Michael Atkinson explains his stance on a R rating for games

[lapzod]

If it makes you feel better, I wish I never saw it.

And I can't find any listing of 9 Songs being classified...

[MikeZombie777]

[lapzod]

[Fetidchimp]

So, if SA has there own censors, then can't he just make it so that R rated games are banned from sale in SA only and let the grown ups go do their thing. This point in particular makes him an utter dickhead for blocking the rest of us even though he can easily block R games from his own state, fuckhead.
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kill, kill, kill.....the white man. Kill the white man, kill

[Jeffie]

Has this guy seen what makes it on youtube?

[Shorty]

Don't get him started. He'll probably want to start "protecting the children" from that, too. And we already have enough people supporting the daft Internet filtering scheme.
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"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

[Chief Breakeverything]

Wow, amazing how some people on this forum will use anything as an excuse to further hang shit on SA, instead of focusing on the actual main issue.

It really is sad that we're still having to debate over the establishment of an R18+ classification for video games. In a time of multi-million dollar budget titles, they are still being viewed as 'dem there Atari 2600 kartidges' instead of interactive multimedia. In an age where they cross a wide demographic of people, they're still looked upon, by those who deny their legitimacy as an adult entertainment medium, as something only particpated in by school social outcasts (ie. think pocket-protector variety).

I can see Atkinson watchcing that Simpsons spoof of Scoolhouse Rock ('An Ammendment TO Be) and taking it literally.

[Shorty]

If by "social outcasts" you mean "children". Much of Atkinson's responses to this issue have been about "protecting children".
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"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

[Benza]

[Mush Man]

Edit (28/2/2011): This post was stupid. It is now removed.

[Azshade]

Dear Hon. Michael Atkinson.

I am writing to you to give you my opinion, and indeed the collective opinion of my friends, on the situation with R18+ games. I strongly disagree and urge you to reconsider your current stance on this situation, for a number of reasons.

1: Piracy.

Piracy as we know is a big problem. Currently, games that would recieve the R18+ title are refused classification (effectivly banned). Because you cannot purchase these games in Australia, games falling under this banner have a much greater risk of being pirated. The best example I can think of is Reservoir Dogs video game (a sequal to an R18+ movie).

2: Costly changes for companies.

If companies want to get their games into Australia, they have to squeeze into the MA15+ rating. To do so, some games (ex Fallout 3, and historically Duke Nukem 3D) 'tweak' their games. This is both costly to the game company and an 'insult' to Australian gamers, saying that we aren't as 'mature' as our American counterparts.



3: I quote from PALGN (http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=13587) the following.

"I have three sons who regularly play computer games at home - the eldest is now 22," noted Atkinson. "I see my children become physically and emotionally obsessed with games, and it is difficult to drag them away from the gaming console. The repeated act of killing a computer-generated person or creature desensitises children to violence."

Whilst I can understand your concern, you missed a logical flaw in this argument. If your sons are ALREADY having these issues, clearly prohibition is not the answer. I must stress I mean no disrespect in my views here. I simply argue that banning does not prevent the situation. There are still many violent games that fall into the MA15+ category and also piracy. It simply drives it 'underground' so to speak.

4: I actually support STRONGER ratings.

I would like to see many games currently recieving MA15+ an R18 in the future (and not just games, I have strong objections to SAW movies being MA15+ and I say this being an avid SAW fan). I feel that there has been to much leniency given to MA15+ because they (OFLC) know, if they don't give it that rating, they ban the game.

5: We're not children.

The problem with games and gamers is that, it's now generational. People of my age (late 20s-30s) grew up with games. My parents owned a video arcade in Narabri NSW when I was growing up. I was surrounded with sit down pacman games and pinball arcades. Over the years, the games have progressed, and I've played them all. I went from Ataris and Commedore 64s to, now, I am an avid PC gamer. Every one of my friends are gamers. From my... to be frank... lazy 'dole bludging' friends, to my university friends from Nursing, my collegues at work, my girlfriend. My relatives all play games to some extent aswell. My bother is a school teacher and my sister in law a specialist oncologist, and both play the Xbox 360 with their eldest (of 4) child, who is 8. (Halo being the favourite).

