Public to decide on R18+ rating

PALGN News | After Ministers fail to agree.

As we reported earlier in the week, the Attorney General's meeting over whether Australia should have an R18+ rating for games was held earlier today. And the result? A stalemate. The issue will now go to a public consultation.

The exact details of the consultation are currently unknown, but it is expected that the results will be ready to present at the next meeting. According to reports, Victorian Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls pushed in favour of an R18+ rating but was predictably greeted with significant opposition from South Australia's Attorney-General, Michael Atkinson, who continued to push his argument that he was protecting children from "harmful material". However, it is known that for the rating to be passed, there has to be agreement from all the states.

Ron Curry, CEO of the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia (IEAA), was pleased with the result of the meeting. "Our belief is that good legislation comes from a reflection of community sentiment, so the process that the attorney-general is outlining gives us the opportunity to move this into the public forum for discussion," he said. "We understand that there is a robust legislative process that things must go through, so we have to work through that whole process."

When we find out exactly how the public will be consulted, PALGN will be sure to let you know if you can contribute in any way.

Related Content

Have your say on the R18+ classification
26 Mar, 2008 Before Friday's meeting.

SA Attorney-General to oppose R18+ classification
28 Feb, 2008 Give up hope.

R18+ rating for games being considered in Australia
25 Feb, 2008 We've heard this before.

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77 Comments

Puddingfork

3 years ago

mipac wrote

^ What are they NOT opposed to?

COOKIES! Everyone loves cookies

xloserfishx

3 years ago

renegadesx wrote

If a sticker said R18+ and that same mother bought it for her 10 year old kid and later complains about it? TOUGH! The sticker said 18+, she was the one that made it available to a kid, she is the one at fault

These "tech savy" young kids will just be downloading Soldier of Fortune: Payback on torrent sites anyways. Sorry but his reasoning no matter which way you look at it, is pointless and moot.

Thats exactly what I was saying, except I think you put it better

lordofthesheep

3 years ago

Puddingfork wrote

mipac wrote

^ What are they NOT opposed to?

COOKIES! Everyone loves cookies

Actually, I hate the use of the word 'cookie' in Australia (should be biscuit), and believe it should be confined to America, and those that have lived there in the last 2 years. Also, those with (increasingly disturbing) severe nut allergies could very easily despise these potentially deadly creations.

xloserfishx

3 years ago

lordofthesheep wrote

Puddingfork wrote

mipac wrote

^ What are they NOT opposed to?

COOKIES! Everyone loves cookies

We should start a lobby against this!

Sinthesys

3 years ago

lordofthesheep wrote

Puddingfork wrote

mipac wrote

^ What are they NOT opposed to?

COOKIES! Everyone loves cookies

Apparently, Americans say "cookie" because "biscuit" was too hard for them to spell/pronounce. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the Dutch word "koekje" which means "little cake" being used by Dutch-American settlers. Although, the American's use the word "biscuit" for scones, which is just all sorts of wrong. /end useless side note

Anyway, I hope that the gaming industry, combined with the eastern states can put enough pressure on Mr Atkinson to fall in line and stop going against what he knows is the majority rule. I mean, if he really did believe that games taught people how to kill, shouldn't he be worried that he is antagonising these very people?

NismoR34

3 years ago

B3nbo wrote

I don't want it because i wont be able to get them for another 3 years! they'll make all games with the same amount of violence as currently rated MA15+ games R18+, I know it. If they rated Condemned now it would be R18+. So i will be voting NO. There is no need for a r rating the games that get R in america are usualy crap anyway and most are region free.

Have a cry next time, will you?

Condemned SHOULD be rated R18+. It is one of the most brutal and realistically immersive games I have ever played and it absolutely should not be played by children.

Don't think of it from a personal point of view ("Oh I can't play it because I'm below the age") and instead think of it from an industry point of view. Having the rating would be beneficial as games that should only be played by adults (like Condemned) would fall under the category. Games like Halo are fantasy violence, less realistic and therefore would probably still get the M rating. MA15+ depending on the context of the game and what's in it.

But basically my point is that some games should be rated higher and it's for that reason alone that we should have the rating introduced. Factor in everything else; the potential decreasing of minors getting their hands on games they shouldn't, allowing mature adults the choice to play whatever they want and so on and it can only be beneficial to the industry. Sure, there will always be ways around it but that's the same with alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. It may exist, but it doesn't mean that it should render the potential of change useless.

