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Posted By Robert G. about 1 year, 3 months ago
Welcome to the fold, Australia.
After years of rousing debates and lugubrious legal discussions in Australia over the implementation of an R18+ rating for video games (Basically an M rating or Pegi 18 for the U.S and U.K) the Australian Government finally conceded the tide.
The R18+ rating will finally be implemented in Australia next year, to give the government time to finish paperwork, according to the Federal Minister of Home Affairs. The tentative date is currently January of 2013, but of course this can change over time. That said, the law created gives the territories the choice of implementing an R18+ rating. The bill also has to pass through the Australian House and Senate still, But considering the public is in 98% approval of this decision, I doubt we shall see many oppose the law in the end.
| PROS: | Great shooting mechanics, Paintball is fun, Diverse gun selection |
| CONS: | Soundtrack is terrible, game has no story mode |
| WTF: | WTF Text Here |
http://www.r18games.com.au/2012/02/r18-bill-pushed-to-inquiry/
Just a few points on this based on what you said.
“the Australian Government finally conceded the tide.”
While I get what you are trying to say, this isn’t really the case. The debate on this issue has raged for many years, and in many different forms. Still, if you want to go off the current version of things, that came about after Rudd (Labor) swept Howard (Libs) out of power in late 2007 which is when the topic could come up for debate once more. This happened because the Ratings Board reform carried out in the early 2000′s during Howards term in office largely passed over the issue of a R18+ rating at the time because it didn’t enjoy enough support to see it inacted.
Since Rudd term as PM, and replacement with Gillard, the debate has once more been allowed to take place. This time the climate has been mostly more welcoming towards the topic then before. Mostly since there has been a series of government changes that meant some of the ones who opposed this lost power, but not because of this issue (other then one case, maybe sorta).
“I doubt we shall see many oppose the law in the end.”
There is many who do want to fight it, but these groups are some of the lobbist* and other bodies who want to either see it stopped or made into something they might like. These are the ones who are doing their damn best to throw the works as much as they can. Still, support is strong for this reform and has had huge amount of support from groups like the Australian Sex Party (http://www.sexparty.org.au/).
Otherwise, the current form of this reform means that it could be something that the Federal Government does allow, but the states drag their feet on and hence we wait another few years for it to happen.
*Note, In Australia a Lobbist is very different to the type you see and hear about over in the USA. Largely because there is many laws in place which goven both how they can act and what they are allowed to do (for example, no donations, etc).
THANK GOD!
I do hope so. I’m still skeptical that they won’t force some kind of limitation, but it’s about time we finally made some progress in this field. It’s been way too long.
Yahtzee was Australian?
As he says on his site (or at least The Escapist, since that is where his videos are hosted).
“Yahtzee is a British-born, currently Australian-based writer and gamer with a sweet hat and a chip on his shoulder. When he isn’t talking very fast into a headset mic he also designs freeware adventure games and has a novel coming out soon. His personal site is http://www.fullyramblomatic.com.”
He also has a few business interests such as the Mana Bar (http://www.manabar.com.au/) and works with the lads from Australian Gamer (http://www.australiangamer.com/) which is where the Mana Bar idea came together from.
Then again, this whole post is because I’m running with the view you meant “IS” and not “WAS”.
damnit, i was hoping they would drive yahtzee out of game reviewing D:<
Huh…
Considering what the world has to fight these days law-wise when it comes to intellectual property, this is refreshing news.
I know it’s far from the same category as ACTA and co, but still.
Oh and by the way, that 98% thing means nothing; The government doesn’t in the least bit care what the people want.
Rumor has it that they just want to replace the MA15+ rating with the R18+, so we get the rating we want to please us, but they still get to censor/ban games to please the Australian Christian Lobby.
Even if we DO get this rating, it’s doubtful it will fix our problems.
Yeah, looks to be something which came from the heavy review, if welcome, review this law looks to be bringing in. Now while this review did throw up some interesting legal issues which people hadn’t taken into effect before, and a few which only came about because of the reactions some government bodies had with things (see the pulling of the Marc Echo game because of the complaint by the Brisbane City Council).
Also, for those who are wondering on the Christian Lobby point. Here are some supporting links on the matter.
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/game-on/2012/02/16/behind-the-rhetoric-of-the-r18-debate/
http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/games/video-games-reform-rebuffed-over-violence-fears-20110402-1csmm.html
http://www.gamepolitics.com/2011/07/25/acl-calls-ban-games-wake-norway-massacre
http://st-eutychus.com/2011/an-open-letter-to-the-australian-christian-lobby-please-dont-use-tragedy-for-political-gain/
http://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/05/the-acl-why-do-they-exist-why-do-we-listen-and-why-should-we-care/
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-03-16/government-threatens-r-rating-games-showdown/2654650
And from the ACL (Australian Christian Lobby) own website.
Unhappy to hear the Australian government take the view that Video Games are not to blame for the Norwegian Massacre http://www.acl.org.au/2011/07/mr-norwegian-tragedy-highlights-impact-of-violent-video-games/
An R18+ Rating goes against the lifestyle of Australian Christians http://www.acl.org.au/2011/05/mr-draft-r18-computer-game-guidelines-fail-families/
NOTE! The Catholic Church fully supports an R18+ rating is one of the many groups who both support an R18+ rating, and see there is no conflict between it and a moral christian lifestyle. http://gamepolitics.com/2011/05/26/catholic-bishops-conference-supports-r18-rating
Why they welcome the debate, but don’t want this to lead to the creation of “simulated pedophilia” as has happened already since nations allowed R18+ ratings of films. Don’t worry, they know that is a false statement. Just put it in there as a reason why games shouldn’t be allowed. http://www.acl.org.au/2011/07/mr-acl-cautiously-welcomes-r18-games-decision/
Sorry for the number of links. Been waiting for this site say something on the discussion. Fear that there is a big risk that many outside Australia will simply judge some of the statements without any of the context has come out of this debate.
Now I can watch Zero Punctuation without feeling like criminal scum.
Sarcasm aside, this is only the first step, and fixing everything messed up by moral panickists in australia would be with divine intervention.
Time to sacrifice some goats!