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Post by Any @ 04:40pm 14/12/09 | 27 Comments
The oft-delayed discussion paper regarding an R18+ classification for games has been released here: http://www.ag.gov.au/gamesclassification:
The Commonwealth Government has released a discussion paper which briefly summarises the key arguments for and against an R 18+ classification for computer games. Censorship Ministers have considered the issue of an adult classification for computer games on several occasions. However, they have not undertaken public consultation on this issue.Edit by trog: the release includes a bunch of the common explanations about why we should and shouldn't have an R18+ rating, a comparison against other countries, and - most importantly - calls for comments. You can download a simple submission template with a bunch of questions that you can answer and then send to the AG's office along with any other comments you have. promoted/edited forum item Tags: classification / censorship 
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Posted 04:46pm 14/12/09
Posted 04:48pm 14/12/09
Posted 04:50pm 14/12/09
Looks like Atkinsons "all the other Attourneys General support me" line might be not quite true. Who'da thunk it...
ps, no worries Trog, thanks for that. I left it a bit sparse.
last edited by Any at 16:50:45 14/Dec/09
Posted 04:51pm 14/12/09
Posted 04:57pm 14/12/09
Posted 05:01pm 14/12/09
Posted 05:02pm 14/12/09
Posted 05:26pm 14/12/09
Posted 05:27pm 14/12/09
Er wouldn't it be "every single australian over the age of 18 who wants to play more violent games"?
I am sure there are a few of them out there, but enough to change the law?
Posted 05:29pm 14/12/09
I've created a template for use in Open Office. It'll save you time and includes moveable choice selections and easily exported to PDF. Enjoy!
Download: http://www.2shared.com/file/9973557/dc32fbcf/reply-template.html
Posted 05:55pm 14/12/09
Yeh, it was a typo...I edited the post just after you replied to it. I meant over 18
Posted 06:06pm 14/12/09
"An R 18+ for computer games would exacerbate problems associated with access to high level material in Indigenous communities and by other non-English speaking people"
seriously WTF?!
Why is this being included into the issue? This is starting to look like the questions put forward for the "Should Australia become a republic" where all the options would contribute to it looking bad. This may still be typical action of doing nothing since it requires unanimous agreement ( democracy fail ) and Atkinson has stated numerous times he's against it.
I'm putting in my submission purely for the chance Atkinson can put aside his prejudice and preconceptions and let Australians choose for themselves.
Posted 06:10pm 14/12/09
*There is little reliable scientific evidence of increased impact due to interactivity, and significant evidence that it in fact diminishes the impact because pressing buttons reinforces the fact that it is not real. The classification system also includes the provision that interactivity is to be taken into account, thus an R18+ film and R18+ game would be the same ‘impact’.
*It would not be more difficult than for films, and in many instances with the easy to use parental controls on modern consoles and PCs, potentially easier. Limited use of parental controls is a reason to increase education for parents, not restrict adult liberty.
*Less adult-oriented content would be placed in the MA15+ category, making less adult content available to minors. The size of the Australian games market is not significant enough to urge developers to create higher-impact games with the introduction of an R18+ for games, something that every other western democracy has.
*Again, education is a preferred response to poorly-understood classifications, rather than censorship.
*There is little demonstrated need to watch films, read books or listen to music. They, like games, are choices. The impact that the lack of a R18+ for games has on the economy is significant. Anecdotally, dozens of game stores across Adelaide sold tens of thousands of dollars, each, of Modern Warfare 2. If, as Mr Atkinson wants, this game is retroactively Refused Classification, the ongoing sales of that product – a single game – will cease. Gamers in WA who purchased the game legally will become criminals for possession of RC material. Left 4 Dead 2 sold pitiful numbers in Australia due to the lack of an R18 and its subsequent censoring. That is money that instead of going to Australian retailers has gone to international stores. Aliens vs Predator, another highly anticipated game, would likely have seen millions of dollars pass through the local economy. Now, it will go oversees.
Chris Prior
Gamers4Croydon Councillor
I game, I vote.
Posted 07:02pm 14/12/09
everyone get on it.
Posted 07:45pm 14/12/09
And since our political system is screwed up so that 1 person our of millions can decide to not change something it wont.
We just have to keep ordering our games overseas, they are cheaper that way, in most cases, anyway.
Posted 08:22pm 14/12/09
Chris, is it actually illegal to own RC material? I was under the impression it was only illegal to sell it.
Strike that, I just googled it :)
last edited by Tim Tibbetts at 20:22:17 14/Dec/09
Posted 09:19pm 14/12/09
I stressed gamers are not the minority.
Posted 02:01am 15/12/09
they're really making this difficult
Posted 10:29am 15/12/09
Posted 10:33am 15/12/09
Here is the free MS Word Viewer which will let you open and print .DOC files easily. You could also install OpenOffice.
If you hate Acrobat, you can install FoxIt Reader which is a lightweight PDF viewer.
If any of those options above are really that stressful for you, I'll try and make a web-based form that you can use and hit print direct from your browser, time permitting.
Posted 01:54pm 15/12/09
Posted 09:39pm 15/12/09
Posted 09:44pm 15/12/09
I hope he's intelligent. This issue requires some finesse to carry it through I reckon.
I'm going to email this form to everyone and get them to submit. It takes 5 min and it's mega-important to get this one through.
Posted 07:18pm 20/4/10
So unless your ganna re-clasify ALL the MA rated games an R rating will be sufficent in protecting kids from innapropriate matireal. Like booze and smokes you will haveto show ID to legally purchase it, an R rating will protect kids, or at least be safer for them then the system now.
Posted 07:20pm 09/8/10
I see. Well I'm going to start an online petition to have MA15+ games banned also. Our children must be protected.
Posted 05:47pm 12/8/10
http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/08/tony-abbott-happy-to-look-at-r18-rating/
Posted 06:08pm 12/8/10