[Attachment 7769] The decision to introduce an R18+ classification for video games in Australia has been delayed yet again after State and Territory Attorneys-General meeting in Canberra on Friday failed to unanimously agree.
Behind closed doors several parties provided their views on the matter. Present were Ron Curry, the CEO of the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association, three professors, the director of the Classification Board and more worryingly two religious groups - the Australian Christian Lobby (Jim Wallace) and the Australian Catholic Media Council (Peter Ingham).
The Australian Christian Lobby's Jim Wallace has said it was "not in the interests of children or the wider community" in regards to Commonwealth Censorship Minister Brendan O'Connor's support of the move towards an R18+ games classification.
Just a few tidbits to get you fired up: The average age of a gamer is 30, Australia is the only developed nation without an adults only rating for games, and L4D2.
It's good to see representatives from religious groups there. This will ensure logic and forward thinking will prevail.
Things a looking abysmal for the future of the human race with this sort of influence. Deeply saddening that any member of authority deemed it appropriate that religious representatives even be there.
Well obviously in any discussion you need to have fair and balanced discussion from relevant groups who have an interest in the outcome. This is why they have people with a vested interest in having the R18+ restriction lifted (videogame producers), Professors (relevant experts), and two people who have invisible friends who tell them what to do.
They get included because they are the only ones who can effectively judge what is best for everyone who doesn't have invisible friends who tell them what to do. It's worth noting that their invisible friends are also talking to most of the politicians who run the country. I'm not certain if it's exactly the same invisible friend, or if they all have individual invisible friends.
"wont somebody please think of the children" Thats the whole point of putting in an R18+ rating. It won't increase the number of violent games, instead it would make it harder for younger people to get thier hands on games that are targeted at mature ADULTS. The sooner the government relises this the better.
Atkinson v2: Quote: A source, who was present for part of the meeting, said that South Australian Attorney-General John Rau and his West Australian counterpart, Christian Porter, appeared unsympathetic to presentations by video game lobby groups.
If we applied that sentiment to all politicians we'd have to ban all threads on anything they did or did not say....... we'll then all have to go back to posting about gaming, cant have that now can we !
I cant see it getting up, however as a parent I find it to be an interesting proposal. It warrants some discussion but ultimately I cant see any reason to differ from Cinema classifications.
So apparently SA has scrapped the MA15+ rating, effectively making all MA15+ games R18+, and essentially at the same time, NSW AG has refused to vote on the R18+ issue.
Quote from Bastards: We’re not going down a definitive route.
More work needs to be done on this issue. We want to wait to see the results of the ALRC [Australian Law Reform Commission] classification review.
which isn't due till at least early 2012.
South Australia to scrap MA15+ games rating ? GamePron
Australian R18+ rating unlikely – NSW will not vote ? GamePron