Dear Australian gamers,
Time to pull out the Champagne, because today is a red letter day! Your government has finally budged from the laughably unreasonable position that mature games should neither be sold to nor played by you. While the rest of the world has extended its sympathies, your attorney general, Michael Atkinson, has flatly refused to allow you access to unedited versions of Grand Theft Auto 4, Fallout 3, and other video games with mature content. Rather unexpectedly, the Australian government released a “Discussion Paper” — a document drafted to encourage public debate. In essence, you (Australians) have an opportunity to voice your opinions on the subject.
[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":650447,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"games,","session":"C"}']All you need to do is file a submission to the attorney general’s office advocating the inclusion an R 18+ classification. With any luck, other game enthusiasts will do the same and your government will change its draconian policy in favor of something more rational. The rest of us will cross our fingers (more after the jump) [via GamePolitics]:
Don’t be distracted by his boyish charm and chiseled good looks. This man is the enemy!
As part of the effort to generate public discourse on the topic, the Discussion Paper included a list of both the advantages…
- The R 18+ classification category sends a clear, unambiguous message to parents that the game material is unsuitable for minors.
- Consistent classification categories for films and computer games are easier to understand.
- A new classification will supplement technological controls on minors’ access to age-inappropriate computer games.
- Adults should not be prevented from playing R 18+ level computer games simply because they are unsuitable for minors.
- Comparable international classification systems have an adult rating for computer games — international parity is desirable.
- Consumers access games which would be R 18+ illegally — it would be better if they were legally available with appropriate restrictions.
and disadvantages of adding an R18+ classification for video games…
- Computer games should be treated differently from films given the specific, negative effects of interactivity on players, particularly their participation in violent and aggressive content.
- It would be difficult for parents to enforce age restrictions for computer games.
- Minors would be more likely to be exposed to computer games that are unsuitable for them.
- An R 18+ for computer games would exacerbate problems associated with access to high level material in Indigenous communities and by other non-English speaking people.
- There is no demonstrated need to change existing restrictions.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Even if every contributor made arguments in favor of the R18+ rating, any amendment to the classification would require the consent of our dear friend, Michael Atkinson (pictured above). The deadline for submissions is February 28th, 2010. In the meantime, keep your hopes up and visit Bitmob for updates.