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14 Dec, 2009

R18 discussion paper released

PALGN News | Government now taking public submissions.
The discussion paper for an R18+ rating for video games in Australia has at long last been released by the Federal Government. You may recall that the intention to produce a discussion paper surfaced some time ago, but it has been repeatedly withheld for reasons unknown.

The sixteen-page discussion paper, which you can read in full here offers points both for and against the introduction of an R18+ rating for video games. It also briefly examines classification systems used in other countries.

The paper reasonably assumes that the criteria by which a game could potentially be be given an R18+ rating would be consistent with that applied to films. Importantly, it also stresses that games featuring extreme content, such as Japanese game Rapelay (one of South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson's chief arguments as to why an R18+ rating should not be allowed), would still be refused classification even with an R18+ rating in place.

The paper also includes details as to how submissions can be made to the Attorney-General's Department. Submissions should address the question 'Should the Australian National Classification Scheme include an R18+ classification category for video games?' The deadline for submissions is 28 February 2010.

A template for making submissions can be found here.

The report and template can be accessed in both DOC and PDF formats from here.

For more information on the R18+ issue, take a look at http://everyoneplays.org.au/

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30 Comments
2 years ago
And if anybody is curious, I voted in the ninemsn poll last night and was really surprised as to how many people have actually voted. Figures at the time were:

Should Australia introduce an R18+ rating for games in Australia?

Yes - 79000
No - 43000
2 years ago
Seems like we are fairing better on Sunrise... 96% of 465 votes. Only a small sample of the ninemsn one though.

Really surprised that there are so many votes against. Who with a logically mind would vote against R18+???
2 years ago
See... I think the people who would vote against it would be those who mostly do not play games and think games influence minds into violence that involve murder of innocents and rapeplay etc etc. These folks would probably be oblivious to the fact that most games tell stories and have plots subject to the content. All the agruements against the R18 rating have holes in them.

I have worked in law enforcement for several years and in all my experience with criminals, I know that they do not play videogames, as they are too proccupied on getting their next fix, or on alcohol, or planning their next scheme to get money, etc. it just does not happen that way with violent antisocial people. Violent people either come from disfunctional homes or have been influeneced by drugs, alcohol and peers involved in criminality. They should really stop using video games as the scapegoat causing the violence of this century. VOTE YES FOR R18.
2 years ago
I am very happy the R18 paper has been released. I feel we were left out of the world because we had no R18+, now lets make it right and we should be able to play what others are playing around the globe.

Does this mean I will be able to buy the new aliens: colonial marines game from here or do we still have to import it from another country even if we get a R18+ here? Forgive me if this sounds silly.
2 years ago
so what dos Atkinson have to say on the matter ? he pretty much said this would never get released , i mean crap hit the fan pretty hard icon_biggrin.gif
2 years ago
Those of you in Adelaide should be hitting the streets hard in the Croydon electoral area getting people to vote. That's really the only way things will make a big difference.
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