The partnering of advocacy group Grow Up Australia and retailer EB Games has resulted in strong backing for the addition of an R18+ rating category for videogames in Australia.
GameSpot reports that the pair’s initiative has resulted in 16,055 signatures on their pro R18+ petition, which will now be sent to the Attorney General’s department. EB Games had called attention to the movement via in-store signage and with links and images on its website.
South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson, often identified as the lone holdout against adding an R18+ category for games among Australian Attorney Generals, has said repeatedly that the R18+ issue is one that only gamers care about.
Public responses to the Discussion Paper are due by February 28. Following the submission period, responses will be compiled into a report for Minister of Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor and other state and territory Attorney Generals.
Thanks Ryan and Magic!
Comments
Re: R18+ Petition 16K+ Strong
IN YOUR FACE MICHAEL ATKINSON! HAHA HA HA HA HA!!!!!
"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry
Re: R18+ Petition 16K+ Strong
"the R18+ issue is one that only gamers care about."
I still can't see the point he's attempting to make.
If you banned part of cycling mostly only cyclists would object... (you could replace the 'gamer' or 'cyclist' part with nearly any activity and get the same result)
I'd say the bigger issue is that he's basically admitting that nobody outside of the gamer community cares if an R18 catagory is implemented, so what exactly is the opposition to said 18 rating?
Re: R18+ Petition 16K+ Strong
ffs, honestly. Whoever wrote this article, listen up please.
You keep using "often identified as the lone holdout" despite the fact that several times now it's een demonstrated that all the other state AGs APPROVE of the R18 classification. Michael Atkinson is not "often identified" he IS.
Things that come to mind to back this up, kotaku about 2 months ago ran an article, "Send in your responses from your AGs on R18", every state came back with a "we support this policy but will wait to see the outcome of the discussion paper", except for Atkinson who said "bite me".
Gamespot ran a similar article, most of the various web forums around the place like overclockers australia and atomicmpc have all provided the same material.
That "often identified" bit is like saying Jack Thompson is "sometimes opposed to violent games".
Re: R18+ Petition 16K+ Strong
From my understanding of the situation, it's always been just one man holding the bill back as well. None of the other Attourney-Generals, as you said, have had a problem with an R18 classification, none of them except for Michael Atkinson. When I first found out Australia's highest classification for video games was MA15 I wondered why, and that's what I found out.
I still fail to understand how one man can stop such a bill from passing however. How is it that Atkinson can stop this bill and stop it alone, he clearly has no support from the other AGs and clearly the "people" want it changed, so how can one man stop this from going into motion?
Personally, the way I see it, is that until now, people didn't want to do anything about the situation. So nobody did. I think now there is a higher chance of an R18 classification being created than before simply because of the amount of people who want it and have shown an interest in such a rating. The problem starts when people have a problem with something but they don't feel like doing anything to change it.
This applies to almost everything, especially in politics. If people are not willing to stand up and fight for what they believe in then they should sit down and shut up. Revolutions didn't happen overnight and they didn't happen because people bitched about their problems but done nothing to change them, they happened because people took those problems and CHANGED them, or at least worked towards doing so.
History remembers those who had an idea and took the effort to turn it into reality, even if they failed they still tried. History won't remember those who had an idea but done nothing to make it happen. This classification should have been made years ago, so why is Australia only starting to stand up now?
-- Randi Tastix
----
Randi Tastix - http://randomtastic.com
Re: R18+ Petition 16K+ Strong
You know what i think australia needs to push for? an overhaul of the system where one single holdout can not put such a major block in the wheels.
I'm sure at the time this was decided it seemed like a good idea, hell it probably was a good idea. however this proves it isn't a good idea anymore.
Re: R18+ Petition 16K+ Strong
"South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson, often identified as the lone holdout against adding an R18+ category for games among Australian Attorney Generals, has said repeatedly that the R18+ issue is one that only gamers care about."
And he can keep saying it for all I care, because my retort shall always be "no shit, Sherlock". Gamers are clearly the most affected by this, so clearly they care about it. If nobody cared then nobody would argue, what exactly is he trying to prove here? Doesn't he get that, since it's an issue that "only gamers care about" that must mean that very few other people seem to not care about it? Which means that the whole "THINK OF THE CHILDREN!" shtick is clearly not working?
My understanding of it is quite simple, if non-gamers thought that having an R18 rating on video games was a big enough problem, they would step forward and say that. But according to Atkinson himself, few people (if any) have done this as evident by his claims that this is an issue only GAMERS care about. Therefore, clearly having an R18 rating is only a problem to him and he thinks that justifies the reason for not having one.
-- Randi Tastix
----
Randi Tastix - http://randomtastic.com
Re: R18+ Petition 16K+ Strong
According to him all gamers are children I guess.
Re: R18+ Petition 16K+ Strong
"South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson, often identified as the lone holdout against adding an R18+ category for games among Australian Attorney Generals, has said repeatedly that the R18+ issue is one that only gamers care about."
This facet has always confused me. I am an underwater basket weaver who likes to build expansion bridges in my back yard and I am an advocate of the R18+ rating category.
(see! not a gamer!)
Again I say... "Duuuuurrrr!" to Michael Atkinson.... of course its only gamers.... we are talking about a classification for games... right? I'm even more entertained that news organizations see his replay as worthy of the news. It's like saying "water is wet" or "the sky is blue" but used as a defense? Duuuurrr!
Re: R18+ Petition 16K+ Strong
"Again I say... 'Duuuuurrrr!' to Michael Atkinson.... of course its only gamers.... we are talking about a classification for games... right? I'm even more entertained that news organizations see his replay as worthy of the news. It's like saying 'water is wet' or 'the sky is blue' but used as a defense? Duuuurrr!"
Agreed. You would think he'd have clued in by now.
----------------------------
"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar
"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar
Re: R18+ Petition 16K+ Strong
What if that actually parents are also signing because they want to have a clear way to identify what games they can buy for their children? Damn, I´m also sure that people who just hate Atkinson is signing just to kick him from the office.
------------------------------------------------------------ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com
Re: R18+ Petition 16K+ Strong
I'm pretty sure I can hear a certain paper shredder in South Australia being warmed up.