r18+
Games
10:30AM Nick Broughall | David over at Kotaku has a nice little story about Gamers 4 Croydon, a hopeful political party hoping to dethrone South Australian Attorney-General at the next election. More »
Gamers 4 Croydon To Take On Atkinson At Next Election
10:30AM Nick Broughall | David over at Kotaku has a nice little story about Gamers 4 Croydon, a hopeful political party hoping to dethrone South Australian Attorney-General at the next election. More » 
Games
2:24PM Nick Broughall
For those of you who haven’t yet caught episode two of Byteside, last week’s games show tackled the whole R18+ rating debate. What made the discussion really worth mentioning however was the inclusion on the panel of Paul Hunt, former Deputy Director of the OFLC. You know, the guys who actually ban games. More »
An Insider’s View On The R18+ Game Rating Debate
2:24PM Nick Broughall
Games
4:00PM Nick Broughall | After plenty of online commentary, bickering, arguments and maybe the odd fistfight, the battle for an R18+ rating for games may have taken a step towards existence today after the AGs from around the country failed to reach a unanimous decision regarding the R18+ discussion paper. According to Gamespot AU, instead of being caught up in a tangle of disagreement, the Commonwealth Minister for Home Affairs, Bob Debus, has taken it upon his department to release the discussion paper to the public. More »
R18+ Discussion Paper Heading Public, Doesn’t Guarantee An Adult Rating
4:00PM Nick Broughall | After plenty of online commentary, bickering, arguments and maybe the odd fistfight, the battle for an R18+ rating for games may have taken a step towards existence today after the AGs from around the country failed to reach a unanimous decision regarding the R18+ discussion paper. According to Gamespot AU, instead of being caught up in a tangle of disagreement, the Commonwealth Minister for Home Affairs, Bob Debus, has taken it upon his department to release the discussion paper to the public. More »
Games
3:52PM David Wildgoose | Australia’s video game classification system doesn’t work, according to Michael Atkinson, the South Australian Attorney-General and chief opponent of the introduction of an R18+ category. In a letter to Kotaku today, the minister claimed he “doesn’t trust” the Classification Board to do their job properly and claims that the current MA15+ category is being stretched to the limit to accommodate the games industry’s publishers.
More »
Michael Atkinson Argues His Case, Says He Doesn’t Trust Classification Board
3:52PM David Wildgoose | Australia’s video game classification system doesn’t work, according to Michael Atkinson, the South Australian Attorney-General and chief opponent of the introduction of an R18+ category. In a letter to Kotaku today, the minister claimed he “doesn’t trust” the Classification Board to do their job properly and claims that the current MA15+ category is being stretched to the limit to accommodate the games industry’s publishers.
More »
Games
1:28PM Nick Broughall | We’re all familiar with the stubborn refusal of SA Attorney General Michael Atkinson to rationally debate the merits of an R18+ rating for video games, but it appears he’s quickly descending into Ewe Boll territory to argue with his critics. In response to a letter from Kotaku AU reader Terry, a 57 year old grandfather gamer, Atkinson responded to Kotaku and challenged their readers to go up against him at the next election. More »
Michael Atkinson Challenges Gamers To Take Him On At The Next Election
1:28PM Nick Broughall | We’re all familiar with the stubborn refusal of SA Attorney General Michael Atkinson to rationally debate the merits of an R18+ rating for video games, but it appears he’s quickly descending into Ewe Boll territory to argue with his critics. In response to a letter from Kotaku AU reader Terry, a 57 year old grandfather gamer, Atkinson responded to Kotaku and challenged their readers to go up against him at the next election. More »
Games
Atkinson Fights The
4:00PM Nick Broughall | As another working week draws to a close and you begin to wonder what manner of horrible evils are lurking out there in the world to destroy the wonderful ideals of a handful of politicians, know that your children are just a tiny bit safer today thanks to South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson. Not only has he not changed his mind about having a universal rating system for all forms of entertainment in this country including video games, but he’s actively delaying the public discussion (again) by refusing to provide his final comments on the matter. More »
Atkinson Fights The Good Fight By Delaying Discussion On R18+ Games
4:00PM Nick Broughall | As another working week draws to a close and you begin to wonder what manner of horrible evils are lurking out there in the world to destroy the wonderful ideals of a handful of politicians, know that your children are just a tiny bit safer today thanks to South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson. Not only has he not changed his mind about having a universal rating system for all forms of entertainment in this country including video games, but he’s actively delaying the public discussion (again) by refusing to provide his final comments on the matter. More »
Games
3:30PM Nick Broughall | If you’re a gamer, you might want to get angry now: maybe put on some old-school Rage Against The Machine, crank the volume up, find a stress ball and pummel it mercilessly. Because according to Jason Hill over at Screenplay, SA Attorney General Michael Atkinson has withdrawn his support for a discussion paper and public consultation on the issue of an R18+ rating for games.
