Why Bother? Australian Classification Scares Away Games

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Why Bother? Australian Classification Scares Away Games

Post by Steve Farrelly @ 10:06am 07/10/08 | 27 Comments

Far be it for us to spin the same record, but it's looking like our Ratings Board's reputation is beginning to make some serious impact on just what games are considered for release here in Australia, putting us in a similar category to Germany, who've been renowned for their strict content release guidelines among most media (ever wondered why a lot of games have a green blood option? Blame Germany).

Platinum Games, developer behind the bloody (yet stylish), Mad World, currently have no plans to even attempt to release Mad World in Australia (or Germany), after it was revealed they were also steering clear of their home market of Japan, disclosing the game would not even be shown at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show.

According to a report over at MTV, Platinum Games have been working hand-in-hand with the ESRB, America's rating board, to ensure the game will be able to make release in North America.

It was also revealed that after much struggling Rockstar's Wii-ified Manhunt 2 would finally see the light of day in the UK after it was banned by the BBFC last year. Rockstar appealed the decision which was then overturned, allowing the game a classification. It goes on sale October 31st, just in time for Halloween. Like Mad World though, there are currently no plans to attempt to release the game here in Australia.

You can check out the trailer for Mad World right here to see what we'll likely be missing out on.

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Hyperslide
Posted 10:53am 07/10/08

This is really getting to me....
No Flaming , No Bullshit guys just a straight answer please

As gamers is there anything we can do to make the government notice ? When I say as gamers I mean as a group of people on QGL and Ausgamers surely there is something as a collaborative we can do ? any ideas?

What I have done so far

1. Sent a letter to my member of parliament
2. Signed a few online petitions
3. Ranted my arse off in the forums about it lol (this serves no purpose bar my own release )

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paveway
Posted 11:08am 07/10/08

my life is pretty shit right now, an R18+ rating for game classifications is one of my only glimmers of hope

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Dan
Posted 11:23am 07/10/08

Perhaps try contacting these guys http://www.ieaa.com.au/contact_us.html and see what they recommend you can do to help the cause.

Some really good reads here too btw:
http://www.ieaa.com.au/research.html

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Midda
Posted 11:39am 07/10/08

Import the game, boot with region-free homebrew. It doesn't solve the problem, but it gives you a work-around.

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nF
Posted 11:46am 07/10/08

interesting reading the bond uni study.

average age of australian gamers is 24. not 28. 70% of gamers play once a week or more. so 30% of people who classify themselves as gamers play irregularly. barely half play a game for more than an hour at a time. unfortunately theres no spread of hours played per week versus age.

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infi
Posted 11:52am 07/10/08

the fact is that so few people care about this issue, it will not be a vote changer of any sorts. until someone in government or the bureaucracy wakes up nothing will change no matter how much noise you make.

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Steve Farrelly
Posted 11:56am 07/10/08

That's pretty bleak infi - if games are not even being considered for release here in Australia, it gives us a negative international image, and conversely effects the economy (albeit not massively, but effect nonetheless) of small businesses here (in this case Sega, who set up shop here because the industry is growing fast enough it seemed warranted). I know one game isn't going to shake the ground we walk on, but as long as there are constant rumbles people will look up and see what's happening...

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Twisted
Posted 12:14pm 07/10/08

The gaming industry is now bigger than the movie industry...and yet the govt. cannot see common sense...really frustrating.

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Pinky
Posted 12:14pm 07/10/08

I think it's all a farce TBH. My favourite part of the farce is the 'content may change' message that you get when you play online (as though somehow the producer is responsible for online players that like to swear, threaten, and other such carry on).

Maybe everyone should have an automatic rating appended to their online nick, like sgt_pinky[R18+] - and then people can filter chat output based on nicks.

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infi
Posted 12:17pm 07/10/08

look steve, i am speaking from experience. i work in an $8bn a year government funded industry, and no matter how loud people scream and smash shit, the government do not listen.

the government is scared of the negative consequences of policy change on their very conservative ageing voter base. and this applied equally to the coalition as it did to the ALP. they are equally guilty of this stasis which stops emerging super-violent blood thirsty games with cutting-edge technology from being approved Australian consumption.