Also, 3 years isn't all that long of a wait B3nbo. Sure it may suck now that you wouldn't be able to play the games, but in 3 years time it will be irrelevant. That and well, chances are you will utilise those ways to get around it if it was introduced anyway so what difference does it make to you?

But no, B3nbo's gonna miss out if it is introduced. Waaah, we can't have that.

Screw this rating we don't need it!

lordofthesheep

3 years ago

I would highly doubt that the new rating would be implemented in the near future even if it is approved. Governments seem to take forever to implement everything else.

Jellyfish

3 years ago

lordofthesheep wrote

I would highly doubt that the new rating would be implemented in the near future even if it is approved. Governments seem to take forever to implement everything else.

It should be implemented straight away, if only on one game, GTAIV. That will cause a stir amongst the media and raise awareness on the issue that it isn't a game for kids.

Dr_Wadsy

3 years ago

Gotta say I'm surprised.

I expected this to be shot down in seconds. Maybe (inner child begins to hope again) we'll finally get an R rating in this country, and then maybe one day (with all the media-moron hype) people (especially parents) will finally let go of the moronic idea that video games are obvously for kids.

That may be being a bit too hopeful though...

//EDIT//

I'd also like to thank renegadesx for pointing out the difference between Christian Lobby groups, and Christians. As a Christian myself, I hate it when I'm assumed to be ignorant/stupid/blaming-everyone-else-for-my-problems just because that's how some lobby group abusing my faith acts.

It's very frustrating.

That said, hope this R18 rating happens, and parents in this country will finally have to take some responsibilty for their kids

Ken_Gooner

3 years ago

I may be too young to play GTA and co.
I may be too young to watch any decent movies.
But i hope that R18+ is implemented, for the good of the industry.
Besides, it's my dad that approves/disapproves of videogames, and he plays em before i do. He finished GTA 3, and i've been able to play these games since i was 11 (due to my high sense of maturity in games).
In case your wondering, i turn 14 on 2nd april.
I am in support of R18, even if it means i cant play these games for another 4-5 years.

Spanca

3 years ago

B3NBO wrote

If they rated Condemned now it would be R18+. So i will be voting NO.

I love the irony of you whinging about something that you wouldn't be allowed to vote upon anyway (if it were put to a vote, which it won't and can't be).

Ken_Gooner

3 years ago

B3NBO wrote

why are you being so selfish?
there is a good reason why you should not be playing these types of games.
Show some real maturity and understand why these games should be restricted to 18+ only.
respect your elders boy.

Qbert

3 years ago

The front page of the Mx in Brisbane had an article about this yesterday which I thought was pretty cool. Had a quick look on the Mx website, but it didn't seem to have it.

Felonioustub

3 years ago

I think this is way overdue, as gamers, we don't really need it but it's the non gaming parents buying stuff for their kids that this is going to help. My 8 year old nephew got a copy of GTA VC for his birthday off his Mum and she had absolutely no idea what was going on in the game because he only plays in his room. It wasn't until I showed her the game did she realise just what he was doing and she took it off him, now she checks before buying games for him.
Yes, I may be a mean uncle but at 8 years old, I really think that type of game is a bit too much. As for the whole point of yes he can download it anyway, well I know he doesn't know how and his PC usage is monitored too because his mother is responsible, she was just ignorant on the games issue but she understands now.
And yes he can play it at a friends house but I hope that his friends parents are just as responsible and an "R" rating should at least give more of an indication for everyone to make "informed" decisions.

I just want to mention before someone else points it out, yes GTA VC is rated M15+ but my point is that an "R" rating and hopefully the education and awareness that goes with it is should bring more attention to the fact video games are getting more and more mature and help the uneducated make better decisions.

ittekimasu

3 years ago

Well, i'm definitely hoping this passes, still curious as to how the goverment plan on giving the public the voting choices, whether it will be through selected venues or mailing out voting cards, or even relying on media sources or online voting.

Qbert

3 years ago

I didn't want to create a new topic so thought I would just continue discussion about the topic in this old thread. Does anyone know what has happened with the review of the rating by the public?

