It looks likely we’ll finally get an R18+ rating for games, but what does that mean for existing games and future titles? Over at Kotaku, Tracey has a comprehensive explanation of how re-classification works which is well worth a read. [Kotaku]
It’s expected that around 30 per cent of us will complete the Census online tonight, up from 10 per cent in 2006. And while it may be funny to enter Jedi or even Pastafarian as your faith if you’re not particularly religious, you should know that your stat won’t count, and that results are used by groups like the Australian Christian Lobby as an example of how many Australians share their viewpoint (whatever that may be). More »
The tragic Oslo bombing and shooting have reignited debate about recent R18+ game classification announcements. All because the psychopathic killer’s rambling manifesto mentioned Call of Duty. But there seems to be a stronger link with religious fundamentalism than games, see: Oslo Terrorist Played Call Of Duty, World of Warcraft – So? Gizmodo’s own Seamus Byrne was on Sunrise to debate Jim Wallace from Australia’s Christian Lobby. Video updated! More »
So the Attorneys-General of each state and territory have met today, and Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor believes that an R18+ classification for games could arrive in a matter of months. All states have agreed in-principle, except NSW who “just need to take it back to cabinet and discuss it”. This would be fantastic news for adult gamers, freedom of choice, Australian censorship, and straight up common sense. More at [Kotaku]
As spotted over on Kotaku, Brendan O’Connor has released the draft R18+ video games classification guidelines. But having the guidelines and understanding them are two different things entirely. More »
It’s been an interesting afternoon in games classifications-land. First off, the South Australian Attorney General John Rau claimed that he’d support an R18+ rating on the proviso that the MA15+ rating was scrapped. Then Gamespot reported that Rau was claiming South Australia would go it alone and launch an R18+ rating regardless of what the Attorneys-General decided at the next SCAG meeting. Turns out that may not actually be the case. More »
Mark over at Kotaku has written an awesome post summing up why the debate over an R18+ for games keeps stalling: because most of the people arguing against it choose to ignore the facts and aren’t actually interested in debating the issue on its merits. Essential reading, even if you’re not a gamer yourself. [Kotaku]
The Classification Review is now underway, with the first committee hearing taking place last Friday. Said hearing didn’t discuss the R18+ issue directly, as a result of the upcoming SCAG meeting in July, but plenty of anti-R18+ campaigners, including Lyle Shelton of the Australian Christian Lobby, were in attendance and commented directly on broader issues of classification. More »
The federal government made its position on an R18+ rating for video games quite clear last year in the lead up to the December 10 SCAG meeting. But David Ramli at ARN managed to get Communications Minister Stephen Conroy to personally endorse the rating, although his reasons for supporting it leave a bittersweet taste in the mouth. More »
Mark from Kotaku has been a tense combination of anxiety and excitement today with the Standing Committee of Attorneys General meeting to discuss an R18+ rating for video games today. But it looks like getting the AGs to unanimously agree to common sense may be a little bit beyond their abilities. More »
