Australian R18+ classification approval!!

[newuseforvintage]

Good news everybody!
In a press release earlier today Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor confirmed that there will be a move towards implementing an R18+ classification for computer games in Australia.
During a Standing Committee of Attorney-Generals meeting all states excluding NSW agreed to support the proposal with NSW abstaining from fully endorsing the legislation but stating they will look over it out of session.

"This is a big step forward in the long running debate on classification of computer games for adults," Mr O'Connor said.

"The introduction of an R18+ classification for computer games will provide better advice to parents and help prevent children and teenagers from accessing unsuitable material," he said.

"Once introduced, the new classification will also afford adults the opportunity to view material designed for adults."

Read the full press release here: http://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2011/07/22/3275523.htm

 

[Phlakes]

...Wait...Really?...

GAMERS REJOICE! THIS A GREAT DAY FOR OUR EMPIRE!

 

[Adzma]

Still don't have it yet though. The states need to confer with their cabinets for the final approval to signal the go-ahead. I'd also like to mention that the draft guidelines have been edited to be more restrictive so we'll probably be no better off.

 

[Mr Thin]

I was born in NSW (oh no!) but moved to Queensland (phew).

So if the end result is that NSW falls behind the rest of the states, at least I'm in one of the good ones.

Edit: Captcha was 'sleep tight', yet did not accept 'don't let the bed bugs bite' as a legitimate answer. I think the system's broken, best get to fixing that immediately.

 

[Valagetti]

Yay now you guys across the ditch can finally play Manhunt, its not very good. But since Michael Atkinson "died", it has been looking good for you guys. Isn't your governent planning to block millions of porn sites? Wonder how that would turn out for you guys?

 

[newuseforvintage]

Still don't have it yet though. The states need to confer with their cabinets for the final approval to signal the go-ahead. I'd also like to mention that the draft guidelines have been edited to be more restrictive so we'll probably be no better off.

See I don't necessarily agree, I think the abolition of the MA15+ rating is good. I've oft been of the opinion that the things a 15 - 18 year old is allowed to view are far more violent/sexual than I would allow.

 

[newuseforvintage]

Yay now you guys across the ditch can finally play Manhunt, its not very good. But since Michael Atkinson "died", it has been looking good for you guys. Isn't your governent planning to block millions of porn sites? Wonder how that would turn out for you guys?

The federal government has, publicly, stepped away from the idea of the internet filter and are instead focusing on restriction of specific websites on an ISP level. Still a horribly flawed system lacking in transparency but not as bad as it could have been. But that's a discussion for another thread.

 

[Adzma]

Still don't have it yet though. The states need to confer with their cabinets for the final approval to signal the go-ahead. I'd also like to mention that the draft guidelines have been edited to be more restrictive so we'll probably be no better off.

See I don't necessarily agree, I think the abolition of the MA15+ rating is good. I've oft been of the opinion that the things a 15 - 18 year old is allowed to view are far more violent/sexual than I would allow.

Oh I'm not talking about the removal of the MA classification, plus that's only in South Australia anyway. The AGs and Brendan O'Connor have said that the draft guidelines for the R rating that were released a couple of months ago have been edited with them specifically citing "violence and sexual violence." From memory the original draft said High impact violence is acceptable unless it offends the standard of morality, which I might add it absent from the R classification for films. The current MA rating allows violence up to strong in impact. It wouldn't surprise me if the new R rating was changed to this.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Oh I'm not talking about the removal of the MA classification, plus that's only in South Australia anyway.

Speaking as a Croweater who's over 18 (well over), it's something of a dick move by Rau because his justification is 'offering a wider, clearer division between games made for children and games made for adults'... which is a load of bollocks when it comes to 15-17 year olds because that's an age where you start being legally able to do all sorts of shit.

Upside is even if the agreement falls apart under amendments from various States, SA and the ACT are both planning to push ahead with R18+ anyway, with a nod and a wink from O'Connor (think the X18+ rating for porn in the ACT and NT).

The AGs and Brendan O'Connor have said that the draft guidelines for the R rating that were released a couple of months ago have been edited with them specifically citing "violence and sexual violence." From memory the original draft said High impact violence is acceptable unless it offends the standard of morality, which I might add it absent from the R classification for films. The current MA rating allows violence up to strong in impact. It wouldn't surprise me if the new R rating was changed to this.

