To R18+ or Not to R18+ - Decision Time Today

Post by Steve Farrelly @ 11:42am 10/12/10 | 58 Comments

You might not have marked it in your own calendar, but we certainly did. Today is the meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG), where every gamer's favourite topic, the introduction of an R18+ rating for videogames in Australia, is up for discussion and will be voted for or against, either by 12.30pm or 4pm. Talk about nail-biting.

So stay tuned to AusGamers throughout the day, as we're keeping a close eye on the event, and have all of our finger's crossed for the right and progressive decision we're all hoping for. If you hear the result before we do, drop a line in CAPITALS in the Comments section.

r18+ rating videogames australia

Latest Comments

Link

Scooter
Posted 11:45am 10/12/10

So all the AG's bothered to turn up today?

Link

Crakaveli
Posted 11:47am 10/12/10

NAIL BITING

Link

Nerfington
Posted 11:47am 10/12/10

I wonder if Valve would revert the Left 4 Dead 2 changes should this go through. Seems like it must have been a fair bit of work on their part (server and client side).

Link

darkjedi
Posted 11:48am 10/12/10

forgive me if I'm cynical about anything actually changing. It's a political thing and if it means upsetting the vocal minorities, OMG VOTES LOST.

Link

trog
Posted 11:49am 10/12/10

So all the AG's bothered to turn up today?

we'll probably find out in a press release at 5pm that they couldn't make it because they had to go and meet Oprah, like the Victorian politician (Premier?) who is taking time out of his busy schedule to go and meet her (just heard that on JJJ news, can't find a link, but apparently people are missed because half the state is underwater at the moment, so maybe he has other things to do that are important)

Link

Crakaveli
Posted 11:50am 10/12/10

No it wouldn't nerf, its only like 1 file difference. If it's censored it changes to l4d1 gore system, so the files are already there.

Link

Steve Farrelly
Posted 11:53am 10/12/10

games that were RC'd or changed to meet MA15+ requirements won't be able to be resubmitted :(

Link

Nerfington
Posted 11:59am 10/12/10

That's... hrm.

Crak there is definitely some server-side code, if any Australian player is present the bullet-immune riot cop zombies don't spawn. And I meant it just seems sad to let all the work they did do (even in one file) go to waste, from a programmer perspective...

Link

casa
Posted 12:09pm 10/12/10

PILLOW BITING

Link

ravn0s
Posted 12:16pm 10/12/10

NIPPLE BITING

fingers crossed

last edited by ravn0s at 12:16:04 10/Dec/10

Link

MatchFixah
Posted 12:22pm 10/12/10

C*** BI......

Nail clipping.

Link

thermite
Posted 12:52pm 10/12/10

To R18+ or Not to R18+
Decision Time
marked it in your own calendar
Talk about nail-biting
So stay tuned
keeping a close eye
our finger's crossed

You really s*** me sometimes steve.

Link

Mick
Posted 12:56pm 10/12/10

"games that were RC'd or changed to meet MA15+ requirements won't be able to be resubmitted :("

Errm... what? Evidence, please?

Link

Steve Farrelly
Posted 12:56pm 10/12/10

oh well

Link

Scooter
Posted 01:00pm 10/12/10

You are allowed to resubmit games for classification, there's even a section on the site where it gives you instructions on how to do it.

My guess is that they have said that they wont, pro-activly, go back and reclassify games. Then someone has missinterpreted that information and assumed it means that you're not allowed to re-submit for re-classification.

Link

tspec
Posted 01:01pm 10/12/10

games that were RC'd or changed to meet MA15+ requirements won't be able to be resubmitted :(

Really? That's complete balls. I reckon it would be awesome though it Value decided to stick it to the man and resubmit l4d2 as l4d2.5 with a bunch of new content :)

Link

Steve Farrelly
Posted 01:05pm 10/12/10

According to Brendan O'Conner, that's not the case, so not sure if that means the current system would be rewritten or if he's just trying to sate all the anti-R18+ dudes out there

Link

BoDGie
Posted 01:08pm 10/12/10

"games that were RC'd or changed to meet MA15+ requirements won't be able to be resubmitted :("

Errm... what? Evidence, please?

