R18+ – Let’s just get this thing done

We couldn’t agree more with this piece on Kotaku from Mark Serrels.  Well said Mark!

Have your say on the new Draft Classification Guidelines

The Federal Attorney- General’s Department is inviting feedback on the new Draft Classification Guidelines.

To view the guidelines click here.

To complete the online survey and have your say, click here

Draft R18+ computer game rating guidelines released

The Minister for Justice Brendan O’Connor today released draft guidelines that would support the introduction of an R18+ classification for computer games.

The draft guidelines have been distributed to State and Territory Classification Ministers to assist in their decision making ahead of a meeting in July to decide whether to create the new rating.

“The Gillard Government wants to provide better guidance for parents and remove unsuitable material from children and teenagers,” Mr O’Connor said.

“The introduction of an R18+ classification will help achieve that and will also bring Australia into line with comparable nations,” he said.

“This issue has been on the table for many years, without the necessary progress to make a change.

“We’ve recently seen several states publicly express their support for an adult only rating for games and I’m keen to reach a unanimous decision at the July meeting,” Mr O’Connor said.

Under present legislation, an R18+ classification for computer games can only be introduced with the agreement of all Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers.

“The draft guidelines make it clear that sexually explicit games or games with very frequent, strong and realistic violence will not be allowed in the MA15+ category,” Mr O’Connor said.

The draft guidelines:
• provide safeguards to restrict the availability of material that is unsuitable for children
• address the difference between films and computer games, especially in terms of interactivity
• ensure that the Refused Classification category is retained.

A national telephone survey by Galaxy last year showed that 80% of the 2,226 people contacted said they support the introduction of an R18+ classification for games.

Those results built on public consultation in which 98% of about 57,000 people supported the introduction of an adult classification.

The draft guidelines were first distributed to Classification Ministers at the last Standing Council of Attorneys General meeting in March, and are now being distributed publicly to facilitate further community feedback.

The draft guidelines are available at www.classification.gov.au. Public feedback will be accepted online until Wednesday 22 June 2011.

Media Adviser: Jayne Stinson 0458 547 512 jayne.stinson@ag.gov.au

R18+: Rationality is Dead

This is a great piece written by Mark Serrels over Kotaku on the absence of any rational argument in the R18+ debate.  To read click here.

Review of the National Classification Scheme Starts

Government Threatens R18+ Showdown

As reported at abc.net.au, if there is no agreement to change the rating system for computer games at the next SCAG meeting in July, there could be a wide-ranging shake up of the Classification Act.  To read more click here.

July is crunch time for the R18+ decision

Fed Media Release

Minister For Home Affairs And Justice – The Hon Brendan O’Connor MP

Saturday, 5 March 2011

Minister for Justice Brendan O’Connor says July will be the time for Classification Ministers to decide on introducing an R 18+ classification for computer games.

“Australians who’ve been following this debate will know that this issue has been on the table for many years, without the necessary progress to make a change,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Last year the Gillard Government declared its position and it’s time for all States and Territories to declare their hand on this issue.

“The introduction of an R18+ classification for computer games will provide better advice to parents and help prevent children and teenagers from accessing unsuitable material,” he said.

(more…)

CEO’s thoughts on the banning of Mortal Kombat

The granting of another RC to a video game clearly designed and targeted at ADULTS again highlights the shortcomings of the current classification scheme. In particular, the absence of an adult classification.

As with many other forms of media, there is a demand and place for an adult themed narrative. We trust adults with this material in other media forms, yet deny them similar access simply because it’s a ‘game’.  We would not accept the  argument that because it’s “unsuitable for a minor to see or play” that it should therefore be banned in any other media form, so why video games?

When a highly anticipated game receives an RC we can expect two things to happen; interest in obtaining the game will actually increase and people will still get the game either through importing (ordering online) or pirating; the latter an encouragement to commit a crime in order to perpetuate the crime of accessing illegal content. Ironically, the game is then widely available in Australia without any identifiable classification markings. How is this informing parents and protecting children?

It is the industry position that an adult classification sends a clear message to the public that the content is not suitable for minors and is the most effective means of guiding access to mature content. Refusing classification of titles that meet adult rating criteria in every other Western country in our digital age is ineffective and naïve.

It is also important to highlight that content that exceeds the guidelines of an R18+ classification, should it be introduced, would still be refused classification and banned in Australia.

