88% of Australians want a R18+ rating for games

PALGN News | According to new Game Play Australia survey.

Conducted by the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia in order to establish just who is playing games, Game Play Australia 2005 - the biggest survey into the gaming habits of Australians in over six years - has concluded that the vast majority of people want a R18+ rating category for games.

As most Australian readers will know, the Office of Film and Literature Classification (lovingly referred to as the OFLC) will only rate games up to MA15+. This means that many games pass through with a lower rating than they deserve, and some games, most famously the Grand Theft Auto series, must be edited or they won't be released at all.

The survey - which polled 2009 houses and 3708 people - saw an overwhelming 88% of people in favour of a R18+ rating, which would bring the gaming classification system into line with that of films. On top of this, 27% of respondants weren't even aware that there wasn't such a rating.

Also revealed was the fact that many parents take a strong interest in what their children are playing. 76% of parents claimed they set stern rules for what their children can play, while 87% either were with their children, or gave permission, when they purchased a shiny new game. Furthermore, 68% of adults said that their considered ratings as 'very important', and 78% said they thought of games as an educational tool.

"Video gaming is something the majority of Australian households partake in on a regular basis and it is not consumed in an addictive manner," John Watts, IEAA president, stated - and the survey backs it up. Only 42% of households surveyed had children, and that the average age of those who said they played games was 24 - a direct contrast of the OFLC theory of 10. Plus, 38% of those who have played a game in the last 12 months were female. Surely this will force the OFLC sit up and take notice.

"Game Play Australia 2005 represents the most in-depth study of the opinions and habits of the Australian public in relation to interactive entertainment since 1999, and dispels many of the long held myths about video gaming," Watts commented. "This report proves beyond a doubt that video gaming is not just for children and is no longer the domain of only boys and men."

Conincidently, Gamasutra.com are reporting that the Victorian government are meeting with classification ministers this week to discuss changes to classification laws - particularly a R rating for games. Fingers crossed, then.

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22 Comments

ZNMS

6 years ago

Surely this will force the OFLC sit up and take notice.

That'll be the day.

ObsoletE

6 years ago

i saw this in the paper this morning, top stuff.

now if only we can make stores accountable to who they sell to, and we'll be set.

Infested Jibbs

6 years ago

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1496322.htm

Thats the article they were reffering too.

838 La

6 years ago

This only means good news right?

Capoeira

6 years ago

Hey, how come I'm never part of any survey that's ever taken?

That meeting sound so very very promising. Come on you bloody suits erm... powerful smart people, have a look at the results and change something for the better for once!

nick123456

6 years ago

y weren't i surveyed the only people they probably surveyed is themselves and old people who hate games

Qbert

6 years ago

Why do you care if you were surveyed, as long as you got the reult you're after(assuming you are one of the 88%). However, you did post 4 times in 3 minutes, maybe that answers it.

Good to see finally they are getting their act together.

NismoR34

6 years ago

We can only pray that the government's decision to look into it and push for the rating will mean a change for the better. Time will tell as always and the news that this survey brings, plus what the government is doing is good, but I won't get my hopes up unless I see a result.

Petski

6 years ago

Being right on an issue is not enough in Politics. It's a question of effective (and committed) lobbying in the right places. This means knowing and understanding the Classification Act so that you direct your efforts in the right place.

Games forums (mags, online and conferences) aren't going to get anyone anywhere as you're preaching to the converted. It's amazing how much a small group of conservative organisations can achieve and if Gamers began to mimic the lobby behaviour of those groups I think they would have an R rating before long.

Infested Jibbs

6 years ago

^True dat.

Wish m first ever post was that smart lol.

The thing with gamers in general is that we like to whinge but if push came to shove and we had to protest or organise some sort of rally or whatnot in support of an r18+ rating, most of us couldnt be stuffed.

Were all bark and no bite.

Petski

6 years ago

It wouldn't take that much work though - you could set up a lobby group through a site like this and everyone coming through could sign. Then just write the one letter (signatures attached - you have to show them it's about votes) and start bombarding backbenchers - by email and regular mail so that the correspondence units are working overtime to respond (and that'll cost em).

Infested Jibbs

6 years ago

Yeah but were oh so lazy.I tell you what-if you organise it all-ill back you!

Petski

6 years ago

Do all the work and get nothing in return? i think i already have that job and i'm pretty sure i've already been through that relationship - it would be unfair if i insisted on taking on all of the worlds doormat roles and left none for anyone else - so i'll have to decline the offer and give other doormats a chance to get ahead .

NismoR34

6 years ago

Jibbs wrote

Were all bark and no bite.

I disagree with that actually. I know for certain that I would help in any way I can if it means getting somewhere with this rating. I think I can assume that a fair few other members here would do the same.

Petski

6 years ago

In my opinion (and hey I've been known to be wrong) lobbying for a change in laws is a three tier strategy (it's a bit like going to war if you've ever read Machiavelli):

THE LAW
(1) Know who has decision-making power under the law
(2) Know on what terms they have that power
(3) Read it - the law that is.

YOUR ARMY
(1) Work out whose support you could muster (ie. other gamers, parents groups, games developers and distributors) and think laterally to other lobby groups who might help in a 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' kind of way - groups that generally oppose regulation or restrictions on content (adult entertainment industry?? or the like) and make a deal, enlist their help, their resources and their votes.
(2) Organise your supporters into groups based on where the decision-makers are so that you have coverage.

THE ENEMY
(1) Know your enemy - they know you - once you understand them you know what you're up against and you've brought the whole thing out into the open.

Happy hunting....

realitybites

6 years ago

Anyone work in retail in Australia?

Can R rated material be sold in the likes of KMart, Target, etc?

The Xbox 360 supposed parental control concept is cool. If a parent can be bothered to work it out and put the pin code.

No system is perfect but at least it tries to cover another stupid loophole in the law.

Spanca

6 years ago

R rated material is fine, just as with movies.

ObsoletE

6 years ago

realitybites wrote

something the PS2 came with too, so as you see, Sony aren't the only ones who omit information when it suits them.

(at least, my first gen PS2 has the ability to block content over a certain rating via a password. i don't know how many games or DVDs actually let the system know what it is rated though, since i've never bothered to set mine.)

Anonymous

6 years ago

Does anoyne know what happened in the meeting? COuld we have some sort fo follow up articel or something, I'm really interested tio find out what happened.

evil_kenshin

6 years ago

well its good results, unfortuatly the problem is still with that goverment of south australia, it was because of him that last time the R rating failed, everyone else who is needed to agree before its given a yes agreeded to an R rating, so until he is out of power theres little hope with it

Sin Ogaris

6 years ago

I'm kinda wondering what people want in games to require an R rating. Only game I know of where it would be justified is Phantasmagoria (and maybe Postal, but that games wasn't any good anyway, so it's not like it'd get into the wrong hands).

ObsoletE

6 years ago

well, it would allow us to have un-editted versions of Rockstar games.

you're right though, it is a double edged sword, especially without strict controls on retailing R (or even MA games now) to minors.

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