This has been mentioned on several of the tv news pieces they've been playing for the past few weeks. Can't find anywhere online that mentions it though.

Link

Eorl
Posted 01:29pm 10/12/10

F*** this is nail biting. A massive change for Australia is currently in the hands of a bunch of randoms.

Link

thermite
Posted 01:38pm 10/12/10

Haven't heard any news about this. Top story today is that someone made Oprah a pavlova.

Link

ravn0s
Posted 01:42pm 10/12/10

lol just saw that news article thermite.

Link

Midda
Posted 01:51pm 10/12/10

Crak there is definitely some server-side code, if any Australian player is present the bullet-immune riot cop zombies don't spawn.

Doesn't matter, it's still only one file that's different. Valve changes that file and it's all good.

Link

Eorl
Posted 02:15pm 10/12/10

Supposedly WA Attorney is awaiting talks with his party. Could prolong the decision a bit.

Link

ravn0s
Posted 02:19pm 10/12/10

its the same party that wants him to vote no. its not looking good im afraid :(

Link

Tim Tibbetts
Posted 02:23pm 10/12/10

Ahh joy. Screw what's best for the country, lets just do what's best politically.

Link

Eorl
Posted 02:33pm 10/12/10

I think it's the same party that was being influenced by the ACL. F*****g politics, get out of the f*****g government. Religion is something you choose to take up. It should not be forced on people who want to make and change laws according to what is deemed as appropriate of that current time.

Link

Steve Farrelly
Posted 02:57pm 10/12/10

Apparently all the presentations to the SCAG are now finished, I presume that means they'll deliberate for a bit and then announce some form of decision

Link

Steve Farrelly
Posted 03:02pm 10/12/10

And from Laura Parker of Gamespot who's down in Canberra covering the event, via her latest Twitter post:

"Word around the halls is that a positive decision is highly unlikely today, but we'll have to wait and see"

Link

tspec
Posted 03:09pm 10/12/10

So if they vote against 18+, are we likely to get an explanation as to why they voted that way? There's obviously been arguements against an 18+ leading up this and none of them really been strong arguements imo against the pro18+ side.

Link

ravn0s
Posted 03:13pm 10/12/10

are we likely to get an explanation as to why they voted that way?

only if they want to tell us.

Link

Hogfather
Posted 03:21pm 10/12/10

So if they vote against 18+, are we likely to get an explanation as to why they voted that way? There's obviously been arguements against an 18+ leading up this and none of them really been strong arguements imo against the pro18+ side.

Because the system as set up is broken and requires the unanimous agreement of AGs to change. This makes the Code almost immutable while there is a single AG who feels sympathetic to the screeching think of the children moral lobby.

I find it curious that an implementation of a Commonwealth Act is held to ransom by state AGs. If the ALP want it changed (and agree that the current system is dysfunctional), then surely they can simply amend the Act and revoke the powers of the AGs to determine the Code? Is it a constitutional issue or just a change that requires Lower and Upper approval without a plebiscite?

Link

Steve Farrelly
Posted 03:20pm 10/12/10

apparently the ratings site is down due to being hammered by traffic...

Link

Pinky
Posted 03:21pm 10/12/10

And from Laura Parker of Gamespot who's down in Canberra covering the event, via her latest Twitter post:"Word around the halls is that a positive decision is highly unlikely today, but we'll have to wait and see"

For those that want to follow: http://twitter.com/lauralovescake

Link

Pinky
Posted 03:25pm 10/12/10

ABCNews24 is reporting that the As-G have agreed to an in-principle decision to consult with their respective Cabinets

Link

Spook
Posted 03:27pm 10/12/10

WONT SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE ADULTS!?

