February 26, 2008
Earlier this week GamePolitics reported on a proposal to add an R18+ rating for video games in Australia.Currently, games judged by government censors as too mature for 15-year-olds are effectively banned Down Under. But Cnet reports that Aussie gamers shouldn't be too optimistic about seeing the new rating any time soon:
A decision to introduce an R18+ rating down under still looks like it is months to years away from actually happening. A government spokesman said:
Usually those things move pretty slowly at those meetings. It can take years for things to get through. I would imagine Victoria would just present these materials and the states would go away and have another think about it until the next meeting.
Meanwhile, Labor Government Shadow Attorney-General Joe Ludwig (left) actually has doubts about the need for an R18+ rating:
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.
Comments
So the fact that when a game that should get an R18+ gets rated one of the following happens isnt a problem then?
1 - gets banned outright
2 - gets edited and rated at MA15+
3 - gets rated at an age rating too low, ie MA15+ (no way should Bioshock be that rating for example)
While im sure the first 2 are "no problem" the third surely is.
Because there's nothing wrong with censorship. Nope. None at all, you freakin'
As far as I'm concerned, both parties don't give a shit about this sort of thing, much to our dismay.
Stay Classy,
Clever
Much as I want an 18 rating here, these things just take time, and lets face it video game ratings are bound to be low on the priority list... something would honestly be wrong if they were high.
Just five things off the top of my head that would be far more important than getting an R18+ rating. The states are going to want to conduct their own studies and that could take a while.
My advice would be patient, write letters to your local State premier and federal members, draw up a petition and make your voice heard but don't whine about how long it takes. With far more important things on the agenda, I'd personally rather see this at the back of the line, behind looking after the general Australian public instead of the gaming community.
So how does it make sense to top out the rating system at 15, under half the age of the average gamer? 18 makes sense because that's about the worldwide average for when your legally an adult
"Just five things off the top of my head that would be far more important than getting an R18+ rating."
You are falling into a bit of a common fallacy here, one that lawmakers use to their advantage, well, a lot.
We tend to think of groups as giant individuals that can only do one thing at a time, but realistically the government is working on hundreds or thousands of issues simultaneously. Something like this could be slipped through quickly without having ANY effect on the timetables of other more pressing issues.
Only the State Victorian Attorney General has voted to openly support the R18+ rating for Videogames back a few years ago....
Sadly this does not win the votes for others...
He's now the Minister for Human Services: http://www.senatorludwig.org/
For what it's worth, it's pretty irrelevant what he said then and CNet shouldn't have really run the quote and you shouldn't have made things worse by taking it out of context. The fact this is being discussed at all demonstrates that discussion on this in the government has moved on from that point. That doesn't mean it will happen quickly but at least they are discussing it. Given the relative importance of this issue compared to say, indigenous health issues or global warming, not to mention rolling back the Liberal Government's "workchoices" legislation etc etc etc it's not surprising that this won't be a priority.
It's worth noting that all state and federal Attorneys-General have to agree with the changes to the classification system - which, if this were supported by the federal govt, shouldn't be a problem, since Labor are in office in every state and federally. Although it may take time, eventually the rating will happen - states like Victoria and NSW have long called for the bill. It was the former Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock, a conservative, who blocked it during the previous goverment.
I know full well that it's a common misconception. I used to personally know a sitting member of federal parliament. They discuss a lot of things and do a lot at the same time, and always have someone on their case about something.
The way I should have worded it was "I believe they should focus on those issues". I know our pollies always have someone on their doorstep complaining about something so if the gamers here take a more mature approach rather than jumping up and down, we're more likely to be taken seriously.
Yes, there is a culture here of "video games are for kids" but if we all write letters, get petitions together and take what the politicians consider to be the "official route", we're more likely to be taken seriously on this issue.
That's all very well but you realise we've been doing the letter writing and petition thing for well over a decade now right? It's like X rated videos in Queensland. Every year (normally coinciding the sexpo) they put together petitions of thousands of people and every year the petition is ignored.
