R18+ Ratings in Australia: It's the Economy, Stupid

[Trogdor1138]

"An adult classification for video games will provide better guidance for parents and remove unsuitable material from children and teenagers,"

LOL OMG that is the funniest thing I ever read. This poor sod really needs a fact check.

I don't understand this. What does he need a fact check on exactly? He said something completely truthful and viable.

Anyways, it's been really good to see you doing something about all this Brendan, he has nothing but 100% support from me.

 

[octafish]

I like that Brendan has effectively told the Attorney Generals "If you can't do the right thing, I'm just going to take the decision making process from you.".

I don't have much faith in most peoples parenting skills, having seen 8 year olds drinking energy drinks and 12 year olds having M15+ games bought for them, but an R18+ rating should give some parents pause for thought.

 

[Lost In The Void]

"An adult classification for video games will provide better guidance for parents and remove unsuitable material from children and teenagers,"

LOL OMG that is the funniest thing I ever read. This poor sod really needs a fact check.

I think that you meant "This brilliant man deserves a fat cheque."

Anyways what I think he's trying to say is that with the rating or not, teenagers and children will still get 18+ games. While this may be true, it may help cut down on said activities and at the same time, allow more mature games to be let into the country for the intended adult audience to be able to play.

 

[Macgyvercas]

Money.

It makes a damn good argument.

When money talks...people listen.

 

[K_Dub]

Alright, this is getting fucking ridiculous! Your making your country (island, continent, whatever you guys call it over there) look ridiculous! Just pass the bill through and be done with it! Man, I hate old people...

'Cept for this Mr. O'Connor fella. He seems like a cool dude.

 

[axol]

LOL OMG that is the funniest thing I ever read. This poor sod really needs a fact check.

How do you figure?

don't mind him, I think he might very well be one of those "vocal minorities" who were against it, and have recently discovered a very fancy thing called "the internet".

Hard to tell though.

He's probably just one of those 15y/o's who won't be able to get his r18+ games from the shop any more.

 

[Caffiene]

Let's face it: Australia's MA15+ rating on games fails EPICLY! It allows content which should be restricted to adult viewing only to be viewed (legally) by anyone 15 and over and parents DO buy MA15+ rated games for their kids whether we like it or not! Having an R18+ classification for videogames will make parents think "Wait a minute...

Exactly.

The Australian Classification Board has a history of lenient ratings compared to other countries, which is arguably due to the fact that a more apporpriate rating does not exist.

Theres a "pushing the boundary" effect. The board works by comparing games to the currently accepted standard for games of that rating. When R18-level games are rejected, generally they get edited so that they can be classified and sold. When editing a game for reclassification, the studio isnt going to put in a lot of unnecessary work to sit the game in the *middle* of the MA15+ rating - they are going to take out what they need to, and end up with a game that is at the *high* end of the MA15+ range.

The combination of editing and lenient ratings make the MA15+ category "top heavy" - the "average" MA15+ game is at the adult end of the spectrum. So what happens when the board looks at the currently accepted standard?... The MA15+ rating gets moved even further towards adult, because the top heavy end is now the acceptable standard and moves to the middle of the MA rating.

I also agree - people are much less likely to purchase an R18 game for a minor (especially a 12 year old, for example) than a MA15+ game. People see MA15+ and think "If its good enough for a 15 year old, its ok for my mature 12 year old" when in fact that game might be only barely suitable for 17 year olds.

I might NOT want to illegally buy this game for my 11 year old kid!" (MA15+ is supposed to be legally restricted so that it is illegal for ANYONE under 15 cannot play an MA15+ rated game!)

This part is incorrect. It is legal for minors to own and play restricted games, it is only illegal to sell them restricted games without approval.

To be precise, MA15+ means "Mature Accompanied", which is described as "Persons under this age may only legally purchase or exhibit MA15+ rated content under the supervision of an adult guardian."

edit:
Oh, and the bad news is apparently the new Victorian AG since the libs got in hasnt bothered to actually study the debate and is anti-R18, with the same tired arguments about "letting adult content into kids hands" that Atkinson had.

 

[Speakercone]

If you can't get to your objective using right-hand turns, use left-hand turns.

Hmm... that saying doesn't translate well into English, but I'm sure you guys get the gist.

try "if you can't turn right, take three lefts." Also, I get it and I will start saying it immediately!

