In Australian Govt., One Guy is Blocking Badly-needed R18+ Rating

October 30, 2008 -

With a number of high-profile games facing bans or near-bans, gamers in Australia are literally begging for the addition of an R18+ classification.

But, as The Age reports, one guy is screwing it up for everyone.

GamePolitics has reported in the past on the anti-game antics of Michael Atkinson, the South Australian Attorney General. The Age has the latest:

Censorship ministers in March agreed "in principle" to canvas public opinion on the proposed introduction of a R18+ classification for games and release a discussion paper on the issue, but Mr Atkinson has refused to agree to make the report public, effectively shelving it...

"Games may pose a far greater problem than other media - particularly films - because their interactive nature could exacerbate their impact," Mr Atkinson said. "The risk of interactivity on players of computer games with highly violent content is increased aggressive behaviour."

Australia is the only developed country without an R18+ classification for games... Ron Curry, CEO of the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia, [said] "You could be forgiven for taking a view that the South Australian Attorney-General has now actively censored the debate on censorship. What's next?"

GP: It's amazing that one guy can stand in the way of a nation of gamers.

Big thanks to: GP reader Jarrod from Australia for the tip!

And did we mention that... The Australian government is moving toward implementation of mandatory Internet censorship? Just like China!

Now that's progress...

Posted in

Comments

Re: In Australian Govt., One Guy is Blocking Badly-needed R18+

Submitted by Andrew Eisen on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 18:41.

Here you go.

Findings:

-Games provide a sense of acheivement, unlike passive mediums like television.

-Active participation decreases the tendency to "forget" your experiencing a fantasy vs. non-interactive visual mediums.

-Gamers find violence in television and movies more upsetting than violence in games.

Andrew Eisen

Re: In Australian Govt., One Guy is Blocking Badly-needed R18+

Submitted by DeepThorn on Fri, 10/31/2008 - 21:36.

thank you

Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls

Re: In Australian Govt., One Guy is Blocking Badly-needed R18+

Submitted by Brendan on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 20:02.

Thats a great study.

Thanks for the link!

Re: In Australian Govt., One Guy is Blocking Badly-needed R18+

Submitted by VideolandHero on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 17:27.

Why doesn't anybody get rid of him? He obviously doesn't represent the people of Australia.

--- Official Protector of Videoland!

Re: In Australian Govt., One Guy is Blocking Badly-needed R18+

Submitted by Vake Xeacons on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 19:25.

We see this censorship in Asia, Australia, and Europe. Can a U.S. censorship be far behind? We've passed unconstitutional, anti-amendment-one laws before...

Re: In Australian Govt., One Guy is Blocking Badly-needed R18+

Submitted by Dejaa on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 21:16.

If no one does anything, then sure, US censorship could be on it's way. It's really just a question of how far can government push it's power without anyone really pushing back.

Re: In Australian Govt., One Guy is Blocking Badly-needed R18+

Submitted by Ashkihyena on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 22:20.

Hopefully if it ever does come to that (heaven forbid), I think the people in the States would be very, very vocal about it, hopefully.

Re: In Australian Govt., One Guy is Blocking Badly-needed R18+

Submitted by Thomas McKenna on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 22:13.

We've already got the FCC, which dictates what you can and can't do/say on tv or radio.

Re: In Australian Govt., One Guy is Blocking Badly-needed R18+

Submitted by Rabidkeebler on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 22:29.

The FCC is limited (though there is a push on extending its power) but basically it only has power for things that can be accessed freely (ie the radio air waves and tv air waves). Cable isn't restrained by this, though the push for ala carte may send it that direction. Plus, the courts have been pushing back against some of the more stupid FCC censor stuff (the fleeting explitives for instance).

Foaming at the mouth

Re: In Australian Govt., One Guy is Blocking Badly-needed R18+

Submitted by hellfire7885 on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 17:16.

He is likely damn proud of this too.

Shout box

MechaTama31: I mean, of the groups being bullied here, which of the two would you refer to collectively as "nerds"?10/19/2014 - 11:30pm

MechaTama31: But that's the thing, it doesn't sound to me like he is advocating bullying, it sounds like he is accusing the SJWs of bullying the "nerds", who I can only assume refers to the GGers.10/19/2014 - 11:21pm

Andrew Eisen: Interesting read. Unfortunately, too vague to form an opinion on but at least now I know what faefrost was talking about in James' editorial.10/19/2014 - 10:39pm

Neo_DrKefka: Breaking GameJournoPros organized a blacklist of former Destructoid writer Allistar Pinsof for investigating fraud in IndieGoGo campaign http://blogjob.com/oneangrygamer/2014/10/gamergate-destructoid-corruption-and-ruined-careers/10/19/2014 - 8:57pm

Neo_DrKefka: Only good thing I seen come out of the Biddle incident was the fact a professional fighter offered to give 10k to an anti bullying charity for a round in the ring with Biddle.10/19/2014 - 7:49pm

Neo_DrKefka: Even after all the interviews she is still on twitter making fun of people with disabilities (Autism) yet she is a part of the crowd that is on the so called right side of history...10/19/2014 - 7:48pm

Neo_DrKefka: Which #GameGate supports are constantly being harassed and bullied. Brianna Wu who I told everyone she was trolling GamerGate weeks ago with her passive aggressive threats was looking for that crazy person in the crowd.10/19/2014 - 7:47pm

Neo_DrKefka: I believe the problem #GamerGate has with Sam Biddle is he is apart of this blogging group that in a way hates or detests its readers. Also being apart of the crowd that claims its on the right side of history isn't helping when he is advocating bullying10/19/2014 - 7:45pm

MechaTama31: Of course, I'm looking at these tweets in isolation, I don't know a thing about the guy.10/19/2014 - 7:06pm

MechaTama31: If anything, the sarcastic implication seems to be that the SJW crowd is bringing back the bullying of nerds. But it's the GGers who are out for his blood? I'm lost...10/19/2014 - 7:01pm

MechaTama31: I don't really get this Sam Biddle thing. The reaction to his tweets seems to be taking them at face value, but... they're tongue in cheek. Right?10/19/2014 - 7:00pm

Andrew Eisen: I have it. The problem, so far as I can tell, is neither of them allow me to overlay my webcam feed or text links to my Extra-Life fundraising page.10/19/2014 - 4:08pm

quiknkold: and yes, its free10/19/2014 - 4:05pm

quiknkold: should grab Hauppauge capture. has mic support and can upload directly to youtube10/19/2014 - 4:05pm

Andrew Eisen: The former.10/19/2014 - 4:00pm

quiknkold: was it StreamEez, or the StreamEez feature in Hauppauge Capture? cause I know Capture has alot more support from the devs.10/19/2014 - 3:54pm

Andrew Eisen: I actually tried StreamEez last week. Flat out didn't work.10/19/2014 - 3:53pm

quiknkold: I use the Hauppauge Capture software's StreamEez. Arcsoft showbiz for recording. I just streamed a few hours of Persona 4 Golden with zero problem using the program. Xsplit is finniky when it comes to Hauppauge10/19/2014 - 3:40pm

Andrew Eisen: Trying to capture console games and broadcast with Open Broadcaster System because I've had technical difficulties using XSplit 3 weeks in a row.10/19/2014 - 3:37pm

quiknkold: and what are you trying to capture?10/19/2014 - 3:31pm

All shouts

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