There is no route for the public to effect policy change in most areas as they are simply ignored and just suggesting everyone that complains go into politics is a pretty silly response to this.
Well, here's the problem. Because of Australia's draconic and repressive system there is next to no developers that are willing to test the waters with adult content for fear of being banned in their own backyard. It is a chlling effect that pisses me off so badly because I work in Australia's largest development studio.
I wrote the Attorney Generals and Ministers in regards to this very issue this morning, and I hope to get some form of reply. When I do, I will post it here. My letter is below.
Good morning Hon. A.G. Michael Atkinson, Hon. A.G. Robert McClellend, Hon. Minister Bob Debus and Hon. Minister Joe Ludwig.
I recently read a report on CNet via http://www.gamepolitics.com about the government's views on games classification. This was followed by this aggravating report (http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23282288-5014239,00.html) that Mr. Atkinson still opposes the introduction of an R18+ classification for games, despite equivalent and higher ratings being applied to other media such as film. I have been working in the games industry for some time now as a designer, so I am involved in all aspects of game development. I have often wondered how Australia can justify such an archaic and hypocritical ratings system when related to interactive entertainment. I fail to see how the State and Federal governments can not see the hypocrisy behind allowing movies as violent as Saw or more recently Rambo to have an adults only rating but then Refuse Classification to far less gory forms of entertainment, such as the games Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, Soldier of Fortune 2 or the recently banned Dark Sector. An R18+ rating is an absolute necessity for the future growth of the industry and economy here in Australia
Games are not just children's toys. They are an art form and the premier entertainment choice of millions of people around the world, with thousands of titles targeted at all different age groups. Games developers are educated, intelligent and creative people and Australia's draconic ratings system is a constant slap in the face to every artist, programmer and designer. Games development is turning into an economic powerhouse, and worldwide games revenue exceeds all other forms of entertainment.
1. Australia earns $100 million in export revenue from games each year.
2. The Australian interactive entertainment industry employs approximately 5,000 people.
3. 14% of all game classification decisions are in the MA15+ category.
4. In the first six months of 2007, the total market for interactive entertainment hardware and software grew by 30%.
Source: http://www.ieaa.com.au/5.research/top_10_industry_facts.html
Further study by Bond University, with support from the IEAA shows that gaming is not a children's hobby. The full study can be found here: http://www.ieaa.com.au/5.research/Interactive%20Australia%202007.pdf
1. The average age of gamers is 28 years.
2. 60% of players are male. 40% are female.
3. 8% of gamers are seniors (over 60 years).
4. Women and older Australians are the fastest growing audiences for interactive games.
5. 35% of gamers are parents.
6. 60% of gamers play for up to an hour at a time a few times a week.
7. 73% of parents say that games help their children learn about technology.
8. Playing computer and video games does not compete with non-media and outdoor leisure activities. Instead it competes with other media such as TV, film and music.
9. Research by the Australian government shows Australians are confused about the difference between the M and MA15+ classifications.
10. 88% of Australians support a common classification system for games and films.
