Gamers Have Your Say: R18 Games Rating Discussion Paper Announced

Are game makers ‘Predators’ or are Michael Atkinson’s ideas ‘Alien’?

by dkpatriarch

© 2009 David Hilton

Yes this could be another one of those let’s ‘pretend’ to listen to the public and then watch one man (South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson) stop any changes to the current system, but if gamers don’t do anything, then nothing will be done for sure to change Australia’s current game ratings debacle of a system.

Leading supporters of a change to the system, r18games.com.au, have announced:

After 18 months of waiting, Brendan O’Connor, Federal Minister for Home Affairs, has finally released the discussion paper for R18+ classification. The discussion paper and the submission template are both available for download here.

While neither he nor the Government had formed a view on whether the Classification Scheme should include an R18+ classification for computer games, Mr O’Connor encourages “everyone with an interest in this issue to contribute to the discussion so the Government can ensure all community views are considered.”

Submissions for the discussion paper close on 28 February, 2010.

The discussion paper outlines arguments FOR and AGAINST the introduction of an R18+ rating for video games in Australia.

After seeing yet another game refused classification and now being reviewed (Aliens Vs. Predator) gamers should be able to see that this issue is going to affect more and more titles.

Rebellion has previously stated it will not release a toned-down altered less violent version of Aliens vs. Predator in Australia if the appeal fails on Friday (December 18 2009). (UPDATE 18/12/09: The board has passed it after the review).

OXCGN encourages gamers to download the discussion paper and politely have your say in the hope that something will be done soon.

Gamers and parents this is your chance to make a difference!

Discussion Paper HERE.  To make a submission (PLEASE DO!) go HERE.

Other stories on the subject from OXCGN,:

• Modified Left4Dead 2 Passes Classification In Australia: Click Here
• Australia has left Left 4 Dead 2 for dead: It’s banned: Click Here
• Why Has Risen Fallen?  The R18 Debate Revived In Australia: Click Here
• R18+ Debate: Let The Bureaucracy Begin! Click Here
• Game Censorship: One Versus 91%: The Aussie Game Rating Farce: Click Here
• Fallout 3 Reclassified MA15 + in Australia: Huzzah! Click Here
• Fallout 3 Falls foul of the OLFC as well as TV Opinion Panel- our thoughts: Click Here
• R18+ Ratings in Australia- Up to Australians! Click Here

You can visit other Australian gaming sites, such as AllAgeGaming, to get their view on the matter, and help support their efforts as well as ours.

GAMES THAT HAVE  BEEN BANNED IN AUSTRALIA:

1. 7 Sins Banned because of high impact of sexual references.
2. 50 Cent: Bulletproof Banned because of high impact violence and cruelty. A censored version was later released.
3. Blitz: The League Banned because of drug use.
4. BMX XXX Banned because of sexuality and nudity in relation to incentives and rewards. A censored version was later released.
5. Dark Sector Banned because of high impact violence. A censored version was later released.
6. Dreamweb Banned because of a scene of sexualised violence. However, the game was censored, and re-released with an M15+ rating in 1996 for “Medium level animated violence.”
7. Fallout 3 Banned because of in-game drug use. Edited world wide due to the insignificant changes to wording that was done. Therefore Australia got the same version as other countries under a MA15+ rating.
8. F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin Banned because of high impact violence, Warner bros. interactive later appealed the decision and received an MA15+.
9. The Getaway Original released uncut, more content was found that was deemed too much for the MA15+ rating. A censored version was later released.
10. Grand Theft Auto III Banned because of sexual violence. A censored version was later released. PC version was released uncut.
11. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Had its classification revoked following the Hot Coffee controversy and sexual violence. A censored version has since been classified MA15+.
12. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Pre-Censored before submission because of sexual violence. PC version was released uncut.
13. Grand Theft Auto IV Pre-censored before submission because of sexual violence. An uncut version was later released for the PC. A patch was later released to completely uncensor the Xbox 360 version Of the game. The PS3 version has not received the patch, as it came with The Lost And Damned.
14. Left 4 Dead 2 Refused classification as it failed to gain a MA15+ rating.  Now moderately altered version has passed MA15+ rating level.
15. Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude Banned because of sexuality and nudity in relation to incentives and rewards.
16. Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure Banned because of high impact violence and the glorification of graffiti.
17. Manhunt Was available for a while but later banned because of high impact scary violence and cruelty.
18. Manhunt 2 Banned because of high impact scary violence and cruelty.
19. NARC (2005 update) Banned because of high impact violence and illegal drug use.
20. Postal 2 Banned because of gross, abhorrent content (urination, high impact violence, animal cruelty, homophobia, etc.)
21. Phantasmagoria Banned because of high impact violence, cruelty, and a scene of sexual violence involving rape.
22. Reservoir Dogs Banned because of high impact violence and cruelty.
23. Risen Banned because of sexual activity and drug use related to incentives or rewards.
24. Rule of Rose Banned because of high impact violence and cruelty.
25. Sexy Poker Banned from being released on WiiWare due to nudity used an incentive. This is currently the only banned WiiWare game.
26. Shellshock: Nam ‘67 Banned because of high impact violence; however, it was re-rated MA15+ by the Classification Review Board in its uncut form, upon appeal.
27. Shellshock 2: Blood Trails Banned because of high impact violence.
28. Silent Hill: Homecoming Banned because of High impact violence such as: Drilling into body parts. Konami has since modified the game to meet MA15+ guidelines.
29. Singles: Flirt Up Your Life Banned because of sexuality and nudity in relation to incentives and rewards.
30. Soldier of Fortune: Payback Banned because of high impact violence. Activision has since modified the game to meet MA15+ guidelines.
31. Tender Loving Care Banned because of high impact violence; however. It was however submitted for rerating and has since been re-rated MA15+.
32. The Punisher Banned because of high impact violence. Edited worldwide and this edition was passed through with an MA15+. Australia got the same version as America.
33. Voyeur Banned because of a scene of explicit sexual dialogue.
34. Aliens Vs. Predator Was reviewed by the Classification Board and now has passed (18/12/09).

© 2009 David Hilton