Grats Australia

[Lem0nade Inlay]

HOORAY! Finally the Labour Government does something good! Wooo!

"Left 4 Dead 2, is a first-person shoot-em-up, as they are known in the gaming world"

I love those shoot-em-ups! Oh yeah!

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Only that you shouldn't trust ANY print media.

I haven't trusted any media at all since the first time George Negus retired.

 

[Lem0nade Inlay]

Awweeesome! I be happy for ye

EDIT: I showed this to my brother, he went on to say that every Australian ever is a complete douchebag for a single underarm bowling incident in 1981. I said that was a bullshit reason, he then said that every Australian ever is a complete douchebag for being descended purely from convicts.

So how much help can I get with demolishing him?

Because the First Fleet also brought with them prestigious officials, scientists, Captains, tradespeople to Australia, from Europe. Hardly anyone Australian today is a direct descendant from a convict.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

i've got you guys slated for a socialist dictatorship in 10-45 years.

*laughs*

People have been saying that since before Federation (that'd be Jan 1, 1901).

 

[Noobiekins]

I for one can't wait to see if we get an R18+.

Also, did anyone else find it funny that the article called FPS's "First-Person Shoot'em ups"? From my understanding as a gamer, FPS means Either Frames Per Second, or (More gaming related) First Person Shooter...

The federal Cabinet has approved an adult rating for computer games after finding that many classified as suitable for 15-year-olds in Australia had been ruled suitable for adults only overseas.

As many as 50 games are now available to children as young as 15 but should rightly be played by over-18s only.

...

Seventeen days before my fifteenth birthday, my government decides 'hey, we've made an R18+ rating, and that means fifteen year olds can't play all those games they used to be allowed to!'

Plus, my parents were sceptical about me buying the M (Teen) rated Medal Of Honour 10th Anniversary, so there's no way in hell they'd buy me an R rated game that used to be MA.

I was so close to just being able to go into a game retailer and legally buy all these games, without having to get friends to or go through some other ridiculous method. Now I have to wait another three fucking years. And of course then it'll be election time and of course someone's going to get elected and introduce... I don't know, an AO21+ rating or something.

Timing couldn't have been worse for me

Sorry, but you really shouldn't be playing those games anyway.

If we don't have an R18+ rating, games like Left 4 Dead 2 get censored or banned.

It horrifies me when students in my year 7 Science class talk about playing CoD or Fallout 3.

Hmm... of course, you're totally right, I shouldn't be making my own decisions and I should let the government regulate what I experience because they know much better than I do what I should be doing with my life.

It is your parents who decided this, not the government. Unfortunately for you, if your parents think you are not ready for such content well, it could be possible that you aren't. You don't think you should be entitled to go buy porn from the corner shop, or see R18+ movies do you? Games should be the same as everything else.

My level of maturity is not the reason my parents prohibit these things, it's that good Christians shouldn't be playing or watching them. I think I should be allowed to make my own decisions regarding what I watch and play, especially seeing as I understand perfectly the vast difference between reality and works of fiction such as violent movies and video games.

Of course, I might just be an arrogant little brat, mightn't I?

Maybe, you can make your own Decisions. One under 18 in all of Australia... so do you think, that based on one person, that rules shouldn't be changed?
What I mean is, yes, you may be able to make your Own decisions, and yes, you may be able to see, and understand the difference between Fiction and Reality, but thats you. One person... what about your friends, or even people who you don't know, who are under 18, do you think they can? since you don't know everyone under 18 in Australia, your answer has to be no.
This isn't to stop you or people like who may be mature for their age, it's to stop those who are not mature enough from accessing games that were not designed for you.

On that note, Do you think people who are mature enough (By law, IE 18+.) shouldn't be able to access games that were designed with them in mind? with out an R18+ rating, thats what it is.
Games for Adults either get Edit or can't be sold in Australia... does that sound right? The games that were Designed for Adults, Adults can't play.

 

[Sark]

I just love how everyone is equating the censorship of violent material to a crime against freedom of speech, thought and expression. Having an R18+ rating will not prevent minors from viewing this matieral. When I was ten, I bought Tenchu: Stealth Assassins from a store that should not have legally sold it to me. The stores are not going to heavily enforce any age restrictions on video games.

Refusal of classification was the only effective means of preventing people from viewing material that is inappropriate to them. I say, we should continue to refuse classification and prevent games with excessive violence and highly adult themes from being bought from stores.

People over the age of 18 should buy these games from the internet, or another source. This way, parents won't have kids viewing this material.

 

[Zaik]

I feel like the control in Australia keeps going over more and more to the government. Can an Aussie intelligently explain the whole political situation down there?

Sure.

An age ago, the attorneys-general (think jedi council for all things legal) got together and decided that these awful things called "video games" are only intended for children, and any game that has "horrible stuff" it it should be banned. Hence they didn't see a need for an R18+ rating. We don't have an R18+ rating.

I'd say about 90% of the games in EB atm (that are rated 15+) are rated 18+ overseas. To achieve a 15+ rating, either the classification board sugar coats the violent themes, or the game is heavily modified (censored), this also attributes to cost increase. Any game that can't get this 15+ rating is banned from sale, yet an 18+ game can still be shipped in from overseas, more cost increase/stress for local business. They're also still games intended for adults, with or without censorship, the "15+" on the box is often a lie. Parents also seem to have no idea about the disparity between our VG ratings and the ones overseas, and at the end of the day they're the ones who should decide what to buy their kids, they're the ones who should be more informed.