Back in March, he agreed in principle to the idea of a discussion paper and public consultation, which would provide a wide selection of research and opinions on the issue. While it wouldn’t actually mean the new rating would be introduced, it at least meant that the issue was on the table for discussion, and there was hope for adult gamers across the country. Now that hope has been dashed by Atkinson’s refusal to even support the research, meaning any official discussion has also been shelved.
Considering that all six of the other AGs support the discussion part, if not the introduction of the R18+ rating itself, how can we truly call ourselves a democracy when one narrow-minded, outdated man can ignore the facts and enforce his personal opinions on a nation? Especially when that opinion leaves us drowning in a tide of stupidity while the rest of the developed world looks down at us from the comfort of their deckchairs on the beach of common sense?
I don’t know enough about politics to understand what processes need to occur to bring it about, but the simple fact is that the system needs to change. No one man should have the power to hold the country to ransom.
[Screenplay via Kotaku] More »
The System Needs To Change: Atkinson Withdraws Support For Discussion Paper On R18+ Games
3:30PM Nick Broughall | If you’re a gamer, you might want to get angry now: maybe put on some old-school Rage Against The Machine, crank the volume up, find a stress ball and pummel it mercilessly. Because according to Jason Hill over at Screenplay, SA Attorney General Michael Atkinson has withdrawn his support for a discussion paper and public consultation on the issue of an R18+ rating for games.
Back in March, he agreed in principle to the idea of a discussion paper and public consultation, which would provide a wide selection of research and opinions on the issue. While it wouldn’t actually mean the new rating would be introduced, it at least meant that the issue was on the table for discussion, and there was hope for adult gamers across the country. Now that hope has been dashed by Atkinson’s refusal to even support the research, meaning any official discussion has also been shelved.
Considering that all six of the other AGs support the discussion part, if not the introduction of the R18+ rating itself, how can we truly call ourselves a democracy when one narrow-minded, outdated man can ignore the facts and enforce his personal opinions on a nation? Especially when that opinion leaves us drowning in a tide of stupidity while the rest of the developed world looks down at us from the comfort of their deckchairs on the beach of common sense?
I don’t know enough about politics to understand what processes need to occur to bring it about, but the simple fact is that the system needs to change. No one man should have the power to hold the country to ransom.
[Screenplay via Kotaku] More »
Games
2:30PM Nick Broughall | Tell us something we don’t know: Bond University has just announced the results of its most recent study into gaming in Australia, and it turns out that South Australian Attorney General is an uneducated dingbat in his war against an R18+ rating for games: The average age of gamers in Australia is 30 years old, and 68 per cent of Australians play video games.
The survey was conducted across 1600 households and involved more than 75 questions in a 20 minute survey. Among the other findings are that 66 per cent of adults aren’t aware that there isn’t an R18+ rating for video games, and 91 per cent of both gamers and non-gamers believe that the rating should be introduced.