Gamespot reveals that an R18+ decision is impossible at March SCAG

As reported today by Laura Parker at Gamespot,  the current NSW Attorney-General will not by attending the March SCAG meeting as his Government will be in caretaker mode, pending the NSW State Election.  Therefore a decision on R18+ can not be made as it requires unanimous agreement from all State and Territory Attorneys-General.  To read the article, click here

Stephen Conroy Supports R18+ for Games Classification

David Ramli over at arnnet.com.au has interviewed Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy and discovered that Senator Conroy strongly supports an R18+ for games in Australia.  To read the interview, click here

Kotaku – Classifying the Unclassifiable

Mark Serrells over at Kotaku has done a great job of explaining the challenges we face with Classification – not just R18+ but the bigger picture.  To read the article, click here.

NZ Chief Censor on Video Games – Parts 1 and 2

NZGamer.com recently had the chance to interview the Deputy Chief Censor, Nic McCully about video games and classification in general in NZ.  To read part one the interview, click here.

The second part of it’s interview with the Deputy Chief Censor, Nic McCully.  This part of the interview focuses on the future and some of the issues that arise as part of the classification process.  To read, click here.

Review of the National Classification Scheme Announced

21 December 2010

Video Games Industry Disappointed by R18+ Classification Continued Delay

Sydney, Australia – Friday, 10th December 2010 – A decision to introduce an R18+ classification for video games has been postponed today following a Standing Committee of Attorneys General (SCAG) meeting in Canberra.

Ron Curry, CEO of the iGEA, says, “It’s disappointing that an adult rating for video games will be delayed once again despite mass support from the Australian community, whether it is from adult gamers who want the right to play games that appeal to them or parents who want clear guidelines for their children.”

We are however pleased that the industry has been given the opportunity to put forward its arguments for an adult rating and encouraged by the tremendous support the issue has received from the Federal Government, and the active engagement by each Attorney General at today’s meeting on the issue.   We’re hopeful that the weight of evidence and the comprehensive research into the matter will ensure an adult rating is introduced when the Attorney-Generals reconvene,” said Curry.  (more…)

Final Analysis Shows Huge Support For R18+ Computer Game Rating

The Federal Minister for Home Affairs and Justice Brendan O’Connor has released the final analysis of feedback from the public on introducing an R18+ classification for video games. The final report will be tabled at this Friday’s (December 10) meeting of Classification Ministers and will help inform their decision making. More than 58,400 people responded to the call for submissions on the proposed new adult only category.

Of those that responded, 98.4% voiced support for an R18+ computer game classification.

To see the official release and comments, click here

Brendan O’Connor Writes for the Punch on Why the Govt backs an R18+ Rating

To see the opinion piece on the Punch, click here

The Centre for Independent Studies Publishes an article on R18+

Dr Jens Schroeder has written an article for the Centre for Independent Studies on the case for an R18+.  To read the article, click here

Gillard government advocates for R18+

“We want to provide better guidance for parents and remove unsuitable material from children and teenagers. The introduction of an R18+ classification will help achieve that.”

The announcement comes ahead of Friday’s Standing Committee of Attorneys-General meeting, where Classification Ministers will be asked to make a decision on the issue.

“We believe that this is the right decision for Australian families and the right decision for parents who want to be able to make informed choices about the games their children play.”

“Children and teenagers shouldn’t be exposed to the gratuitous sex, violence and adult themes that are contained in some computer games,” Mr O’Connor said.

“There are dozens of games that are currently classified as MA15+ in Australia, but in other countries these gaming titles are restricted to adults only.

“If the new category is introduced, it could result in computer games that are currently classified MA15+ being reclassified R18+, providing a new level of protection for children.”

“Games that are currently refused classification and do not meet the standard required for R18+ classification will remain in the refused classification category.”

The argument for a new adult classification is backed by research, some of which has been released in recent weeks. (For details visit www.ag.gov.au/gamesclassification).

The latest available data is a Galaxy survey, requested by the Standing Committee of Attorneys- General in May to assist Ministers in their decision making.

The national telephone survey shows that 80% of the 2,226 people contacted said they support the introduction of an R18+ classification for games.

“This survey also reflects the community feedback that I and many members of the Gillard Government have received from our constituents in recent years,” he said.

The national survey found that, of those surveyed:

Support was strong across all States and Territories:

The survey results build on the recent public consultation, where 98% of about 57,000 people supported the introduction of an adult classification.

Australia’s most restrictive classification for video games is currently MA15+. Games that do not satisfy this category are refused classification and cannot be brought into Australia.

An R18+ classification for computer games can only be introduced with the agreement of all Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers.

Media Adviser: Jayne Stinson 0458 547 512 jayne.stinson@ag.gov.au