Oh, they're going to rip MA15+ to shreds. You can put money on it. Part of the reason is that MA15+ has been bent all out of shape but the OFLC/ANRB sticking more than a few titles that should be R18+ into the category...

The real danger is the amendments taking the MA15+ criteria and slapping under the R18+ heading... which is to say we'd end up with shit as it is now but with the added insult of only people over 18 being able to buy games. That would really suck because we wouldn't have the hope of one day getting R18+ to fix all the fuckarsing around.


My POV is that, as a croweater (South Aussie to them what don't speak 'Strine), while having a full range of classifications is the best option, if it takes chucking 15-17 year olds under a bus to ensure I'm given wider consumer choices as an adult then fuck 'em.

 

[Adzma]

Oh I'm not talking about the removal of the MA classification, plus that's only in South Australia anyway.

Speaking as a Croweater who's over 18 (well over), it's something of a dick move by Rau because his justification is 'offering a wider, clearer division between games made for children and games made for adults'... which is a load of bollocks when it comes to 15-17 year olds because that's an age where you start being legally able to do all sorts of shit.

Yeah don't get me wrong, I don't think his decision is a good one. Far from it in fact, I think it's retarded, however you'll have to forgive my selfishness in saying as a Victorian I'm glad it doesn't effect me.

Oh, they're going to rip MA15+ to shreds. You can put money on it. Part of the reason is that MA15+ has been bent all out of shape but the OFLC/ANRB sticking more than a few titles that should be R18+ into the category...

The real danger is the amendments taking the MA15+ criteria and slapping under the R18+ heading... which is to say we'd end up with shit as it is now but with the added insult of only people over 18 being able to buy games. That would really suck because we wouldn't have the hope of one day getting R18+ to fix all the fuckarsing around.

That's my point. I know that they're nerfing the MA rating, but my worry is that the new R rating will simply be our old MA rating rebranded.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

however you'll have to forgive my selfishness in saying as a Victorian I'm glad it doesn't effect me.

Nothing to forgive. After all, no matter what you say, you still live in Victoria which is punishment in itself.

That's my point. I know that they're nerfing the MA rating, but my worry is that the new R rating will simply be our old MA rating rebranded.

I don't think it's very likely. It's one thing to pass off a lot of bullshit restrictions under the "THINK OF THE CHILDREN!" banner... not so easy to sell for something meant for adults. Retailers will go ballistic if they not only lose the 15-17 market on many of their best selling titles but also don't get the 'more titles to sell' as a balancer.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

You realise that the NSW AG wil never agree to the R18+ classification right? It doesn't matter what the other guys say, as long as he's still in, nothing will happen.

EDIT: I retract my previous statement. It turns out it has just been introduced federally. FUCK YES.

 

[Alumatine]

The other states will pass it without him and we can order our R18+ games from QLD.

Honestly I think he will pass it. If he was going to block the vote he would have said no outright instead of abstaining. Besides... who wants to be the dick that every gamer in aussieland hates? He's really gotta love the hate to do deny it.

 

[Adzma]

Nothing to forgive. After all, no matter what you say, you still live in Victoria which is punishment in itself.

Ooh dems fightin' words! Hey, hey... how's Adelaide? Bam!

I don't think it's very likely. It's one thing to pass off a lot of bullshit restrictions under the "THINK OF THE CHILDREN!" banner... not so easy to sell for something meant for adults. Retailers will go ballistic if they not only lose the 15-17 market on many of their best selling titles but also don't get the 'more titles to sell' as a balancer.

That's a good point too. I'm certainly planning to kick up a shitstorm if it is a total cop-out rating. I can fight in a real war, but watching an x-ray of someone's bones shattering is INNAPROPRIATE AS IT MIGHT CAUSE ME TO GO ON A KILLING SPREE.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Nothing to forgive. After all, no matter what you say, you still live in Victoria which is punishment in itself.

Ooh dems fightin' words! Hey, hey... how's Adelaide? Bam!

Barrel of fun as always

I don't think it's very likely. It's one thing to pass off a lot of bullshit restrictions under the "THINK OF THE CHILDREN!" banner... not so easy to sell for something meant for adults. Retailers will go ballistic if they not only lose the 15-17 market on many of their best selling titles but also don't get the 'more titles to sell' as a balancer.

That's a good point too.

Remember MA15+ was only introduced as a 'bridging' rating because the movie industry was getting pissy over many potentially profitable action movies getting slapped with R18+ at the time.