Slashdot Mirror
Australia Reveals R18+ Video Game Guidelines
RagingMaxx writes "Is Australia finally ready to implement a video game rating system that allows for classification of adult games? Draft guidelines have been released by the federal government which allow 'virtually no restrictions on the treatment of themes,' and violence in games 'except where it offends against the standards of morality, decency and propriety.' Last month, South Australian Attorney General John Rau said that the state was finally ready to adopt the long-proposed R18+ adult rating for games, but only if the lower MA15+ rating is eliminated and all games in the category pushed into the new, higher rating. However, this new draft has both the R18+ and MA15+ ratings available together."
About Time....
it has been ridiculous not having one...
Hey! I played violent video games as a child, and now I'm a virg-- regular Slashdot dweller, you insensitive clod!
The Australian Bishops Conference have supported the draft which is a good thing.
http://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/05/australian-catholic-bishops-welcomes-the-draft-r18-guidelines/
The ACL on the other hand are opposing it and going to fight it.
http://australianchristianlobby.org.au/2011/05/mr-draft-r18-computer-game-guidelines-fail-families/
I hope more Christian groups and associations speak up with their views on the R18 classification to illustrate that Jim Wallace & his followers are not the moderate Christian voice in Australia. It's so painful to see them constantly given media attention for trying to push the government to enforce their moral agenda on the country.
This guideline offends my morality, decency and propriety.
With vauge crap like that why even have a rule...
Basically it's worded like this to bring it in line with the laws applying to other media. Bear in mind that government censorship of non-political speech is constitutionally legal in Australia, and applied to all commercially distributed media and some personal imports.
Wording the law like this is actually a good idea (if we have to have censorship at all), because it allows for the fluctuating standards of society. For example, the film Last Tango in Paris was originally "banned" (refused classification) in Australia because depicting two strangers having a sexual relationship without knowing each other's names or having any other social connection was considered morally reprehensible (this despite the fact that the film doesn't condone or glorify this in any way). In the 90s, the film was finally classified and distributed for public screening because the original arguments no longer represented the majority view of morality in Australian society.
Be careful. People in masks cannot be trusted.
Huh? Yay? Nay?
Ah, it all becomes clear. The Duke Nukem Forever release has just been waiting until Australia gets an R18+ rating!
It sounds like MA15+ and R18+ are pretty much the same, they're just trying to raise the age bracket under the guise of being more permissive. The language used makes it seem like they can actually be more restrictive.
Twinstiq, game news
Remember these are advisory ratings. Not physical barriers.
No They aren't. G, PG, M are advisory rating, MA15+ is legally enforcable rating. MA15+ was only introduced because some uptight people wanted to have an enforcable M type rating rather than the advisory type one we had. MA15+ was a late addition to the ratings to further restrict them.
I have to admit, I'm a little bit excited to see our country move forward with this. However, I will maintain a healthy level of trepidation until it actually passes.
I agree, I am not holding my breath on this until the classification passes.
I found it rather stupid that video game classifications did not have the similar Video classifications, those being, G for "General Exhibition", PG "Parental Guidance", M, for "Mature Audiences"; and R18+ "Restricted to 18 and above". The highest Game classification is MA15+ which IMHO is stupid. For more details see here . The X18+ classification for film is interesting especially since kids can view pornography on-line.
Basically all these classifications still don't absolve parents from policing what their child can and cannot watch although reasonable ratings do help parents make informed decisions but unfortunately many parents appear to distance themselves from parenting preferring to let Government and so called moral groups dictate that.
There ain't no such thing as proprietary standards only proprietary formats. Standards are by definition open.
The real solution to this is to simply abolish the classification board on it's current form. Instead replace it with a voluntary games classification system run by industry, with regular audits by a government body to ensure industry is complying by it's own rules.
Oh and keep it at the federal level, I'm sick of some dickhead ex-lawyer hicks at the state level blocking everything that doesn't agree with their mates in the Christian lobby.
Pre-canned Evolution Links for all those Slashdot holy wars.
But this will turn out to be another example of unintended consequences.
16 year old who has been playing Call of Battle 1 & 2, rated 15+ will now have to beg parents to buy Call of Battle 3 which is rated R18+ even though the content is the same.
Parents will realise 18+ rating is to be ignored, and when Gory Psycho Killer comes out 18+ will also buy it for him, even though the warning of "strong adult themes" should be heeded in this case.
So I would argue that, not having a MA15+ category will actually undermine the ratings system altogether and expose minors to games they shouldn't have.
-- Braden's law of data: All data spends some of its lifetime in an excel spreadsheet.
Parents will realise 18+ rating is to be ignored, and when Gory Psycho Killer comes out 18+ will also buy it for him, even
However the draft poposal states
Computer games will be refused classification if they include or contain any of the following:
CRIME OR VIOLENCE
Detailed instruction or promotion in matters of crime or violence.
The promotion or provision of instruction in paedophile activity.
Descriptions or depictions of child sexual abuse or any other exploitative or offensive
descriptions or depictions involving a person who is, or appears to be, a child under 18 years.
Gratuitous, exploitative or offensive depictions of:
(i) violence with a very high degree of impact or which are excessively frequent,
prolonged or detailed;
(ii) cruelty or real violence which are very detailed or which have a high impact;
(iii) sexual violence.
Sexual violence related to incentives and rewards.
SEX
Depictions of practices such as bestiality.
Gratuitous, exploitative or offensive depictions of:
(i) activity accompanied by fetishes or practices which are offensive or abhorrent;
(ii) incest fantasies or other fantasies which are offensive or abhorrent.
DRUG USE
Detailed instruction in the use of proscribed drugs.
Material promoting or encouraging proscribed drug use.
As a general rule, computer games will also be Refused Classification if they contain:
(i) drug use related to incentives or rewards;
(ii) interactive drug use which is detailed and realistic.
Mafia games, drugg runner games, and rape games might not get a RC status, which will be be the ultimate "must have" label for those people searching the limits,
If i read this, SAW 3D, the movie might be allowed, but SAW 3d the game might be RC (and RC means normal stores will not carry this. ). (disclaimer, i did not see saw, but i suppose it scores very high on the violence with high impact )
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Does this reflect austrlian morality as in normal socialty? (can you show a tit, on a beach, do people use drugs or are those people considerd to be in prison)