Atkinson to Appeal Modern Warfare 2 Rating in Australia

[RomanLegacy]

Somebody should make a game about a US led Nato invasion force invading and liberating Australia. And australia led by the thrid reich.


EDIT: Also somebody needs to tell MW2 critics that you're killing commie russian civilians.
I'm pretty sure the oposition would vaporise.
(This is for jk guys)

 

[rees263]

"I worry about any game that encourages gamers to perpetrate extreme violence and cruelty on screen, but this game [Modern Warfare 2] allows players to be virtual terrorists and gain points by massacring civilians,"

Points?

Points?!

FUCKING "POINTS"?!

This is one of my favourite ever posts, and not just because it's exactly what went through the mind of everyone who read this article.

I'm not too sure about classification of games in general to be honest. I think here in Europe the PEGI ratings are generally pretty good. I might think that a few games are off, but then again I don't seem to be much affected by game content at all. I could play Little Big Planet one minute and Bioshock the next without thinking "wow, that's a lot of violence".

It also strikes me as stupid how games can receive such different ratings around the world (not that anyone pays attention to ratings, but still). For example, MW2 is 15+ in Aus, 17+ in US and 18+ in Europe (supposedly the most relaxed of the 3?)

 

[Sovvolf]

"I worry about any game that encourages gamers to perpetrate extreme violence and cruelty on screen, but this game [Modern Warfare 2] allows players to be virtual terrorists and gain points by massacring civilians,"

Points?

Points?!

FUCKING "POINTS"?!

ok thats it im gonna fucking kill the bastard!!!!!!1

Okay mister/missus crazy gamer but if you do manage to kill him, try head shooting him and then put a post-it or a note saying "Headshot 50 points" just to help prove his point.

The best way to get rid of him would be to go sick with a machine gun.. kill a lot of people, hand your self in to the police and say "Michael Atkinson mad me do it".

 

[Ocelot GT]

I know we can't vote him into office, but it's obvious he isn't doing or doesn't know his job. Can we demand his job be abolished... what is his job? What does he DO!?

So far he's demonstrated nothing but arrogance, ignorance and a desire to mislead the public.

If I did such a thing in my job I'd not only lose my job, I'd be thrown into jail!

 

[gillebro]

Oh, Atkinson's trying to cock things up for Aussie gamers again? What a surprise!

 

[Sovvolf]

"I worry about any game that encourages gamers to perpetrate extreme violence and cruelty on screen, but this game [Modern Warfare 2] allows players to be virtual terrorists and gain points by massacring civilians,"

Points?

Points?!

FUCKING "POINTS"?!

This is one of my favourite ever posts, and not just because it's exactly what went through the mind of everyone who read this article.

I'm not too sure about classification of games in general to be honest. I think here in Europe the PEGI ratings are generally pretty good. I might think that a few games are off, but then again I don't seem to be much affected by game content at all. I could play Little Big Planet one minute and Bioshock the next without thinking "wow, that's a lot of violence".

It also strikes me as stupid how games can receive such different ratings around the world (not that anyone pays attention to ratings, but still). For example, MW2 is 15+ in Aus, 17+ in US and 18+ in Europe (supposedly the most relaxed of the 3?)

You forgot the BBFC which I think rated MW2 an 18, the BBFC are pretty relaxed when it comes to most things, however with the whole Terrorism thing I wasn't expecting a smooth reaction, to me I didn't think nothing on it, I know as a person who creates CG Models that I'm just shooting at coded polygons. I've seen far worse in movies any how but as some one said politicians don't seem to have any sort of common sense.

 

[MortisLegio]

"I worry about any game that encourages gamers to perpetrate extreme violence and cruelty on screen, but this game [Modern Warfare 2] allows players to be virtual terrorists and gain points by massacring civilians,"

Points?

Points?!

FUCKING "POINTS"?!

this just means he hasn't played it

 

[obisean]

Games = MoneySpentintheEconomy
HisPaycheck = MoneySpentintheEconomy / OtherFactors

Why doesn't he get this?

 

[katsabas]

Hahaha! Too late whack-job!
And WTF is he talkin about? I did not see any points at the No Russian part. Whoah, talk about being ignorant on purpose...

 

[Floppertje]

Someone should mail him a copy of the game so he actually plays it.

Expecting game designers to be responsible by not glorifying terrorism will always lead to disappointment.

How many mainstream games glorify terrorism? No, seriously. Does anyone know? I'm actually curious.

"I worry about any game that encourages gamers to perpetrate extreme violence and cruelty on screen, but this game [Modern Warfare 2] allows players to be virtual terrorists and gain points by massacring civilians,"

Points?

Points?!

FUCKING "POINTS"?!

Also, quite emphatically, THIS. I was going to write something but thankfully you've saved me the trouble.

I suppose you could accuse C&C generals of glorifying terrorism, if you were a moron. other than that... the only thing I can really think of is games allowing you to play as terrorists in multiplayer, but that's hardly 'glorifying' either.

