While the open invitation for discussion of the introduction of an R18+ rating for videogames here in Australia closed on February 28, various outlets such as EB Games and GAME continue to keep the debate alive with active petitions, while sprinkles of news here and there also do their job in maintaining at least some form of momentum.

Today, however, it was revealed the debate itself is important enough to the government, who've realised even more they need to pay close attention to gamers, with word that some 55,000 submissions were made in favour of the introduction of an R18+ rating for games over the course of the paper's open hours, which ran from December through to the end of February.

Though in saying that, the Australia Christian Lobby Group has challenged the credibility of the 55,000-strong response, claiming commercial ties with gaming companies and the general consensus among gamers that games are not linked to sparking violence and aggression as "reminiscent of the tactics of tobacco companies in questioning the link between smoking and lung cancer," as printed in their March newsletter.

Regardless, the strength of the overall response (bear in mind several organisations also submitted on behalf of large numbers of people such as the EFA) means the issue will likely find its way into the next meeting of state and territory attorneys-general. Stay tuned as we dive deeper.