The first and last statistic are perhaps the most relevant to my point. The average age of a gamer is 28 years old. An undeniable 88% of people support a media wide classification system. Eighty-eight percent. I ask you, Hon. Minister Atkinson, how can you justify refusing an R18+ rating when 88% of Australians support a common classification. Further, how can you justify said action when Australia is one of the only countries in the world to not have an adult classification for games. Australia is so far behind the curve of new media because of these sentiments that many people are turning to piracy in order to have the choice of playing these products. No matter how much you try, you will never be able to stop piracy and the most pirated materials are those that are effectively banned from sale. One poster on Gamepolitics sums it up:
… this is the type of thing that leads to piracy. Or at least it would if our internet wasn’t slower than most 3rd world countries. I’m so baffled as how to how this new rating is nothing but beneficial? Am I to actually put faith in a ratings board that allows me to buy the most sick and depraved pornography imaginable to the most gruesome of slasher flicks but would say that Soldier of Fortune 2 is strictly out of bounds? As a developer living in Australia I’ll tell you first hand that the ratings board is so slack on what it considers it appropriate for 15 year olds (bloody chainsaw guns barely raised a fuss). But then other things are blown out of proportion. This confuses me to no end… Thank goodness for torrents I suppose…
Stay Classy,
Clever
When Australians heard about the government considering an R18+ rating for games from the mass media, gamers everywhere rejoiced. This is something we've been trying to push for years, and people from all other countries have called our ratings system 'backwards' and 'ridiculous'. Not only is the lack of an adult rating for games hurting the consumers choice (it is effectively censorship), it is providing a chilling effect to all games development studios in Australia to not produce adult content. It is huirting the games retailers of Australia who lose revenue from not being able to stock these titles, it is hurting developers all around the world as Australians turn to piracy to obtain the product. The lack of an R18+ classification for games is hurting Australia's economy. Considering that 88% of Australians believe that we need a common classification for films and games, and that the ministers of our government are supposed to be speaking for the people, how can you possibly turn this down again?
Lastly, I realise there are certain issues that are more important in parliament than games classification, but the interactive entertainment industry is growing exponentially and because of Australia's draconic content classification system, the Australian economy is missing out on the most rapidly growing industry in the world.
I, on behalf of game Developers of Australia; and all adult gamers of Australia, strongly urge you to look at the facts and the statistics. Look at what the people of your country are crying out for and institute an adult rating for games that should have been in place since the very beginning, like almost every other free developed country in the world.
Sincerely,
Christian Carriere
Level Design
Krome Studios HQ
111 Constance Street
Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006
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Ph: 0419 786 460
E-mail: christiancarriere@kromestudios.com
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Anyway,
@Shih Tzu:
That's one of the inherent problems with the draconic and repressive system that we have. There is no developer in Australia that is willing to push out truly adult content for fear of being banned in our own backyards. It is a chilling effect that pisses me off so much, because I work for Australia's largest developer Krome Studios.
I wrote a rather nice letter to the parties involved, which I tried to post twice but disappeared into the vapour of GP....
Have a squiz at what Labour wants to do to us next...
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=910501
This is a thread on the Whirlpool forums (Australian Broadband discussion) about the current governments attempt to bring in "Great Firewall of China" filtering to all Australian ISP's.
The reason: To keep the kids safe from kiddie porn.
Besides, Labor can't afford to piss of the Family First senator that holds a vital swing vote in the Senate atm.
http://www.familyfirst.org.au/policy/policypornography.pdf
Oh yeah, they are also thinking of compulsory ISP filtering of P2P content. So much for net neutrality...
Australia. The lucky country. We're getting more socialist each year and we're slipping towards freaking communist/nanny state at an alarming rate.
http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23282288-5014239,00.html
Always some old guy who thinks he knows better... Email him at the following email if you want to show your opposal to his position.
attorney-general@agd.sa.gov.au
I know I will be...
Wait, politicians are there to act as a representative by the majority, who voted them into power, correct? So by that means, they're job is to represent what we as the majority call for, correct?
So even though there's a majority of people calling for this change, because of their own personal opinions, they're going to simply ignore what is being requested of them and simply do whatever they want?
ENJOY YOUR DEMOCRACY, AUSTRALIA
"just suggesting everyone that complains go into politics is a pretty silly response to this."
Not exactly what I was suggesting. I guess I'm just tired of listening to people whine, so I am tending to go with the option of saying "if you think you can do a better job, do it yourself".
South Australia huh? What a (non) surprise - they (the AG i mean) blocked it the last time there were talks....
It's almost as if their government is trying to make people stop gaming once they reach a certain age.
As much as the GDAA can picket and form alliances, sign petitions and provide debates and lectures it all falls onto the heads of the Attorney Generals and if even one of them disagree, the motion will not be passed. Great way to run a democracy, huh?
/angry.