Also, how much longer is this guy gonna be in office? Isn't there some limit to how long he can be in the government?
Thirdly, how can someone who isn't elected have veto power? I call nonsense!

 

[johnman]

So because of his refusal to allow an 18 rating, and game that is rated 18 in most countries gets a 15 in Austrailia allowing miniors to play it, he has kind of shot himself in the foot here as he is indirectly responsable for this game gettting only a 15.

 

[obisean]

"I worry about any game that encourages gamers to perpetrate extreme violence and cruelty on screen, but this game [Modern Warfare 2] allows players to be virtual terrorists and gain points by massacring civilians,"

Points?

Points?!

FUCKING "POINTS"?!

My dad used to say something similar to "I could care less if you didn't beat your high score" to me when I was a kid (he hated games, more acceptant of them now) . PC games rarely use a point system, and his ignorance on the matter was what pissed me off. He never cared to understand why I found it fun. He didn't like them therefore they didn't matter. It wasn't until I was older that he started appreciating games for the entertainment value they offer, though he still rarely plays them. He was ignorant, but thought he knew everything about them because he was a master at Breakout. Don't take this story the wrong way, I love my Dad, never question that. The point vaguely is that the people who decide what games should and should not be allowed is the gamers ( for the most part, their rating board, even if it does suck) because they are the ones actually playing it, and not an attorney (some ignorant douche bag).

 

[Ironic]

"I worry about any game that encourages gamers to perpetrate extreme violence and cruelty on screen, but this game [Modern Warfare 2] allows players to be virtual terrorists and gain points by massacring civilians,"

Points?

Points?!

FUCKING "POINTS"?!

ok thats it im gonna fucking kill the bastard!!!!!!1

You should get at least a kajillion points for doing so

BLOOD! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD-GOD! CTHULU WORKS THROUGH VIDEO GAMES!?! AUGGGHHHHHLALALALALLALALALGHHHH *gene simmons style tongue-flailing and screaming*

This was an example of video-game rage. Note how it doesn't exist.

Except anyone who has ever played Halo, or possibly on the first ever try online on rainbow 6 vegas.

Also, I wish someone in power would notice that

Spoiler

PLAYER GETS SHOT IN THE FACE AFTER DOING IT ANYWAY

so it's not even like theres no whole "karma" undercurrent to the scene.

Also, slightly related,

Spoiler

The scene where you rescue price and he punches you in the face was completely badass....

Just sayin'

 

[messy]

"I worry about any game that encourages gamers to perpetrate extreme violence and cruelty on screen, but this game [Modern Warfare 2] allows players to be virtual terrorists and gain points by massacring civilians,"

Points?

Points?!

FUCKING "POINTS"?!

ok thats it im gonna fucking kill the bastard!!!!!!1

Psst mentioning killing someone for disagreeing (cause that's all he's really doing he merely has the power to do something) with us in an article about video game violence somewhat undermines our argument.

Kind of playing into his hands (which would give him a lot of "Points"

 

[Rock 'n' Soul]

This guy is a fucking idiot. Fine, I can agree too about the boards inefficiency, but seriously? Virtual terrorists? Come on! If people don't have outlets like movies and video games to let off some steam, they are going to have to find other, more realistic means of doing it. I sure hope this guy doesn't get reelected.

 

[GrinningManiac]

Someone should mail him a copy of the game so he actually plays it.

Expecting game designers to be responsible by not glorifying terrorism will always lead to disappointment.

How many mainstream games glorify terrorism? No, seriously. Does anyone know? I'm actually curious.

Freedom Fighters
Uprising
Just Cause

Problem is, you always play from their point of view, so they're called Freedom Fighters.

Also, how the hell would you glorify terrorism (This is to Atkinson, not Amnestic)?! Terrorism is a form of violent political activism. To glorify terrorism would mean the game would have to sit down with the player, run through the entire history of this faction or sect, explain why their cause is just, AND get them pumped up enough to willingly take it into the real world?

Shooting something does not constitute terrorism, and that's the ONLY bit the game shows you

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

For someone that keeps going on about how his constituents have more important things to worry about than "living in fantasy worlds"; it seems strange how much effort he's going to ban this one.

Perhaps Atkinson is basically doing a Jedward/Jordan and milking his 15 minutes of fame.

 

[poiuppx]

Maybe it's just me, but this seems like it could potentially backfire dramatically in Atkinson's face. What happens if his appeal falls flat? Could the ratings board just start labeling any game normally considered MA/18+ in other countries as a 15+ game instead if they wanted to? Could they, potentially, cut him/his limited influence on our favored hobby out of the loop completely?

I'm asking this quite seriously, since I'm not entirely certain what sort of precendent this could create. Is anyone here familiar enough with the appeals process for this sort of thing in Australia to answer?

 

[Pendragon9]

I keep knocking on Atkinson's noggin, but I don't think anyone is home.

Though he does have one single point. It's odd that MW2 was the only mature game allowed into the country. They must've had incredible influence.