R18+ rating a possibility now for Australia. Aussie gamers NEED to take notice.

[Arachna]

http://www.ag.gov.au/gamesclassification

It's not my intention to spam the forum, this isn't another pointless online petition but rather an actual opportunity to have the R18+ classification passed for video games over here.

There is a very simple form to fill out and at the end you're given a chance to make a further comment. Use your brain and be respectful if you are going to leave a comment, making derogatory comments isn't going to help our chances at all.

It won't take long to complete and for all you know it just might finally work and we won't be treated like potential serial killers instead of normal human beings capable of making our own choices.

[BadKarma]

It's not my intention to spam the forum, this isn't another pointless online petition but rather an actual opportunity to have the R18+ classification passed for video games over here.

There is a very simple form to fill out and at the end you're given a chance to make a further comment. Use your brain and be respectful if you are going to leave a comment, making derogatory comments isn't going to help our chances at all.

It won't take long to complete and for all you know it just might finally work and we won't be treated like potential serial killers instead of normal human beings capable of making our own choices.

I just have one question, why is Australia so anal about VG violence?

[Atreides]

because apparently it's cool for a country with one of the highest violent crime rates in the world to be under the retarded impression that video games might cause violent crime

I'm pretty glad to see them finally doing something about this, although it looks like they're taking submissions until February which means an actual R18 rating is still a ways away

[BadKarma]

because apparently it's cool for a country with one of the highest violent crime rates in the world to be under the retarded impression that video games might cause violent crime

I'm pretty glad to see them finally doing something about this, although it looks like they're taking submissions until February which means an actual R18 rating is still a ways away

I suppose. The high crime rate, I assume this was around well before the advent of Pong, etc.

[Correction]

The overwhelming majority of Aussies are far from uptight/anal about video game violence, but they did approve a stupid law where no game missing a ratings classification can be sold within its borders, and the lack of an R18+ rating has forced a lot of titles to either censor at a high cost or not sell in Australia altogether.

What makes it worse is that in order to add the new classification they need unanimous approval of a panel of legislators and it's just ONE GUY cockblocking such unanimity, and he's done so forever and ever. That's why Aussies can't buy gory/sexy video games. One guy.

[BadKarma]

The overwhelming majority of Aussies are far from uptight/anal about video game violence, but they did approve a stupid law where no game missing a ratings classification can be sold within its borders, and the lack of an R18+ rating has forced a lot of titles to either censor at a high cost or not sell in Australia altogether.

What makes it worse is that in order to add the new classification they need unanimous approval of a panel of legislators and it's just ONE GUY cockblocking such unanimity, and he's done so forever and ever. That's why Aussies can't buy gory/sexy video games. One guy.

Someone call Paul Hogan
http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Page...ile-dundee.jpg

[Ramor]

The overwhelming majority of Aussies are far from uptight/anal about video game violence, but they did approve a stupid law where no game missing a ratings classification can be sold within its borders, and the lack of an R18+ rating has forced a lot of titles to either censor at a high cost or not sell in Australia altogether.

What makes it worse is that in order to add the new classification they need unanimous approval of a panel of legislators and it's just ONE GUY cockblocking such unanimity, and he's done so forever and ever. That's why Aussies can't buy gory/sexy video games. One guy.

^this, a lot of people have bad misconceptions about them aussies, but from everyone i know down under this is the only story i hear. and also i guess it's not technically 'illegal' to sell things without a rating, but for whatever reason it's essentially just burning money if you even attempt to. and the one guy that's being a giant cockblock about the whole issue of video games is very set in his ways, and the only way to get him out of office would be years away for various reasons (might possibly be a life term that you serve for his position, again can't remember)

[Arachna]

It's not that Aussies are uptight about these things, I'm confident that if this decision were left to the public the vast majority would be in favour of a R18+ rating. At the very least seeing a R18+ sticker will make a parent reconsider buying that game for their child.

Our classification board is just very inconsistent and people with their own agendas won't budge. Michael Atkinson in particular mentioned that he believes a R18+ rating will allow for games like Rapelay to become available to minors. He and a few others seem to be of the belief that allowing games to be rated Adult only will open the floodgates for murder and rape simulators which will apparently train people to become serial killers or sex fiends. It's all rather silly but unfortunately what they've had to say has always carried more weight given their job title.

Even if games finally do get the R18+ rating they'll still be harder to obtain for a minor in comparison to violent movies (eg. Saw and Wolf Creek) and pornography.