Aussie Minister Proposes Ditching MA15+ Game Ratings

[Shade184]

Jesus Christ.

I'm usually proud of my country, but I am really ashamed of how fucked up our gaming laws are.

As someone said before - it's not games that make me violent, it's stupid shit like this.

 

[WolfLordAndy]

If only the rest of the world would adopt the PEGI [http://www.pegi.info/en/index/] rating system. It's definitely the least retarded one around.

Well, I do like that the ratings are clear-cut ages rather than various letters. Instead of "M" it would just say "16" or "18" which would also help make it clear that it's not for 5 year olds.

That and it also has clear icons as to why it has been given that rating. Be it Violence, Fear, Drugs, Discrimination, Sex, Swearing, etc.

I'm quite happy that the UK is soon going to recognise the PEGI as a legally applicable system (its treated as such already, but thats down to store policies, its not enforcable yet).

Silly thing is tho that any game with non-interactive scenes. I.e. Cutscenes, intro movies, etc. Will require a BBFC (the film rating board) certificate AS WELL >.<

 

[madster11]

Can someone explain to me why the fuck our archaic, moronic government can't just adopt the ESRB ratings?

...Any reason at all?

 

[RadiusXd]

Im with the idea to be honest.

Removes the Blury line what is the 15 rating and says Not for Kids or Are for kids, even misinformed mom's n dads everywhere couldnt fuck it up xD

some people are all like but what about 15 year olds... come on when i was your age we all knew at least 1 shop that could sort us out a 18 rated game, then there is also steam and finally could always ask yer folks.

It is a little funny to me that no matter what some people will cry about all of this. some have cried they dont have an 18 rating, then they cry when one is proposed but another could be abolished.

To be honest that might be a reasonable idea for most country's even Germany could jump on board with that one xD

thing is with asking your folks is normally the R18+ rating (in movies at least) is reserved for titles with really inappropriate content, they see the logo and first thought is "R=MESS-THEIR-SHIT-UP-BAD".
This means that games with content perfectly appropriate for young adults would be grouped unjustly with actually inappropriate content. good for neither people selling games to a teen audience or for youth who's hobby is looked poorly upon by poorly informed parents (looking at you fox news)

looking at things from the other end of the spectrum, in time people would come to group in true R18 content, making what are supposed to be seen as adult only games look like late teen games.
See why it's just a plain stupid idea yet?

15-17 year olds exist and so does content appropriate for them, get over it.

 

[Kouen]

Im with the idea to be honest.

Removes the Blury line what is the 15 rating and says Not for Kids or Are for kids, even misinformed mom's n dads everywhere couldnt fuck it up xD

some people are all like but what about 15 year olds... come on when i was your age we all knew at least 1 shop that could sort us out a 18 rated game, then there is also steam and finally could always ask yer folks.

It is a little funny to me that no matter what some people will cry about all of this. some have cried they dont have an 18 rating, then they cry when one is proposed but another could be abolished.

To be honest that might be a reasonable idea for most country's even Germany could jump on board with that one xD

thing is with asking your folks is normally the R18+ rating (in movies at least) is reserved for titles with really inappropriate content, they see the logo and first thought is "R=MESS-THEIR-SHIT-UP-BAD".
This means that games with content perfectly appropriate for young adults would be grouped unjustly with actually inappropriate content. good for neither people selling games to a teen audience or for youth who's hobby is looked poorly upon by poorly informed parents (looking at you fox news)

looking at things from the other end of the spectrum, in time people would come to group in true R18 content, making what are supposed to be seen as adult only games look like late teen games.
See why it's just a plain stupid idea yet?

15-17 year olds exist and so does content appropriate for them, get over it.

Holy thread resurrection batman... wow someone quoting me from 2 months ago lol

 

[SwagLordYoloson]

I think its funny how he thinks that the game industry will make changes for Australia

 

[Machiavellian007]

THIS... makes sense, actually. And it would shut up parents, as how can they complain a game is too violent for their children, when they baught a R18+ game. Clears things up...

There is an age group between children and adults. I believe they prefer to be called teenagers.

As a teenager, I hope this bill doesn't go through. I'd like an R 18+ rating, but not at the expense of my MA 15+.

... actually, lol, who am I kidding, my parents will buy me R 18+ games if I want them.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

Videogames don't make me violent, retarded shit like this does.

As an Australian... I actually really like this idea.

Perhaps it would make more sense if you made "adult only" games 21+, and reclassified the 15+ games to 16+ or 17+. Of course a complete separate system from the movie and TV classification would be appreciated too. And a non-government ratings board like US's ESRB would also be better. Hell, if you're improving the system you could do a lot more than just arbitrarily making concessions like this.

...okay, on second thoughts, I fucking hate this idea.

Honestly, we have an MA15+ and R18 ratings in Australia for movies, and why should it be any different for games?

Because movies aren't games.... that's why the US has the ESRB and MPAA, one for games, one for movies. People who classify movies aren't necessarily qualified to classify games.

A complete overhaul would just be fantastic. Why try to retool the system designed for other kinds of media, just so it can work like an umbrella ratings system? Games require a deft touch, one the current classification system has been unable to provide.

 

[RadiusXd]

*snipped*

Holy thread resurrection batman... wow someone quoting me from 2 months ago lol

oh, sorry, my bad. in my defense though, above my first post was the 17th of February, and above that was 18th of December, must have seen 17,18,18 and been like "oh those are sequential", blanking out on the months (and the fact days were going backards).

*sigh*

OT: yeah, still hate idea, content should be classified according to content, not how the government wants to manipulate us.