chops" thing, I don't care. especially since it's a fictional stereotype and your accents are actually annoying.
Far too high pitched.

I haven't actually met anyone who speaks like the "average aussie" it's with both of us, only a very few people speak like that, mostly deeply Australians like Steve Irwin did.