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Australia Could Finally Get R18+ Games

Posted by Soulskill on from the they're-all-grown-up dept.

angry tapir writes "Australia may finally get an adults only, R18+ classification for computer games, with the federal government releasing a discussion paper summarizing the key arguments for and against an R18+ classification. Submissions are currently being sought from the community on whether the Australian National Classification Scheme should include an R18+ category for computer and video games. In the past the board responsible for classifying games and movies has banned some titles outright because of the lack of an adults only classification — Aliens Vs. Predator is just the most recent in a long line. The Attorney-General's report on the issue is available online."

3 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. Banning doesn't do what they think it does by afaik_ianal · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Aside from the usual arguments surrounding the average age of game players and my right to choose my entertainment (within reason), and shoehorning games into less restricted categories (GTA-IV, anyone?), I believe outright banning R18+ games probably increasing the availability of these games to minors.

    For games that are available in stores, children are the least likely to be able to afford the games. Relative to adults, your average minor is probably going to pirate a game rather than buy it (regardless of legality and classification).

    If you ban R18+ games, then adults are going to pirate the game too - if I want to play a game I can't buy in the store, I know I will. In the day of BitTorrent, more people downloading an item in a geographic area, the more accessible that item becomes in that area.

    All they're doing by banning R18+ games, is giving minors more seeders when they go ahead and download it anyway.

  2. I don't think Michael Atkinson will stand for this by Psaakyrn · · Score: 5, Informative

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

    This person has been the sole reason why Australia doesn't have a R18+ rating, and I highly doubt a discussion paper will change his mind.

  3. Re:This is encouraging by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    you can still purchase them online and legally own and play them

    Not true. From this post in the last discussion on the topic:

    From the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995

    10.99:

    level 2 prohibited material means:
    (a) a publication, film or computer game classified RC; or
    (b) an unclassified publication, film or computer game that contains material that would be likely to cause it to be classified RC.

    10.102:

    A person commits an offence if:
    (a) the person has possession or control of material; and
    (b) the material is level 2 prohibited material; and
    (c) the material is in a prescribed area.
    Penalty: 100 penalty units.