I don't have a view either way on super violent games. i think its a little excessive, but some people want it so they should be free to consume with the appropriate classification.

but try getting that past the government. violent video games already run almost every second week on ACA. just watch the Hollowmen on ABC. then you will truly understand what a bunch of nervous nellies bureaucrats and politicians really are.

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Pinky
Posted 12:20pm 07/10/08

I don't have a view either way on super violent games. i think its a little excessive, but some people want it so they should be free to consume with the appropriate classification.

I think this is always the main problem - too much personal opinion. The way around that is to make sure that on the games rating board the cross-section of gamers is properly represented.

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nF
Posted 12:21pm 07/10/08

An R18+ rating probably wouldn't change a lot. You'd probably find stores wouldn't sell R18+ content (shit like Big W, whatever). Also limits the market a lot, same shit happens in the US with movies being R rated and NC-17. Big push to keep them PG-13, or at worst R.

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infi
Posted 12:22pm 07/10/08

The way around that is to make sure that on the games rating board the cross-section of gamers is properly represented.

What about a cross-section of the general community? I don't think gamers would like their opinions somehow....

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Pinky
Posted 12:29pm 07/10/08

Yeah sorry, cross-section of general community is what I meant. But either way, the same argument always comes up, "Gamers avg. age is 28yo. There should be a classification...blah blah blah"

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nF
Posted 12:30pm 07/10/08

Except, its 24 years though.

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casa
Posted 12:34pm 07/10/08

My opinion: Stop crying about it and play something else you fucking geek.

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poiuty
Posted 12:36pm 07/10/08

The full board does represent the community fairly well, there is a range of different ages and backgrounds. Some play games, some don't but even the ones that don't play get to know the industry very well because they see everything that is being produced.

But as has been said it is not the board that prevents an R rating it is the government, and infi is right, it is safest for the government to do nothing.

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Midda
Posted 01:29pm 07/10/08

An R18+ rating probably wouldn't change a lot. You'd probably find stores wouldn't sell R18+ content (shit like Big W, whatever).

Why not? They sell R18+ movies.

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demon
Posted 01:46pm 07/10/08

government suppressing the free market!?!! surely not. i have it on good authority that this never happens ;p

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d[o_0]b
Posted 03:30pm 07/10/08

but free to air tv doesnt show r18 either guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Obes
Posted 03:39pm 07/10/08

doob you need to be less accurate in your statments next time if you wish to create a debate.

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Steve Farrelly
Posted 03:48pm 07/10/08

if games were free teh story would be different. free-to-air suggests you're not really paying for anything ergo you can't really complain you can't see R18+

If you're paying, it should be your choice

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Haklin
Posted 04:58pm 07/10/08

When I blasted Michael Atkinson on 5aa radio about the R18+ debate he stated that 'because games were interactive' it was more damaging than R18+ movies.

Man asdjkalsjdklakjlda that religious fanatic is such an annoying cunt

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infi
Posted 05:15pm 07/10/08

you seem to get upset easily.

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d[o_0]b
Posted 05:28pm 07/10/08

In my opionion all Mr Atkinson and his band of pro "no R rating" merry men are doing is promoting software piracy and damaging the industry through sheer ignorance and lunacy. Why should '24yo' gamers be responsible for poor parenting? ie parents not deciding what is and isn't suitable to buy for their kids? You cant hire a vid or see an R movie as a minor without ID or a guardian present right?

Generally i would say gamers are a pretty tech savvy bunch.. how many gamers are actually persuaded not to aquire a game simply because it was refused classification? And what is the easiest way to do this? yea..

You can fill out all the petitions you like but its just a drop in the pond. What i think needs to happen is big industry figures and corporations need to start lobbying and putting pressure on the government for a reform of the system and i think we the gamers should be looking to them for help after all we are their bread and butter.

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greazyfuck
Posted 06:59pm 07/10/08

This is good news. Fantastic news actually. The more companies that decide not to release games here the more money retail stores like EB lose on money and the more reason for them to act and start putting pressure on the government for a reform of the system.

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Spook
Posted 07:08pm 07/10/08

average age of australian gamers is 24. not 28. 70% of gamers play once a week or more. so 30% of people who classify themselves as gamers play irregularly. barely half play a game for more than an hour at a time. unfortunately theres no spread of hours played per week versus age.

holy shit, that sounds just like me

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