Despite so many positive moves forward, the Attorneys General failed to agree on updating the classification system to include an adult rating for video games.
Apparently they decided that they need to spend more time looking at what constitutes the classification system, what would differentiate games in the MA15+ and the R18+ classifications, and have agreed to look at the issue again at the next SCAG meeting.
So it’s not a loss, but it’s not a victory either. Still, gamers and parents everywhere are feeling pretty hollow right now at the government’s inability to actually act on an issue that has been campaigned for for years.
For more head to Kotaku.
Chewy Bravo
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 4:56 PMBS
Kin Choi
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 5:39 PMif they don’t understand the system then they should resign and get someone who understands the rating system
Benjamin Mosher
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 5:48 PMfar out…not again
when is the next SCAG meeting anyway?
Brendan
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 6:05 PMshock and awe … the Labor gov’t not making a decision on something that doesnt poll easily? is anyone surprised?
Simon Reidy
Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 7:33 PMWTF does this have to do with the Labor Government? On the contrary, they announced that they are fully in support of the introduction of an R18+ Rating!
It’s the state attorney-generals holding things back here and its been this way for ages. If you’re going to have a winge at least have a clue what you are talking about.
Jon
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 6:17 PMProgress fail. Now we remain one of the only developed countries in the world with an archaic rating system for games. How embarrassing.
salmonoie
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 6:49 PMJust for the briefest of moments I thought sanity had prevailed :(
Luke
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 6:59 PMwhy am i not surprised? Out of touch old douche bags. While as you say its not a no (yet)…it sure isnt the yes us adult gamers so deserve.
Kent Dempsey
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 7:45 PMThat just it, isn’t it – ACT on it instead of sitting around yapping.
I understand that they want to nut out all the relevant issues, but seriously?
I know O’Connor said WA wasn’t the holdup but wasn’t part of this because Mr O’Connor wanted to discuss the issue with his Cabinet? Shouldn’t that have happened already?! This has been a long while coming and it’s not as if the agenda was only announced this morning. Sure, I’m not privy to the inner workings of these cabinet meetings, but seriously, discussing the issue with cabinet should be done and dusted by the time of the SCAG.
The desire to clarify what would be covered by the R and what would remain in MA should also have been worked out before the vote. Furthermore, discussing what R covers etc doesn’t preclude them from actually voting on its creation; arguably it’s a waste of time to discuss it without it being in existence already!
I smell a smokescreen…
2.
Kent Dempsey
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 7:47 PMOops maybe should’ve clarified (only just occurred to me that they’re BOTH O’Connor)… first O’Connor I mention is Brendan, second is Christian.
matt h
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 7:51 PMCan I use some appropriately r-rated language to describe how I feel about this?
Greg Fiske
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 8:47 PMI’m feeling pretty hollow about the governments inability to act on anything these days. Labor, Liberal, who cares when neither parties can actually deliver on anything that the citizens of Australia actually want/need.
mad2407
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 9:21 PMSo many times I’ve seen parents buy MA15+ games for their teenager thinking they are close enough to 15. What they don’t realize is that a lot of what is in a MA15+ game in Oz would constitute an R18 rating in other parts of the world. I am sure seeing an R18 in a box would deter those parents alot more than MA15+. I am really getting tiered of this whole situation. I don’t know what the AG’s agenda is but it sure as hell isn’t in the best interest of our children.
Daniel
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 9:54 PMI wasn’t holding my breathe. I’ve heard about this crap for years, and only heard it on sunrise/mainstream news just the other week. So while everyone thinks it’s a new thing, i know the government has been in this “limbo” for years, and won’t be making a decision any time soon.
What do you expect?! This is australia! The most pathetic nation on earth. They don’t need an r-18 rating! Heck, we don’t need anything! We should just continue to live with sticks and rocks.
Joeyjoejoe
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 10:25 PMGrrr c0ckblocked again! When will these aging dinosaurs take a reality check and realize having this classification system protects the children, not enables them! I’m a gamer and I vote, keep that in mind politicians, as you will find those that were gamers in the 1980/90′s are still gamers now, the technology has matured along with our generation. Sadly aging bureaucrats seem to think they know whats better for me than I can decide for myself. I vote we just exclude WA’s politicians they are the friggin dumbest by far and owned by the christian lobby group, and I see them as the major hurdle, hell the minister didnt even know what the meeting was about, he was just downright clueless.
Steve
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 11:25 PMThis is a hell of a letdown. No doubt that WA idiot was behind it. Will there ever be a time when we’re not represented by the willfully ignorant?
Nathaniel Kwong
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 11:52 PMwhy dont they just use stuff their not letting right now as benchmark for the R18+ rating and then organise what comes later of that?
Jay
Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 8:40 AMLooks like i will continue to import my xbox games.
boc
Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 11:42 AMIf they come up with a better and comprehensive classification system then it’s worth it.
That’s a really big IF though.
Keith Drain
Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 12:43 PMIt is amazing how unelected people, whom we don’t get to choose can have so much power over the people.