It also found that gaming is a social, family pastime, with 70 per cent of parents in a gaming household playing games and 80 per cent of those playing with their kids. More »
Study Shows Gamers Are Generally Adults And We Need An R18+ Rating For Games
2:30PM Nick Broughall | Tell us something we don’t know: Bond University has just announced the results of its most recent study into gaming in Australia, and it turns out that South Australian Attorney General is an uneducated dingbat in his war against an R18+ rating for games: The average age of gamers in Australia is 30 years old, and 68 per cent of Australians play video games.
The survey was conducted across 1600 households and involved more than 75 questions in a 20 minute survey. Among the other findings are that 66 per cent of adults aren’t aware that there isn’t an R18+ rating for video games, and 91 per cent of both gamers and non-gamers believe that the rating should be introduced.
It also found that gaming is a social, family pastime, with 70 per cent of parents in a gaming household playing games and 80 per cent of those playing with their kids. More »
Games
2:20PM Nick Broughall | Outgoing Kotaku AU Ed Logan sent off a heap of questions to the Australian Classifications board a couple of weeks ago. And now they’ve gotten back to him. Seems that boy’s got connections.
Among the most revealing bits of information are that customs can seize any items contravening regulation (like an game refused classification) and you could be fined up to $110,000; that they board doesn’t actually play the games that they classify; and exactly what the reasoning was behind Fallout 3 being refused classification.
It’s an insightful read, even if it doesn’t alleviate the frustration at a flawed system. Make sure you check it out.
[Kotaku AU] More »
Australian Classifications Board Tells Us Why There’s No R18+ Rating And More
2:20PM Nick Broughall | Outgoing Kotaku AU Ed Logan sent off a heap of questions to the Australian Classifications board a couple of weeks ago. And now they’ve gotten back to him. Seems that boy’s got connections.
Among the most revealing bits of information are that customs can seize any items contravening regulation (like an game refused classification) and you could be fined up to $110,000; that they board doesn’t actually play the games that they classify; and exactly what the reasoning was behind Fallout 3 being refused classification.
It’s an insightful read, even if it doesn’t alleviate the frustration at a flawed system. Make sure you check it out.
[Kotaku AU] More »
Games
2:27PM Nick Broughall | There are two things that this Friday seems to be missing here on Giz. The first one is beer. The second is a healthy dose of rage. I’m hoping that the first one naturally turns into the second, although after watching the video above, I’m actually thinking that it might work the other way around.
You see, Logan over at Kotaku got pointed in the direction of this clips from ABC program Q&A. It’s a fairly new show that lets people in the audience ask questions of politicians and their kind about topical current events.
As you can see from the video, the topic in question here is the need for an R18+ rating for games in Australia. What spews forth from the politicians’ mouths is something many would find more offensive than any super-violent game – total ignorance. This wouldn’t be so bad if they admitted they weren’t in a position to make any kind of judgment, but instead most of them used it as an opportunity to propagate their own beliefs and opinions without a passing consideration for the facts. More »
Australian Politicians Have Absolutely No Clue About Gaming
2:27PM Nick Broughall | There are two things that this Friday seems to be missing here on Giz. The first one is beer. The second is a healthy dose of rage. I’m hoping that the first one naturally turns into the second, although after watching the video above, I’m actually thinking that it might work the other way around.
You see, Logan over at Kotaku got pointed in the direction of this clips from ABC program Q&A. It’s a fairly new show that lets people in the audience ask questions of politicians and their kind about topical current events.
As you can see from the video, the topic in question here is the need for an R18+ rating for games in Australia. What spews forth from the politicians’ mouths is something many would find more offensive than any super-violent game – total ignorance. This wouldn’t be so bad if they admitted they weren’t in a position to make any kind of judgment, but instead most of them used it as an opportunity to propagate their own beliefs and opinions without a passing consideration for the facts. More » 
