(Image Source: The Facebook Event’s Page: Australia is <R>eady for R18+ videogames and is a modified version of an original release from Kotaku)
For many years, Australian’s have been grating their teeth and being jealous towards our international counterparts. “Why?” you may ask. Because we have not had an 18+ rating in our country for gaming, we have had to watch as game after game has been denied or modified to satisfy the criteria met in place from our Board of Classification to meet the MA15+ criteria. There have been many incidents and complications through this such as:
- The publisher Red Ant chose not to even submit the game “Rule of Rose” to the Australian Classifications Board due to pressure from Family Organizations, Media and international controvery about the supposed “Sexual Undertones” in this game, despite it mostly being a series about a “haunted-like” orphanage where the young residents torture the “adult” character in the series….. – and yes, as you can see I haven’t played this game due to obvious reasons.
- The “ALL TOO BIG” issue with Fallout 3 and it being refused classification for *Snicker* “Drug Use” because they had the word morphine in the game.
- Left 4 Dead 2 – Have you ever longingly waited for a game and then upon recieving it, found out it sucked? Well, how about if it wasnt due to the developers but instead to be published, the game was watered down to the point where censorship ruined the game? Personally, I am not keen on the bloody nature of the uncut version (If anything it would make the game more complicated due to obscured vision) but still, each to their own.
- The recent Mortal Kombat game…. for reasons I cannot even comprehend…
and many more games as such. It has recently been stated by Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor that he is confident that we will be receiving a 18+ Classification for games after a meeting between Attorney Generals today where eight out of nine in attendance made an agreement. BUT the issue is that all nine need to agree to get it passed. Attorney-General Greg Smith has withheld his vote until a later date due to needing more time to consider.
Back in 2009, I wrote a paper on this issue for one of my topics and I stand behind my writing that bringing in an 18+ Classification will enable more protection for the younger generation then with a simple MA15+ rating for the sheer fact alone that games in the MA15+ can be reclassified as R18+ and will have the similar prevention measures as if a child wanted to purchase an R18+ movie (Among other things, I dont have the paper on me).
With any luck however, this will be passed and we can have more games at our disposal…. Me? I want Deadly Premonition….. the Survival/Horror game that whilst not receiving classification, the publishers Rising Star Games might be more inclined to release it.
For those interested, the Minister for Home Affairs has a draft guidelines available on his website HERE.
Now, from me and I am sure many Australians who love and enjoy games…. I shout “THREE CHEERS FOR OUR ATTORNEY-GENERALS AND MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS!”
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