 

[Drake_Dercon]

If you can't get to your objective using right-hand turns, use left-hand turns.

Hmm... that saying doesn't translate well into English, but I'm sure you guys get the gist.

try "if you can't turn right, take three lefts." Also, I get it and I will start saying it immediately!

I like that one.

I will get that shirt when you make it.

So, are stupid people figuring things out? Probably not. Are stupid people going to grudgingly go along with logic? Hopefully.

 

[Rigs83]

I wish I could care but I don't. Making something illegal just makes it wanted so the rated M games everyone can play just sell t an even bigger markup than all the other games people have imported from actual civilizations. reminds me of the Afghan women who would wear makeup under their burkhas even though the Taliban would execute them on the spot for it. If the Taliban can't execute enough women to prevent them from trying to express their femininity than how can an annoying legal hurdle prevent people from enjoying their ultra violence.

 

[Bob the frantic]

As an Australian, I just want to say this...
If the 'making money' angle doesn't work, then the attorney-generals will never budge from their stupid position with any rational argument

 

[rabidmidget]

You see the problem with that argument is that you assume the Australian Government gives half a fuck about our Game Industry, which I can assure you, it doesn't.

Although there has been a huge rise in smaller studios like Firemint and Halfbrick, almost all of the big-budget game studios have closed down, and it will be really hard for them to return without the Government offering some form of rebate (which the film industry receives).

 

[Mettking]

As they say: If you REALLY want to mess with a man, aim for his wallet.

 

[Ultimate Evil]

As an Australian, I just want to say this...
If the 'making money' angle doesn't work, then the attorney-generals will never budge from their stupid position with any rational argument

Don't worry, I hear their choices are either to budge now or lose their decision-making priveliges. Presumably because they are very nearly the only people in government holding out against all this change, which doesn't feel very democratic for the rest of us.

 

[acosn]

"An adult classification for video games will provide better guidance for parents and remove unsuitable material from children and teenagers,"

LOL OMG that is the funniest thing I ever read. This poor sod really needs a fact check.

I don't know how things work over in Australia, but in the US despite being decades older there's a lower rate of compliance to the age guidelines for movies than there are for video games.

Both systems are voluntarily implemented by the industry itself, and they follow almost identical criteria for ratings. In some respects the ESRB has stricter guidelines for what quantifies an "M" and "T" rating.

If people want to disregard what the ratings are telling them it's not the government's place to complain or really do anything.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

"An adult classification for video games will provide better guidance for parents and remove unsuitable material from children and teenagers,"

LOL OMG that is the funniest thing I ever read. This poor sod really needs a fact check.

But it will. Currently we only go up to a 15+ rating here in Australia and many games the would normally be released as 18+ in other countries are either:
a) Just released in our 15+ rating
b) Censored and released in our 15+ rating, or finally
c) They just refuse to classify it and make it illegal to sell here.

So having an 18+ rating means:
a) Those games can't be sold to children at all, it's against the law.
b) We get more games uncensored here to allow us adults to play what we want without government intervention.

Everybody wins. So before you post inflammatory comments again, at least do the research.

 

[Andy Chalk]

You see the problem with that argument is that you assume the Australian Government gives half a fuck about our Game Industry, which I can assure you, it doesn't.

I might have to disagree with you there. Whether or not the government "cares" about gamers is one thing but given the explosive growth of the videogame industry and the serious money it can pump into local and even national economies, I think any government that actually considers the situation will give a very full fuck about it. This is big business you're talking about.

 

[That_Swedish_Guy]

God I'm sick of hearing about this, dammit Australia just get with the times and DO IT ALREADY!!

We have tired several times.

 

[Trogdor1138]

You see the problem with that argument is that you assume the Australian Government gives half a fuck about our Game Industry, which I can assure you, it doesn't.

I might have to disagree with you there. Whether or not the government "cares" about gamers is one thing but given the explosive growth of the videogame industry and the serious money it can pump into local and even national economies, I think any government that actually considers the situation will give a very full fuck about it. This is big business you're talking about.

Trust me, they just don't give a fuck. Our politicians don't think with logic and they're outdated in society and backwards. If they cared this type of thing wouldn't take literally years to even get on the table.

EDIT: Oh forgot to mention, I know people that got layed off last year from Studios closing their doors and there is a huge lack of industry activity over here. Government doesn't do shit to help out video games or see the benefits.