Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

January 27, 2009 -

As GamePolitics readers know, South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson (left) is viewed by many gamers Down Under as being the roadblock to the implementation of an R18+ video game rating. Australian films already have such a rating, so why not video games?

Atkinson spoke at length with GameSpot about his opposition to the R18+, which to date has proven insurmountable:

The interactive nature of electronic games means that they have a much greater influence than viewing a movie does. People are... essentially rehearsing harmful behaviour...

I have three sons who regularly play computer games at home... 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...

Extreme violence, perverted sex and criminal activity are not essential for adults to enjoy playing electronic games. There are plenty of sophisticated games that are of interest to adults... Some of the most popular and highly recommended games for adults would not be R18+ rated.

Critics sometimes claim that I am ruining the game development industry. There are very few computer games that are refused classification each year. In 2007/8 just three computer games were refused classification... This represents avery small proportion of the 961 [rating] decisions made last financial year...

Some of your readers may believe that the present system restricts adult liberty. It certainly does restrict choice to a small degree, but that is the price of keeping this material from children and vulnerable adults. In my view, the small sacrifice is worth it...

Comments

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by sortableturnip on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:39.

Unless the people have the ability to vote for or against having a 18+ rating for video games, it's essencially communism...

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by Mordiceius on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:40.

Not communism. Totalitarianism.

----------

My gaming blog: www.mordiceius.com

---------- My gaming blog: www.mordiceius.com

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by Krono on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:38.

I see my children become physically and emotionally obsessed with games and it is difficult to drag them away from the gaming console.

And I've seen people become physcially and emotionally obsessed with watching sports, and it be difficult to drag them away from the tv/tailgate party.

The repeated act of killing a computer-generated person or creature desensitises children to violence...

Nope. You can repeat it as often as you like, but it does not make it true.

Extreme violence, perverted sex and criminal activity are not essential for adults to enjoy playing electronic games. There are plenty of sophisticated games that are of interest to adults... Some of the most popular and highly recommended games for adults would not be R18+ rated.

They aren't essential for movies either, yet there is still a subset of movies and games that contain those things.

-Gray17

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by Zerodash on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:37.

For a country stereotyped by brave manliness, the Austrailian government sure are a bunch of pansies...

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by sortableturnip on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:41.

Fourth Bruce: No. Right, I just want to remind you of the faculty rules: Rule One!

Everybruce: No Poofters!

Fourth Bruce: Rule Two, no member of the faculty is to maltreat the Abbos in any way at all -- if there's anybody watching. Rule Three?

Everybruce: No Poofters!!

Fourth Bruce: Rule Four, now this term, I don't want to catch anybody not drinking. Rule Five,

Everybruce: No Poofters!

Fourth Bruce: Rule Six, there is NO ... Rule Six. Rule Seven,

Everybruce: No Poofters!!

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by Nekowolf on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 13:22.

Classic. Just classic. I commend you!

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by Geoff on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:51.

http://www.quizilla.com/user_images/M/montypythonrules/1042929605_turesbruce.jpg

 

Tea and cake or death! Tea and cake or death! Little Red Cook-book! Little Red Cook-book!

Tea and cake or death! Tea and cake or death! Little Red Cook-book! Little Red Cook-book!

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by Mordiceius on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:39.

Okay, we get it. You don't want your kids or other people's kids playing ultra-violent video games. How about your just impose heavy fines on stores that sell these 18+ games to minors and then beyond that leave the responsibility for the parents to decide what their kids can and cannot see?

---------- My gaming blog: www.mordiceius.com

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:43.

Funny you should mention that. That is exactly what they do for movies and if they got that rating for games the same fines would apply to game sales as well.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by Meddle on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:36.

"Some of your readers may believe that the present system restricts adult liberty. It certainly does restrict choice to a small degree, but that is the price of keeping this material from children and vulnerable adults. In my view, the small sacrifice is worth it..."

Maybe in ass-backwards Australia where you waste tax money on aborigines, but here in the real world liberty and free choice trump anything.

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by BrandonL337 on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 19:23.

"Those that would sacrifice liberty for(false) secerity will lose both and deserve neither"

Ben Franklin

There have always been motherf*ckers, there will always be motherf*ckers, but what we can't do is let them control our motherf*cking lives. -John Oliver, December 1st, 2008

There have always been motherf*ckers, there will always be motherf*ckers, but what we can't do is let them control our motherf*cking lives. -John Oliver, December 1st, 2008

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by Rodrigo Ybáñez ... on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:36.

F*ck1ng a55h0l3... that´s all I want to say... that´s the only way to describe him.

The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by Father Time on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 16:59.

Err profanity isn't censored on this site.

----------------------------------------------------

Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.

---------------------------------------------------- Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by wintermute on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:29.

He's completely missing the fact that a number of games get neutered in Australia just so they can get a rating and get released.  He's also missing the fact that no single person can or should ever be the moral voice for an entire country.

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by DarkSaber on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:22.

'For the children'. Man I'm sick of hearing the war-cry.

--------------------------------------------------

I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by Ashkihyena on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 14:51.

You're not the only one, its unnesscary, its bull, and its blocking the needed 18 rating down under.


Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by Geoff on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:44.

You and me both, my friend.  You and me both.

To quote one of my heroes (can ya guess which one?),

"Save the children!  You know what I say?  Fuck the children!"

 

Tea and cake or death! Tea and cake or death! Little Red Cook-book! Little Red Cook-book!

Tea and cake or death! Tea and cake or death! Little Red Cook-book! Little Red Cook-book!

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by Leet Gamer Jargon on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 13:09.

Ermm...Wild guess: George Carlin? Or is it Richard Pryor?

Also, Amen to the above. The children can (and probably do, sometimes) eat dirt.

Game on, brothers and sisters.

P.S. Hey, Geoff. I'm sorry, but I've always wondered this: What does your sig. reference?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither." -- Ben Franklin Game on, brothers and sisters.

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by Geoff on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 14:36.

It's Carlin.

And my sig is from an Eddie Izzard bit.  From "Dressed to Kill" specifically.

 

Tea and cake or death! Tea and cake or death! Little Red Cook-book! Little Red Cook-book!

Tea and cake or death! Tea and cake or death! Little Red Cook-book! Little Red Cook-book!

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by vellocet on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 13:17.

It should be "Save your OWN children"

 

------- Morality has always been in decline. As you get older, you notice it. When you were younger, you enjoyed it.

Re: Australian Pol Explains Why He's Blocking R18+ Rating

Submitted by DeepThorn on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 13:35.

The biggest problem is that all of the research shows that video games cause less of an affect than movies because you have a controller in your hand the whole time doing things.  While movies you sit there and get engulfed into the fantasy world more easily.

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

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