Labor not planning on introducing an R18+ rating for games

PALGN News | Neither party wants R rated games.

Australia's games classification system is a little bit behind the rest of the world, with us being one of the only developed nations without an R18+ rating for games. This means games need to be able to squeeze into an MA15+ rating or be banned for sale in Australia, recent titles that won't be allowed in Australia include Manhunt 2 and Soldier of Fortune: Payback.

Gamespot spoke to Labor Party shadow attorney general Joe Ludwig who told the website that he doesn't think there are any 'fundamental problems' with Australia's current games classification regime.

"While I understand that many in the community desire the addition of an R18+ rating for video games, the Federal Labor Party does not believe that there are any fundamental problems with the functioning of the Classification system in Australia and, as such, we do not currently have any proposals to work with state governments to introduce such additional ratings for video games," Ludwig said.

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42 Comments

admeister

4 years ago

Luke wrote

Labor not planning on introducing an R18+ rating for games by Luke

PALGN News: Neither party wants R rated games.

[View Article]

Hardly, it's not as if the Liberals are going to do so either.

ObsoletE

4 years ago

Quote

(Joe Ludwig) doesn't think there are any fundamental problems" with Australia's current games classification regime.

the fundamental problem comes through in the enforcement of the current schemes.

fix those, and perhaps introducing a higher rating for games will have a chance.

Quote

Don't vote Labor then?

i realise this is a joke, but it's doesn't really fix anything. i mean, voting Liberal isn't going to get the R18+ rating in either.
it's essentially just another area that you can't split the 2 major parties on.

Itachi

4 years ago

hahah looks like you got 2 fish today Luke

keep up the good work. We can wait Australia until there is a AAA++ game coming out that is banned than we will here Australia Cry where is the R+ rating system.

ShadowOnline

4 years ago

Why is SOF:Payback banned? SOF2 got released here, and if I remember correctly, the original SOF had problems getting released but ended up on the shelves eventually, if I'm not mistaken. But going by that trend, SOF:P will probably still make it... but meh anywayz, we all know we can import these games ourselves anyway, just not for re-sale. Legal to own, illegal to sell, so meh.

But yeah, I know it's still pathetic that us adults get treated like this.

tbenton

4 years ago

As they stated on Good Game last night, people are just going to download the game for free anyway.

Fetidchimp

4 years ago

good save on the don't vote labor then

Let us all be thankful that the Family First party have 0 chance of running the country, because we would all be playing games based on Fantasia (although that is probably satanic to them anyway) and woody woodpecker. Thats if they allowed us to get games at all.
I just love how politicians seem to think that there is only 5 people over 18 playing games and they would be too busy playing games to vote anyway, wise up suckers.

Fly

4 years ago

Fetidchimp wrote

good save on the don't vote labor then

I wouldn't go that far for politicians, they would actually have a fairer assessment of the demographics of those purchasing games since if they were wrong the entire policy would then be baseless whereas those of us outside of politics can get away with a simple "Oh it wasn't 1% but 47? Oh well." What was stated, was that Federal Labor sees no reason to alter the classification system ratings wise, since really if we can't enforce the sale of graphic material to minors as it is then how are we then supposed to enforce the sale of a new classification? I think it's kinda harsh to blame any political entity for not wanting an R18+ classification for games with the current rate of enforcement on sales wise, considering how much backlash they would then get if angry mother purchased a game for kid who's too young to buy it and then absolved all guilt when kid is exposed to bare breast or burning fake man screaming obscenities with a chainsaw and no pants!

Because you know that as soon as the system is brought into disrepute by idiocy blame will automatically be forced upon those who implemented the system and not those who were charged to enforce it. So while I would like to see the classification, it's unrealistic with the current trend.

ObsoletE

4 years ago

^ exactly.

and with the uproar that occurs everytime a GTA game is released, can you imagine what it'll be like when some kid gets a hold of a game that deserves an R rating?
it won't be the parents fault for letting their guard up, no, it'll be the polly's for allowing such a game in the first place.

the only good thing about all this is that theoretically, the future politicians are the ones playing games now, so they should know the climate, and might have some idea how to properly police gaming classifications.

click here

4 years ago

It's all the kid's fault!They are the ones that have stopped us from getting the R rating.I say we should ban kids from videogames.

Itachi

4 years ago

Quote

the only good thing about all this is that theoretically, the future politicians are the ones playing games now, so they should know the climate, and might have some idea how to properly police gaming classifications

I really hope your right on that point obs. I think no government will touch this issue because it will say to the public "Govenment supports R+ games" pfft. ahh well we will have to wait.

mipac

4 years ago

Vote Mipac for PM, and Ill give you everything you desire

Itachi

4 years ago

mipac wrote

Vote Mipac for PM, and Ill give you everything you desire

hahah you have my vote

Fetidchimp

4 years ago

It seems to be a throwback to games = toys, toys = children

And no company would want an R rating anyway, so you are probably right.
However banning things is not much of an answer either.
Remember Films went through much the same thing a few years ago, video nasties and such, and everyone got over it in the end.

Sinthesys

4 years ago

Isn't the average age of gamers 24? Meaning that the Majority of gamers will be able to play R18+ games. More importantly, if kids can get a hold of R18+ games, they can get a hold of R18+ movies, but they don't ban them...

Fly

4 years ago

psylacine wrote

This brings in the argument of interactivity however, as without going into detail the public perception is that watching a woman remove her clothes isn't then the same as pressing a couple buttons and making the woman remove her clothes. So while the perception is that kids still shouldn't be able to access R18+ content movie wise, it becomes the lesser of 2 evils when compared to the dreaded interactivity!

Sinthesys

4 years ago

Does that mean we can legalize R18+ games if the only adult content is in cutscenese?

IISpacebreakII

4 years ago

Ohwell we will have to change one day. I don't get why they fear an R rated game for over $90, like as if its going to compare to the thousands of R rated movies sold for <$30 everyday.

Sinthesys

4 years ago

What they should fear is the lack of personal responciblity parents have in regards to what their children are exposed to. If you don't like it, don't buy it, but unfortunately we can't cover the world in bubble wrap to protect children from all the sharp corners.

Jellyfish

4 years ago

Fly wrote

psylacine wrote

Which isn't any different as to pushing buttons on a keyboard, buttons in a web browser and play in media player

Fly

4 years ago

nikack wrote

Fly wrote

psylacine wrote

Which isn't any different as to pushing buttons on a keyboard, buttons in a web browser and play in media player

I never said I agreed with it.

I'm talking in a general sense in the whole train of thought that some people take towards games being sinister and training grounds for depravity & violence because you are controlling the actions of the individuals rather then simply watching it happen. I can see why they would think like that, however, I personally view it as an archaic train of thought since in most cases just as you stated you also have to interact with the media aspect, in this regard you then also need to press play to start viewing R18+ content which is little difference in the amount of interaction to do things in a game in theory.

However, things aren't taken by theory alone and viewpoints like this have proven to be hard to alter or outright change.

genxevo

4 years ago

Fly wrote

a woman removing her clothes would be M15+, MA at most
R18+ would be a woman (or guy) being ******* in the **** while another person is ***** and ****** with ***** ******* happy ***** **** ****** lawn mower ***** on a skateboard

...just amplifying the point that you don't want a kid sitting at home getting one his dad 'private collection' of games during school holidays.

GroovySamurai

4 years ago

Yeah this is so gay why would they have a R18+ for DVDs but not for games? It really doesn't make much sense. This is one of the most sucky things about gaming in Australia, it must be pretty annoying for the developers having to take out and change content so it passes MA15+ too.

GooberMan

4 years ago

genxevo wrote

R18+ would be a woman (or guy) being ******* in the **** while another person is ***** and ****** with ***** ******* happy ***** **** ****** lawn mower ***** on a skateboard

Sounds more like an R edit of an X rated movie to me.

killer1500

4 years ago

I dunno about you guys, but if one of the parties did consider an R rating for games, Id defiantly look into voting for em.

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