An R rating would protect children

[izzzbo]

[pixelatedgames]

Alright ... Mike here at work is around 50 something? And I was just talking to him about the R18+ issue.

I was telling him about Manhunt. I said "I'm a female, normal in most ways, but you know what? I like this sort of game" and went on to talk about other games (GTA etc)

His reply? .... "hmmm they should ban the games, and not let them into the country atall so the kids don't get their hands on them"

I then went on to tell him about the mother who bought her 12yr old GTA IV and said "He's mature for his age" and the mother probably had no idea what the child was playing, only that they asked for it so the mother bought it.

I was telling him perhaps there should be stricter policies on who can buy the games (photo ID etc) and perhaps parents being more aware of what their children are playing. I brought up points about movies and tv shows with ratings and restrictions for the reasons of violence and sex, swearing etc etc etc and why this wouldn't work the same for games?

Mike still thinks these games should be banned and not allowed into the country atall. And that I'll just have to miss out on the game.

*frustrated*
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[ObsoletE]

well, presumably he runs for office on topics other than backwards logic, this just happens to be 1 part of his overall ticket.

everything else he stands for might be completely logical and rational, and even beneficial to his electorate, but in voting for those things, voters also vote for this nugget of annoyance. like it or not, the rating issue probably isn't really a major issue for most people.

(note: i've actually got no idea what his other policies are, but they must be somewhat popular for him to continually be voted in.)
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My Play-Asia Affiliate Link.

[Fetidchimp]

He did outlaw bikie gangs and i'm pretty sure he got lot's of plaudits for that.
Basically belonging to any bikie gang in SA makes you a criminal automatically i believe.
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kill, kill, kill.....the white man. Kill the white man, kill

[Qbert]

^Wow that is beyond stupid if true, possibly on par with being as stupid as banning R18 games, but luckly I have no desire to join a bikie gang.

Actually it's not quite as stupid, it would be more like instead of banning bikie gangs, making the members who are considered highly dangerous by every western country bar Australia to go and ride around on BMX bikes with kids who just turned 15.
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[renegadesx]

[avjamash]

Hey guys, I just had a thought. I was thinking, if we introduce R18+ we will see what, 3 games more a year max? With games slipping into the MA15+ category, it means more sales on games. I know would sell allot less GTA (all of em) if it were R18+ because as it stands, parents are allowed to buy these for their kids, thus generating healthier sales. I actually am now not sure if I want R18+ for games, because if it does get implemented, sales of some game would literally drop and drop hard because ignorant parents will then not buy them for their kids. Maybe we aught to consider leaving this system as it is for the sake of sale and economy? What do you think? Perhaps this could be Michael Atkinson's secret hidden agenda as to why he is stopping R18+? if it is, very clever and not as dumb as I thought you were Michael Atkinson.

[Island_Wolf]

[Benza]

[avjamash]

Ok Island wolf, i hear you , but dont you see he is either dumb or blind for blocking R18+? thats the point i am trying to make here, and as a retailer, i sell a parent gta (or something similar) for their under 13 year old (and as young as 5) at least 3 or 4 times a week, and at release? it was as much as 2 or 3 a day average over a few weeks. so waiting 3 years? some maybe waiting 10 years before they are of legal age to purchase. These parents are either ignorant, or don't give a SH!T. And you fail to bring to argument that THE GAMES ARE ALL READY HERE, GTA should be R18+ and Fallout 3, the list can go forever, but with R18+ its restricted like PORN, give to kids, and your in trouble. Most of you argue for R18+ to get the games, I want it to stop these idiot parents buying 5 year olds GTA and Kane & Lynch, or Saints Row. I over it, i posted what i did earlier to prove a point, to show how dumb this is. I honestly don't think we will get many more games by having an R18+ as there are still set criteria to block particular content (currently in use for MA15+ or giving a game RC) So if we get R18+ chances are, that content will still be BANNED. but overall, the games that are slipping through at MA15+ will hopefully be correctly classified into R18+. Do you understand yet? no? well stop playing games and educate your mind a little. Im MASH, im 24, i sell games, and im sick of selling ADULT games to parents for their 5 to 12 y.o. kids. Even after i warn half of em, i just gave up and sell them the game now. (to the parents that is). I can argue all day, why? cuz im angry!

[Benza]

So basicly what you're saying is
"Hey don't mind me encroaching your personal freedoms, it makes more profit in the end so it's all good"

Yeah... how about no?
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[slewis69au]

Atkinson is disingenuous to say the least. All of his arguments have been completely refuted.

When he is confronted with this he rubs his fingers together childishly and accuses everyone of being motivated by money. Which in itself is an argument that has been refuted - we are talking about 3-6 games a year here! Hardly enough money for people to be going around commissioning surveys and rallying public opinion.

He is blocking public consultation because he thinks he knows better - he does not. It really is that simple. Support organisations like Everyone Plays and get this into the mainstream.

And stop sending the guy abusive e-mails and letters - he loves them and uses them as an example of why Australian gamers cannot be trusted. He makes my blood boil too but he is thriving on the abuse and using it to further his cause!

[Fetidchimp]

i think we do support everyone plays around here for some reason...
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kill, kill, kill.....the white man. Kill the white man, kill

[mrbign]

As a gamer I might surprise many of you by being against R18+ - probably not for the reason you think. In the US they generally make games to target a low classification because it hurts sales going to T or R or whatever. If we have R18+ here there could be a lot of games being nobbled to ensure MA instead of R. Gamers already complain about the GTA4 cuts but they could get worse to avoid the new R rating. The other effect could be what happened with Nintendo Australia during the GameCube era where they just didn't bother releasing some games here - TimeSplitters 3.

I'm socially responsible as well as selfish though and I agree with avjamash and the article that MA15+ means nothing to parents with regards to videogames. I believe Mr Atkinson is completely wrong by saying no R18+ for games is protecting children because like avjamash's anecdotal evidence says, parents are the ones buying the games most of the time.

[Benza]

[Qbert]

^And on top of that, how many people make games primaraly for the Austrlaian market?
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[mrbign]

[Fetidchimp]

Only one way to find out......
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kill, kill, kill.....the white man. Kill the white man, kill

[ObsoletE]

[jemborg]

Sorry to be so late in replying...

Your article was good, well argued. I have thought this before but it was put together quite cogently. But Atkinson does not really state what he really wants, he only hints at it.

He wants power, SA is rather a police state. He doesn't want to protect the children... he wants to "protect" ALL of us, from ourselves. He wants control over the CONTENT of all videogames, e.g. Resident Evil 5 (he proudly states he's had it, and others, censored here). This he would lose with an "R" classification.

It's pretty damn obvious he will never listen to "thoughtful considered reasoning" on anyone's part since this is his actual agenda. He's not misguided or stupid... he's laughing at you/us.

PS: He's just a turd.
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It's a lot easier being righteous than right.

[Sinthesys]