If we get an R18+ rating, then this banning and censoring nonsense wouldn't be happening.

To be honest, despite it being off topic, i'd actually like to ask his question as applied across the whole political spectrum down there(actually thought that was what he was going for). From what i hear and read and piece together, i've got you guys slated for a socialist dictatorship in 10-45 years. Not that we in the US aren't headed that way, however we've not had all our effective firearms outlawed and seized yet.

What gave you that idea? This isn't something being imposed by a political master party overnight. It has only just been given serious recognition in the federal cabinet and still needs to go through lots of political hoops yet. The current classification laws are something leftover from what, the 1990's or something. It's slowly being amended and updated, with all considerations brought to the table, that's a good thing.

Well, the gun laws are obviously the black sheep in the room, however more recently they are actively banning things frivolously that don't really make sense such as small breasts, projectile urine, and banning additional websites at an ISP level that aren't related to the two. It seems like they are testing the waters at eroding free speech rather than just being typical retarded backwards politicians.

I could easily be wrong and they could just be typical retarded backwards politicians, however I dunno that i'd be classified as a batshit crazy conspiracy theorist based off the assumption.

 

[J-dog42]

I showed this to my brother, he went on to say that every Australian ever is a complete douchebag for a single underarm bowling incident in 1981.

Your brother is partly right. Just replace every with most. We will never, ever forgive them for that. It's just one of those grudges that you don't let go of.

OT: I can see GTA being R18, but it may be a bit too high for COD. On the plus side, the less annoying eleven year olds, the better.

 

[wickes666]

quick point... by changing games like Modern warfare and GTA 4 to r-18, they're only being slightly more controlling than america already is. at game retail stores they will often only sell R games to 17 year olds/ or if your parents there. gotta say, im actually more surprised they it took them this long to bump it up

 

[Zaik]

i've got you guys slated for a socialist dictatorship in 10-45 years.

*laughs*

People have been saying that since before Federation (that'd be Jan 1, 1901).

At least I know i'm not alone, heh.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

EDIT: I showed this to my brother, he went on to say that every Australian ever is a complete douchebag for a single underarm bowling incident in 1981.

29 years is a bit long to stay butthurt. He should go see a doctor to get a medicated ointment or something.

I said that was a bullshit reason, he then said that every Australian ever is a complete douchebag for being descended purely from convicts.

So how much help can I get with demolishing him?

Estimates are that less than 10% of the Australian population have any convict heritage. Compare that to the 25% of the population that weren't born in Australia. Should I even bother mentioning that South Australia was never a penal colony? (although many cunts in the Eastern States will counter that it's always been a penile colony).

Also, punch him in the bollocks.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

banning additional websites at an ISP level

Excellent point, except that there is no national ISP level filter in Australia.

Never even got introduced to Parliament.

Doesn't exist except for in the vivid fantasies of Stephen Conroy.

Won't be introduced to parliament for at least 3 years (next federal election unless one is forced earlier) because the government doesn't have the numbers to force it through and trying to could force one of their supporters to 'cross the floor', there by bringing down the government.


edit to add:

eroding free speech

Can't erode something you've never had.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Your brother is partly right. Just replace every with most. We will never, ever forgive them for that. It's just one of those grudges that you don't let go of.

It's probably not helped by the fact Aussies find that grudge hilarious.

 

[smithy_2045]

Wow, they might actually introduce that R18+ rating we've been campaigning for? About time.

 

[Zaik]

banning additional websites at an ISP level

Excellent point, except that there is no national ISP level filter in Australia.

Never even got introduced to Parliament.

Doesn't exist except for in the vivid fantasies of Stephen Conroy.

Won't be introduced to parliament for at least 3 years (next federal election unless one is forced earlier) because the government doesn't have the numbers to force it through and trying to could force one of their supporters to 'cross the floor', there by bringing down the government.


edit to add:

eroding free speech

Can't erode something you've never had.

In that case i just look like a ranting idiot.

 

[felixdan1]

it says the gillard government has done this but liberals have recently just won

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

it says the gillard government has done this but liberals have recently just won

The libs won a State election not a Federal election. Massive difference despite what some states might like to think.

 

[PeePantz]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/game-over-for-children/story-e6frezz0-1225965671392
I bet all of you Aussie gamers are happy to see this.

Please expand why you find this to be a good thing.

It seems like this is a step towards all out censorship.

Because games with 18+ content can be sold in Australia now. Previously they would either be banned or censored heavily. It's a good thing.

Silly me. For some reason I thought that already happened. I just thought they were changing ratings of some games previously 15+ to 18+. Thank you, I am in agreement now.

 

[felixdan1]

it says the gillard government has done this but liberals have recently just won

The libs won a State election not a Federal election. Massive difference despite what some states might like to think.

ahh kk(i dont pay much attention to politics)

 

[Bluexstriker]

Hold on, as young as 15? I've seen EIGHT year olds who played modern warfare and world at war! If people think that 15 year olds are so innocent, then those little bastards must all be messiahs! All in all, good thing we got the rating, people are stupid, and complain about teenagers getting the game while they let their seven year olds play GTA. Which I HAVE seen.

I've also talked to nine year olds who've seen saw. And thought it was boring. I'll let you think about that for a while.