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.
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.
Big news for games fans yesterday – The Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’ Connor officially announced on Sunday morning that the Julia Gillard Labor government officially supports an R18+ rating for video games in Australia. Now we just need the AGs to play ball.
Through a combination of chance and providence, I’ve spent the past few days in LA with Rockstar Games checking out the amazing Motionscan technology being used for their upcoming detective crime thriller L.A. Noire, while back home Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor is making announcements about adult games classification. Things are looking good.
On December 10 2010, the Attorneys-General from across the country will meet for the last SCAG meeting of the year. On the agenda is an issue close to many a Gizmodian’s heart – an adult classification for video games. And leading the charge to build public awareness for the issue are our friends and colleagues over at Kotaku.
At a public forum in the western Sydney suburb of Rooty Hill last night, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said he would be “happy to look at” an R18+ rating for video games if he won the election. But he said he didn’t know there had even been a debate on the issue…
For anyone hoping that the Standing Committee of Attorneys-Generals would be reviewing the need for an R18+ games classification this month, prepare for disappointment – David over at Kotaku brings us word that the discussion has been delayed yet again.
It’s somewhat amazing that former Queensland premiere not only has an editorial in the Australian today arguing for the introduction of an R18+ rating, but he also attended the recent E3 gaming expo in LA. This makes him the second high profile Queensland politician who’s argued for adult games classification.
We’ve been arguing for years now that the classification system is broken. Well it turns out that Tony Abbott – leader of the Opposition and only real alternative to KRudd for Prime Minister of this country at the moment -agrees with us. Although I’m guessing it’s not for the same reasons…
Remember when John Rau was named new the new South Australian Attorney General and Gamers4Croydon guy Chris Prior said he was pro adult games classification? Not so, according to the man himself. He’s told Gamespot AU that he’s taking a much more measured view on the issue:
