PALGN, Everyoneplays and GAME Join Forces

[legend166]

Most overhyped announcement since we found out that megaton was a Naruto game.

[Fetidchimp]

[christicehurst]

[quote="Furianshi"][quote="christicehurst"]

[Cramsy]

Come sign at the Frankston GAME store that I work at

Edit: And seriously what were you guys expecting?

"Free games to all PALGN members with over 1000 posts!" ?

This is big for us and the push for an R18 rating.

[christicehurst]

[hbomb83]

[quote="christicehurst"][quote="Furianshi"]

[Zarnoss]

Honestly, to make a decision of this magnitude in regards to videogame ratings how are they coming to the conclusion that not having a R18+ rating is a bad idea?
Shouldn't they be viewing the subject at hand in an unbiased view like a judge in a court of law?
Surely look at the pros and cons of the matter, I am pretty sure that the pros would outweigh the cons.
Example...

PROS:

a) R18+ rating would allow games to be rated properly compared to at the moment games with such gorey and violent content such as resident evil 5, GTAIV have a MA 15+ rating.Do stores even check that kids buying these games are even of age even at 15? I'm sure kids younger have bought these games from stores with their parents non the wiser as a good majority of parents don't have a clue about the game content until they see it in action.I'm sure with an R18+ rating passed there would be a great deal of media about it and maybe then the parents would be more aware next time the kid wants a certain game to check the rating.

b) Allowing stores to be better able to actually be liable for selling underage kids these adult content games if they received an R18+ rating.Needing proof of age etc.

c) Unburdoning the game developers that actually have to gimp these sub R18+ rated games or worse, totally abandoning the country that does not have the rating in place.

d) Allowing developers to actually use mature content in games heightening/developing the medium instead of having to develop a game knowing that there are still these backward countries that actually don't have a proper rating system in place and have to cater as such.

CONS:

a) Some deluded people will see the advent of an R18+ system as an excuse to allow in even more gory, violent and sexually explicit games even though the utmost ultraviolent and sexually explicit games would get a ban anyways just as in movies etc.

b) Umm...Michael Atkinson won't like it?

I'm stumped to actually think of any more cons.

I'm surprised that in this day and age the system is still such a joke.There is obvious bias in the rating argument and it seems Atkinson got on the bandwagon and even with all the proper argument put forth in regard to an R18+ system being put in place he is actually being quite childish, kind of like a person on an internet forum stating that this is his view and no matter the amount of contradicting correct argument against him still stays on the same path whether to save his own ego in his own mind or just trying not to lose 'face'.
It's utter stupidity, the better person actually acknowledges when they get something wrong.

Anyways, good to actually see a bit of movement in this rating regard at the moment,hopefully this debate and petition gets out in the public eye/ear.
_________________

[Furianshi]

[Jeremy]

A point that I'm surprised that no one has brought up is the aspect of future sales. L4D2 is an interesting test case, as it was an absolute disaster for Australian retailers.

"What's one game?", you might ask. Well, it starts with one. But as games get more complex, artisitically demanding and immersive, how many more are going to follow under the current classficiation system? And then, what happens when everyone starts resorting to importing? Retailers start struggling, jobs are compromised and so forth. Sure, this might sound extreme, but it's distinct possibility. And one which I don't know why it hasn't been given more of a mention.
_________________

[pom013]

[Roland]

Hi All,

This campaign has been and, continues to be many, many hours of hard work. It starts tomorrow - a symbolic day - because "white paper" submissions will no longer be taken. This campaign keeps the cause alive. It keeps the pressure on those we put in government.

I will be telling all my friends and family - I hope folks take a similar view. We need your help, we need signatures.

Stay tuned for more announcements.

Best,

Roland
_________________

[IHateFrasierCrane]

I'll be heading down to my local GAME (Knox) tomorrow, and I urge everyone else to do the same!
_________________

[Roland]

Excellent. Petitions in-store 28/2. I'm heading to my local store too. Everyone - lets make a difference.
_________________

[Gamesta]

[Roland]

The petitions will be in store for awhile, so you'll have some time - no probs. Of course, tell all your friends too.
_________________

[IISpacebreakII]

This is great work PALGN/GAME. And for those complaining that where just doing the same thing as EB and what's the point, look at where we are. The stance on this topic in the past few months has been better then its ever been, thanks to EB, and now PALGN/GAME, we are going to alert even more people of the issue, taking steps back and being quiet while we wait for this EB petition to show results will just be a mistake, and is likely what the politicians against this are waiting for, a politicians popularity is all about how they respond to current issues, I know it sounds bad but we must be persistent to the point we drive them nuts. And we should be too, this R18+ rating would be great in so many more ways than not, its weird that we've waited so long for this to happen.

And as a facebook status, due to the fact a lot of parents and gamers use it, hope its all good

[Cody Giunta]

Though I wasn't expecting this announcement based on the build-up beforehand, I think that it's a very welcome one indeed. Well done to all of those involved for getting this off the ground and looking at the site more it seems that a lot went into it.

I think that one thing that a lot of people are overlooking is the fact that it's not just PALGN, EveryonePlays and GAME involved, but if you look at the bottom of the Everybody plays site they also have the likes of Vooks, Nintendo Basement, AussieNintendo and Australian Gamer. To have all of those groups coming together under the one banner for this one aim must have been an enormous undertaking. The way that I see it, the petitions aren't necessarily expecting to change the R18+ on the spot, but it's about showing the decision-makers that there is a will within the constituency for a new ratings system to be implemented. I hope that it's possible that other organisations get involved but this is a step in the right direction. I applaud the mature tone that has been taken throughout the EveryonePlays site - it could have easily been turned into an Atkinson-bashing exercise but you've seen the wisdom enough to know that the issue extends beyond just him. As soon as I get the chance I'll gladly put my signature down and will also be attempting to spread the word both on and offline.
_________________

[juneau]

Regardless of how effective/ineffective people think the action might be, I'll support it as it is in line with my own personal views. PALGN did state that it is only the beginning of a larger project, so it hardly seems reasonable to disregard the whole thing because the initial stage involves a petition.

I have a couple of things though, in regards to the petition itself, is this the only text on it?

[avjamash]

i agree juneau, it is the job of lawyers and politicians to use your words against you, and the fact that there is two main reasons to have R18+ in the systems divides the argument and our forces on the front into two groups, when you divide the opposition, your conquer them. They will do everything to divide us, confuse us, deter us, conquer us.

[Cramsy]

Today, GAME frankston cleared about 3 pages of signatures

Some people take a little explaining. One guy thought it was to endorse the production of even more violent games

[crescent fresh]

Let's start a political party.
CSP - Common sense party

http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/37383/Handbook_for_Registration_of_Political_Parties_for_NSW_Local_Government_Elections.pdf

Who's with me??
_________________
PALGN is the only place you need to look if you want PAL gaming news and information.

[Fly]

[Jeremy]

For anyone who is still sceptical of how serious we are about this campaign, pick up TODAY's Daily Telegraph and go to page 25.

This is the real deal people. Myself and some of the Sydney PALGN staff will be off to a GAME store to get our signatures done.
_________________

[RooRage]

[BurnZ]