Unrated MMO's banned from sale in Australia

[Mikaze]

In America, they give MMOs a rating based on the content not dependent on player interactions. That is to say, if the combat is really bloody and NPCs use really bad language when giving quests, the game will get an M rating for violence, blood and gore, and strong language. However, with ANY game that has an online component, they put a notice saying "Online interactions not rated by the ESRB." This is because it is impossible to, really. It is better or worse depending on what server you are on and the attitude of the players.

Americans never had any problems with this system...Why is it so big a deal in Australia? Oh wait...That is because their government is just a step below North Korea and China in terms of censorship. Really, this is just ridiculous. What next? Will they ban all social networking sites and instant messaging services since you will have a mixed bag in the sort of people you encounter?

Pretty soon we'll be calling you guys the People's Republic of Australia and the Union Flag in your national flag will be replaced with a Red Star and the Hammer and Sickle.

No offense to you Aussie gamers.

none taken this is WAY too far, and believe me aussie gamers hate the Australian government as much as the next person

Agreed, we already have shitty internet speeds and their ridiculous plan to 'filter' the internet will make them that much slower. They won't need to ban the sale of unrated games if that happens, we won't be able to play on a server more than 10 metres away because we'll be kicked for high pings.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Geez, this right-wing idiocy has gone too far now.

I'm going to have to conform and say 'Fuck The Government!' as well.

But it looks like it's only in NSW, so it's justified; we have had a terrible State Government for longer than I can remember. At least we don't have that Atkinson guy...

Oh yeah.

 

[Funnysword]

This is going to be a lot worse for new games than for WoW. At least WoW already has subscribers and there aren't that many people buying new copies of it. On the other hand, new MMOs like Warhammer Online depend on selling copies to grow.

 

[Dangerious P. Cats]

The more evidence I see the more I've come to the realization that Australian Politicians have no idea about the video games industry.

If I had to hazard a guess I'd say that this legislation was not set up with the video games industry in mind. The government wouldn't knowingly cripple an industry. They instead decided to seem "tough on crime", figuring that pumping up censorship was a means to do that.

 

[BubbleGumSnareDrum]

The Australian government is one of the only governments I find more ridiculous than that of the United States. Why? Because of shit like this.

 

[AceDiamond]

The more evidence I see the more I've come to the realization that Australian Politicians have no idea about the video games industry.

I think it's that they know that video games exist and they know that other countries seem to get frightened of them at times, but they aren't aware of anything else beyond that.

 

[LegionSeere]

Hmmm guess it's a good thing I don't play MMO's anymore but I still got my Warhammer and WoW cds...funny how they decide this is a problem after WoW has been out for so long

From reading that statement that Micheal Atkinson gave to Gamespot I guess he was telling the truth when he said he isn't the only jackass attorney general with a bone to pick with video games...

 

[Dommyboy]

Digital downloads are still easily available though so not a huge problem but this may be a hassle for an inexperienced user.

 

[Dramatic Flare]

And.....
I say start a petition. Wait, Australia is a Democracy, right?
Time for someone new to go into office....

Seriously, though, this sort of thing is roughly equivalent to total retardation. I can't help but feel bad for you guys during the three months this will be a problem.

 

[Dommyboy]

And.....
I say start a petition. Wait, Australia is a Democracy, right?
Time for someone new to go into office....

Seriously, though, this sort of thing is roughly equivalent to total retardation. I can't help but feel bad for you guys during the three months this will be a problem.

Australia citizens create countless petitions though they never seem to actually do anything though sometimes they do if you're not a gamer.

 

[Dramatic Flare]

And.....
I say start a petition. Wait, Australia is a Democracy, right?
Time for someone new to go into office....

Seriously, though, this sort of thing is roughly equivalent to total retardation. I can't help but feel bad for you guys during the three months this will be a problem.

Australia citizens create countless petitions though they never seem to actually do anything though sometimes they do if you're not a gamer.

Get everyone who gives a damn in NSW involved, and perhaps they'll take note.
Especially if it's a democracy.
The only thing more dangerous than political activists are political activists in large numbers.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Geez, this right-wing idiocy has gone too far now.