Anyway, the point of the bump is that on the ABC1 show 'Q&A' a guy from the audience asked about introducing an 18+ rating. The episode just finished airing and isn't up on the website yet as they are filmed live I think I'd say it would take a while. Anyway the people on the pannel answering the questions answered it really poorly and showed that they knew next to nothing about games, yet they decide that we can't play them. They were talking about how studies have proved that interactive entertainment is bad and worse than movies blah blah and then they started talking about pretending to Rap3 people I mean WTF game are they talking about. The journilist seemed to agree with having an 18+ rating, but then went on to demene gamers asking the guy stupid questions like "why would you want to play a game like this? (Fallout 3)" and "How often do people like you play these violent games at a time?" What dumb questions, how do you know how long a random person will play a random game for? It's like asking why someone would want to watch Fight Club and asking one person to estimate the average number of times a movie goer watched it.

Anyway the website is here and the segment is towards the end of the show. Hopefully the video gets added soon. Also sorry about the rant and poor quality post, I'm just annoyed right now. You will probably be as well after watching it. I don't care that they are not gamers, but I care that they have ill-informed oppinions and they are the ones who have the say.

James

3 years ago

Wow, thanks Qbert. It's up now.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/video.htm?pres=20080724&story=1

Jump to 44:20.

Appel

3 years ago

Yeah,
They really didn't have a clue what they were on about... How often are you able to **** someone in a videogame? The man at 50:37 had quite a good point that seemed to make them pause and think for a bit.

I think that the whole situation is ridiculous though, and another reason why I severly dislike politics. The only thing that politicians can agree on is a pay rise.

Bloody Tears

3 years ago

“GTA seemed to turn everyone into a car thief”… that woman’s what, 90 years old? Are we surprised by her ignorance? I hope getting a glimpse at the types of people running our lives better displays why we’re so behind in the times.

That fat, bald wanker on the end… Barnaby, was it? He begins talking about **** with some sort of avatars or something, but by the end of his “argument” he implies it’s the reason for the restrictions. That’s not even a spin, it’s insulting.

They keep talking about “people vulnerable to influence” in an attempt to justify the ban, again, because there’s nothing in it for them and because it’s too much trouble to implement a solution. Do you think these old farts care if we get to play our games or not?

It’s nothing new, just the government treating its people like mindless drones.

Phend

3 years ago

I was watching and am very disappointed by how this issue was handled.

The panellists did not show any understanding of the issue at all, yet cast very strong mis-informed opinions of questionable relevance. Tony Jones did not have adequate research handy; how could six people on a panel not know that there is an existing classification regime? You know, the one with large colourful stickers...

I encourage everyone to post a mature response on the Q&A forum here to show the ABC that the issue is taken seriously:

http://www2b.abc.net.au/tmb/Client/Message.aspx?b=114&m=6318&ps=20&dm=2

Edit: Link corrected.

Appel

3 years ago

^^^
The link doesn't work.

Buttmouth

3 years ago

http://www2b.abc.net.au/tmb/Client/Message.aspx?b=114&m=6339&ps=20&dm=2

Man that was really awful to watch. What a bitch that journalist was
toward the gamer. Those questions had nothing to do with anything - ever.

It completely derailed the Q&A.

Phend

3 years ago

element465 wrote

^^^
The link doesn't work.

Sorry - now fixed.

Fly

3 years ago

I thin we're being overly harsh on the lack of understanding in said panel as one of the panel did infact agree that he knew little on the subject to voice an opinion on it and inherently backed the R rating classification citing the previous argument that those over 18 would get it anyway. So while the inherently lack of understanding of the structure in place for interactive gaming was indeed worrying, really i think the main culprit was Barnaby Joyce considering his actual role in his party whereas others would be speaking from a "ye olde parente" viewpoint instead of what would benefit the whole.

We saw this with most of the replies where they stated "As a parent of..." where, considering it would be changing legislation and impacting all of Australia they should instead be thinking about Australians instead of their own selfishness backed up by rash generalisations. (GTA causes car theft and Avatars cause ****) I'm not too concerned about the lack of insight into the specifics from most of the panel though as we do have to remember that spontaneous questioning leads to no prep time and politicians effectively need prep time to form a party line on such issues, I just think Mr Abib (the Labour Senator on the panel)actually made the wises choice in inherently backing a unified ratings system while admitting that he's inherently ignorant of the specifics and therefore refuses to generalise or ****.

So really, kudos to him since I would have assumed he'd jump on the bandwagon instead of having a differing viewpoint.

Benza

3 years ago

Does anyone know what lobby groups are actully being questioned about this, and who we as gamers can get in contact with now to make our voices heard?

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