Link

Hogfather
Posted 03:30pm 10/12/10

ABCNews24 is reporting that the As-G have agreed to an in-principle decision to consult with their respective Cabinets

Haha wat

Link

Steve Farrelly
Posted 03:33pm 10/12/10

There's going to be a Conference within minutes with an outcome - standby

Link

Pinky
Posted 03:34pm 10/12/10

Don't shoot the messenger. It doesn't mean s***, I know. Now everyone is saying 'decision in 15min' :-/

Link

ravn0s
Posted 03:38pm 10/12/10

if i was a betting man i would bet on a no decision. they would want to look good by thinking of the children.

Link

Pirroh
Posted 03:43pm 10/12/10

I eagerly await said decision.

Link

MatchFixah
Posted 03:50pm 10/12/10

Won't happen.

Call me a jew lover otherwise.

Link

Pinky
Posted 03:55pm 10/12/10

Hahah, loving the ABC News 24 bagging right now for showing everything but the SCAG media conference - including someone posting this gem:

lol @ Farrelly: Assange would have leaked this info already if he weren't under arrest

Link

APK
Posted 04:01pm 10/12/10

4pm now :S

Link

kr0wb4r
Posted 04:17pm 10/12/10

lauralovescake Laura Parker
It's now!
42 seconds ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Link

Steve Farrelly
Posted 04:18pm 10/12/10

No result today - Brendan O'Connor

Link

Pinky
Posted 04:21pm 10/12/10

Yeah, he says that despite the delay this is still a step forward and they recognise gamers have grown up and that there is a need for R18+ category but it will take time to properly flesh it out.

Link

kr0wb4r
Posted 04:19pm 10/12/10

Zzzzz

When WILL we get a result? Sometimes I wish I could slap politicians.

Link

vito
Posted 04:22pm 10/12/10

NO DECISION.

Gay

Link

ravn0s
Posted 04:27pm 10/12/10

LAME

Link

Nerfington
Posted 04:36pm 10/12/10

Really unimpressed with their work.

Link

Crans
Posted 04:37pm 10/12/10

No decision? As in, they haven't made a decision yet or its a NO to the R18 rating?

Link

Esotericthief
Posted 05:00pm 10/12/10

When will they have a decision then?

Link

Pinky
Posted 05:08pm 10/12/10

The good news is that they are progressing by writing 'guidelines' which will say what the new categories would look like. i.e., What are the MA15+, R18+ and RC categories going to look like under a new category system?

It's clearly a step forward, it's just a lethargically slow step forward. Have to wait until March now for the next SCAG meeting by which time the guidelines of a new category system will be drafted.

Link

Hogfather
Posted 05:28pm 10/12/10

That's a cop-out too though Pinky.

The film and video game classifications are literally the same at the moment, with the exception being that video games go no higher than MA15+. The act deliberately encompasses both and it is explicity (not implicity) the exact same code for all other levels. There is no need to do anything other than remove the clause that says that MA15+ is the highest rating for video games.

That's the only change that is required. The Board can then begin to do its job and adjudicate on what material fits where, and how it may and may not be sold.

Link

Sc00bs
Posted 05:30pm 10/12/10

why is there even a discussion on this its such a ridiculous issue.

There are R rated movies, why are there no R games? makes no sense and the arguments that are put forward against it are so stupid and retarded.

"it will make ur kids a rapist serial killer, do you support rapist and serial killers!!"

Link

Pinky
Posted 05:38pm 10/12/10

Yeah, you're right Hogfather.

I think what's at risk here is that interactive media will have it's own ratings system in which MA15+ is watered down on what it is now and R18+ is basically what MA15+ is now or a little bit more generous.

Link

`ViPER`
Posted 05:42pm 10/12/10

I think what's at risk here is that interactive media will have it's own ratings system in which MA15+ is watered down on what it is now and R18+ is basically what MA15+ is now or a little bit more generous.

Yeah they will probably add some bulls*** like taking into account its "interactive" therefore it has more impact therefore the same contents can be classified differently.

Link

Dan
Posted 05:43pm 10/12/10

Discussion continues here

Commenting has been locked for this item.

58 Comments

Show

C*** BI......

Features

Reviews

ASUS ROG Rapture GT6 WiFi 6 Mesh System