I'm going to have to conform and say 'Fuck The Government!' as well.

But it looks like it's only in NSW, so it's justified; we have had a terrible State Government for longer than I can remember. At least we don't have that Atkinson guy...

Oh yeah.

Can we really call this "right-wing?" I'm so-called "right-wing," and I HATE what's going on over in Australia with games. I mean, aren't Republicans the ones who want more freedom from Government involvement? Wouldn't that naturally extend to games? If a Republican would support the right for citizens to bear arms, wouldn't they also support the rights of adults to enjoy the forms of entertainment they choose?

This has always confused me. To be fair, most of the arbitrary "you are Democrat/Republican, you must support this stance" garbage gets me riled up, but I STILL don't see why ANY logical Conservative/Republican/Human Being/Democrat/Piece of Protoplasm (no, those weren't placed in any kind of sequential order on purpose) wouldn't support an adult's right to enjoy games manufactured for adults. It's the parent's responsibility to be aware of what their kids are doing-every adult in the country shouldn't have to suffer for that.

*ends ranting and raving*

 

[Knight Templar]

EDIT: Can the government block the servers? They are putting together that Internet filter so it may be possible.

The internet filter is a load of crap, but servers act legaly so it is possable, or so I have been told.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Geez, this right-wing idiocy has gone too far now.

I'm going to have to conform and say 'Fuck The Government!' as well.

But it looks like it's only in NSW, so it's justified; we have had a terrible State Government for longer than I can remember. At least we don't have that Atkinson guy...

Oh yeah.

Can we really call this "right-wing?" I'm so-called "right-wing," and I HATE what's going on over in Australia with games. I mean, aren't Republicans the ones who want more freedom from Government involvement? Wouldn't that naturally extend to games? If a Republican would support the right for citizens to bear arms, wouldn't they also support the rights of adults to enjoy the forms of entertainment they choose?

This has always confused me. To be fair, most of the arbitrary "you are Democrat/Republican, you must support this stance" garbage gets me riled up, but I STILL don't see why ANY logical Conservative/Republican/Human Being/Democrat/Piece of Protoplasm (no, those weren't placed in any kind of sequential order on purpose) wouldn't support an adult's right to enjoy games manufactured for adults. It's the parent's responsibility to be aware of what their kids are doing-every adult in the country shouldn't have to suffer for that.

*ends ranting and raving*

It depends on how far right you're leaning. These guys are so far right that they can't actually hold themselves up.

 

[BubbleGumSnareDrum]

It depends on how far right you're leaning. These guys are so far right that they can't actually hold themselves up.

That, along with the fact that "right-wing" does not always mean the kind of right-wing we have in America.

 

[DrummerM]

Eh, I don't really care about this (And not just because I don't play MMOs). The government are acting like retards again, it's nothing new.

EDIT:

Damn, Australia is like the Third Reich these days...

Godwin's Law has just been invoked on IGN.

 

[CRAVE CASE 55]

Will the people who already have them bought and play them still be able to play them?

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Ok, so as far as I can see, they're banning unrated online games as they're online and can't be rated?

Surely they then need to turn off the internet in Australia.

Then all mail and telephones.

In case anyone in Australia sees or hears something they don't like.

I HOPE there's a common sense solution like there is in other countries where they rate the game without counting in the online component, so, for instance, what WOW would be like if you started a new character in WOW and went off killing and levelling solo. I imagine it would earn a teen/13+/15+ rating for violence, drug and alcohol use, and mild profanity etc.

Surely otherwise any game with an online element can instantly earn a M rating the moment someone types the c word?

Honestly, this a day after Texas, yes, TEXAS, celebrates what video games have done for the state, in terms of enterprise and business.

On a selfish note, sure, slap a 15 or M rating on all online games so I don't have to listen to 10 year olds singing at me. (as if the ratings do much, it takes parents to care first).

 

[zen5887]

Geez sooner or later we will be calling each other 'Comrade'\

EDIT: For a nation of pretty laid back people (I say "she'll be right" more times then I say "hello") we have a pretty uptight government.