Australia Considers R18+ Videogame Rating

The Australian government is considering the creation of an R18+ rating for videogames, a move which would pave the way for the sale of games currently banned in the country for exceeding the MA15+ standard.

The lack of a "mature" videogame rating in Australia, described by Bond University associate professor Jeffrey Brand as the "only developed democracy" without one, has been an ongoing controversy. Research by the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia found the average age of Australian videogamers is 28, and that more than half of all gamers are over 18, while 88 percent of respondents to a separate 2005 survey indicated support for the addition of an R18+ classification.

The IEAA has been campaigning for updates to the current Office of Film and Literature Classification system, but this is the first official acknowledgment that changes are under consideration. According to a report by The Age, a spokeswoman for Australian Minister of Home Affairs Bob Debus said the possible addition of an R18+ videogame classification would be discussed at the next Standing Committee of Attorneys-General on March 28.

The most recent high-profile videogame to be banned in Australia is Dark Sector, a third-person shooter being developed by Digital Extremes for the Xbox 360. In announcing the ban, the OFLC cited the game's "high level, naturalistic" violence, which exceeded the MA15+ rating and therefore could not be approved for sale.

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Oh... So even if that is in there... They will still 'ban'?

I think the idea is that they label them 18+ instead of banning them, rather sensible in my ears.

Yeah, Sammy's got it. I suppose bans may still be put into place for particularly offensive games, but the end result should give them a system functionally similar to that of the ESRB, BBFC, PEGI, etc. Which is long overdue; capping out your game rating system at 15 years of age only makes sense if you're clinging to the long-disproven notion that videogamers are kids.

Sounds like some progress, though I don't keep up with Aussie game politics.

I can already hear the muscles in Yahtzee's face preparing to convey some physical semblance of happyness.

Sounds like wood under strain.

Seriously, though, I'm very pleased that Australia has finally seen the light and is at least considering a change for the better. After all, last time I checked, Australia had enough problems with droughts, the Aboriginal deficit issue and the like. There's no need to bust a blood vessel over a few games. Just pass the rating and get on with your jobs, you Aussie lowlifes.

This change is long overdue. Assuming the new classification is approved, the only games that will not be sold will be ones that attract an X rating, ie non violent erotica. I imagine getting that pushed through later will take some doing.

I hate the banning system.
Remember a few years back, I bought 'Manhunt' 2 years before
they announced it's ban, of course, I kept it. Reason? Because
they wern't going to give your money back, and I spent a good
eighty bucks on it, and I still have it today!

All I can say is... Finally.

Well, looks like the SA attorney-general plans to veto the change, meh.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23282288-5014239,00.html

Yes, finally. If Rudd can finally make something of it, that'll be great.

Also Malygris, what's with the Australian map? I'm pretty sure most people know what we look like.

kkab:
Well, looks like the SA attorney-general plans to veto the change, meh.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23282288-5014239,00.html

*sigh*

I bet Minister Atkinson refuses to accept to findings of the IEAA's study and still believes only 8-16 year olds play video games.

Personally, I have absolutely no issue with showing ID to purchase an R18 or even an MA15+ game. And it honestly shits me when I see some random child with his parental unit buying a GTA or similarly rated game. Because you know at some point his parental unit is going to see what sort of game she bought and start complaining about how violent it is completely forgetting the fact that they bought the game for their 13 year old.

PurpleRain:
Yes, finally. If Rudd can finally make something of it, that'll be great.

Also Malygris, what's with the Australian map? I'm pretty sure most people know what we look like.

I found it suprising that australia was in Africa.

PurpleRain:
Also Malygris, what's with the Australian map? I'm pretty sure most people know what we look like.

That's Australia? Shit, I was trying to work in a joke about Austria.