My point is, Mr Atkinson, that to my generation, computer games is thought of in the same light as Television. I truly understand your concern about violence in the games, but I feel your method of adressing it is not the apropriate method. Is Fallout really now "child safe" because it modified the drug references? Can I really show Soldier Of Fortune to my nephew now because it's got a MA15+ rating? I've seen many a parent simply ignore the rating when purchasing video games for young children.

In all situations, in all media, the biggest safeguard for children remains the same. Good parenting. Regardless of the rating, a good parent should play the game with the child, at least at first. My brother's opinion, and one I share, is that playing a game with a child is a good bonding experience aswell.


To summerize I support:
* R18+ for games, as there are many adult gamers.
* Stonger enforcement of games (that is, some MA15+ would than fall into the R18 category).
* Awareness (government ads) brought to parents of the reason for ratings and encouragement to abide.

On last anecdote. Of all the things that I saw as a child, playing many video games and watching horror movies (Aliens, Friday the 13th) etc. The one thing that truly haunted me was Who Framed Roger Rabbit, where the 'toon' was dropped into acetone 'acid' bath. It was rated PG. My point is, no matter how strict the rules, somethings always going to get through. I don't see how 'punishing' the adult gamers stops anything.

[ObsoletE]

^ That scene in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? used to give me nightmares as a kid too.

i'm so not going to sleep tonight...
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[Dani]

Wow.

Who's read this? It's a response to the Attorney-General's letter to the Advertiser from an opposer of Mr Atkinson's stance on an R18+ rating, and it's a fantastic read. I wanted to give this grandpa video gamer a standing ovation.

http://www.kotaku.com.au/games/2009/03/atkinson_addresses_r18_rating_kotaku_reader_responds.html

Sorry if it's been posted, too good to miss if it hasn't.

[Fetidchimp]

Wow alright, i cannot believe how incredibley stupid atkinsons letter was in the first place, from someone that i can only assume regards himself as intelligent, it read like a bloody primary school student wrote it.
And it is very smug. You don't agree with me, well too bad ner ner.

Lets face it the man is a clown and will always be one, pretty sure i saw him and half the labor party jumping out of a small red mini with large shoes on tap dancing yelling shit storm and setting fire to 40 billion dollars.
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kill, kill, kill.....the white man. Kill the white man, kill

[Dani]

[ObsoletE]

this just in, Mr Atkinson's response:
"well my dad could beat up your dad."
more on the hour.

---
one part of Terry's mail i find somewhat spurious is his comment on representing the state as a whole, vs his own constituents.

it's true that as AG, he should be considering the sentiment of the state first, but since the call was made to vote him out, well the only ones who can do that are the people in his electorate, so in that regard, he's right - his opponents in Croyden will have to win over the immigrant vote, which may not be an easy task.
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[Fetidchimp]

This arse about face rumblings of society at the moment are just astounding me, it is inherently obvious to anyone with half a brain that atkinson is clutching at straws with this carry on about stopping people from getting games that you can run over hookers in for example (I love how the issue with running over hookers, whenever mentioned is the fact you can pick up your money afterwards, not the fact you ran down a hooker in the first place) when you can already get those games, when you are 15.

"i just ran down a hooker!!"
"Sweet man!"
"yep now to get my money back"
"YOU EVIL LITTLE BASTARD!!"
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kill, kill, kill.....the white man. Kill the white man, kill

[avjamash]

I still dont see the argument, the MA15+ games we have, I think about 80% of them should be R18+ any ways, I don't think we should get more adult oriented content through in our games with the exception of things like having the uncensored version of Left 4 Dead 2, but I think we need to get this rating so that parents will stop buying their 5 year old kids, GTA and the like, i had a customer today who asked me for the best MA15+ games for her 6 year old kid because i quote "THATS WHAT HE LIKES, THE VIOLENT FIGHTING SHOOTING KILLING AND BLOODY GAMES" she was seeking out MA15+ games because her 6 year old likes it, WE NEED R18+ so parents like this realise, THIS IS NOT FOR YOUR 6 YEAR OLD KID. shit i dont care any more.