O'Connor Targets MA15+ in Push for R18+

Anzac day again...and yet real Australian gamers are still fighting for their freedom...

LOL are they still nowhere on this issue? Like i care, importing games is usually cheaper then buying here anyway

@ferretshob Look back at the past when this issue has been brought up, its always delayed, some stupid excuse is given, or, its just cut out completely. I don't like admitting it will never happen, but I'm being realistic.

BTW, I saw Gamespot's 19 minute long Fatalities video, nearly made me sick. I'm not a big MK fan, but I still support people's right to play it if they believe they can handle it and enjoy it. ... and so long as they aren't homicidal maniacs running around with fan blades or sawblade hats cutting people up and showering in their blood. Has that ever happened here in Australia? What are people freaking out about? If it's R18+, it's only for adults to play and that's fine!!

@ FlamingFury and BlueYonderBoy If you carefully read his statement, you'll actually find that popular games that are currently banned or edited like Mortal Kombat, Left 4 Dead 2 or GTA IV will be reclassified under the R18+ classifcation since they meet the prerequisites of content displayed. This means Mortal Kombat and Left 4 Dead 2 would be available in Australia with an R18+ rating. The few games that would remain banned, which I assume is what O'Connor is referring to, include games such as Postal 2 or 7 Sins which contain extreme content and would continue to be banned if the ratings board feel it is too extreme even for an R18 classification. Rest assured, if the R18+ classification is passed, we will get our Mortal Kombat. The SCAG meeting cannot come soon enough.

"Games that are currently refused classification and do not meet the standard required for R18+ classification will remain in the refused classification category." What the hell does that mean? My understanding of the R18+ classification is that any content is acceptible except when it has more lady parts showing then just front nudity then it will be classified Xrated which is for porn only. Therefore all games that have been previoulsy banned would and should have no problems what so ever fitting into an R18+ categotey no matter what the content is.

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@ FlamingFury True, but it's a start, which is exactly what we need at this point.

You know what sucks? Not being able to play Mortal Kombat, but having to listen to songs about S&M and dirty talk on the radio, where anyone of any age can hear it.

R18+ INC!!! Better be man.. Sick of this countries view on gaming.

If the R18+ doesn't pass this July, I'm selling my PS3 to any family that wants it, and upgrading my PC... I'll miss out on exclusive titles, but I see it as those titles missing out on my business.

Keep dreaming guys, this will never get passed.

Make the R18+ rating for games relevant as it is with movies... Also, we all know that playing a game and watching a movie may be different, but it is no less any higher in impact. Even with the interactive elements. It is THIS factor of the current classification board that I would like to have thrown out, because the IMPACT of the violence is only precieved by opinion and it is a disaster waiting to happen if it is not scrapped and a developer has to pay millions just to have the game re-reviewed again for classification all because of one idiot thinking that the impact is too great when other scenes of different games are similar but get passed all because of the interpretation of the IMPACT of the violence.

@marinamanson: You may be right but even what you quoted there contains a clear statement by O'Connor. "...and do not meet the standard required for R18 classification..." By that he means that the new R18 category will have its own bracket of classification and any existing game that was refused and does not meet that new R18 category will still be refused. It does not mean shifting the spectrum up. Yes it will depend on how confined the R18 category is, but it will not mean whatever got banned now will be banned in the future. To better convey what I mean, think of the current system as being from numbers 1-4. So far O'Connor is saying that games that would be 5 or 6 are being squeezed into the 4 because that's the highest available. What I'm saying is the new R18 will act as the 5 category. However, I do understand your fears that games like Mortal Kombat will still be considered a "6" game. And that's the really fruitful debate that needs to be had. Not with a bunch of anal retentive politicians pandering to the conservative lobbyists against any possibility of R18.

we all know teenagers are 'exposed' to violence and sex. that is 2 thirds of what high school is all about. nevertheless, the r18 should stop stupid parents from letting their 8 year old play these games. if the black swan lesbian sex scene appeared in a game (and was relevant to the story), it would be OUTRAGEOUS! in a movie, it's art. even mass effect's supposed alien orgy was ridiculously over hyped. thr powers that be take them out of context and describe them as if the whole game was nothing but a rape fantasy of the developers.

I think there will be a better chance of games like MK9 to fit under the R18 classification. When Warner Bros appealed the decision it was refused based on extreme gore or violence or something similar. The wording is what is important though, the raiting board felt it didnt fit the wording such as moderate violence (not sure if this is correct) for the M15 catagory. The problem with ratings is its all subject to interpretation.

While it's good that O'Conner is pushing for an 18+ in Australia, he still has his own agenda. I trust this bloke about as far as I could throw him, and I'd advise others to do the same. By which I mean don't trust him, not throw him. :P

@muzza93; actually despite the MA15+ rating there are a few games in australia which have sex scenes god of war 1 & 3 the witcher heavy rain

finally it is seeping into their geriatric brains wow

do they reckon we all play Grand Theft Whore-Do 4: Serial Rapist edition or something? there are no sex in games

@blasterchief No you won't be able to import it if the R18+ goes through. Its still an RC game and will stay that way unless WB submit the game again under the new ratings system and it passes. Even then there is still the possibility of it being knocked back again.

@selbie, I think their intention IS just to shift the entire category upwards. I take his quote: "Games that are currently refused classification and do not meet the standard required for R18+ classification will remain in the refused classification category" to mean exactly that. Hopefully, he only means already refused games and not future ones, but I think in reality it will be future games too. They want to please the people who think games are too violent for children, not the people who want the other games allowed in. I really think all they will actually do is basically turn the MA category into the R category, with the exact requirements as the MA currently has.

Now they will probably reclassify all the games on the list and deem them as inappropriate and therefore ban them as well.

"Left 4 Dead 2" was censored for the Oz version, and is barely an [M] rating, so I'm not entirely sure this will stop the banning of games or if it will just put a tighter control on [MA15+] games. The debate can go on forever (and will until the next scapegoat comes along), but really we need this [R18+] classification now. Get on with it Gillard, as Abbott certainly won't back it.

Eh, have lost all hope at this point. There will inevitably be one guy who just disagrees with it and bam, no 18+.

"Children and teenagers shouldn't be exposed to the gratuitous sex, violence and adult themes that are contained in some computer games," - that doesn't really help the impression that the ignorant have of games. For what won't be the last time (unfortunately), I'll say it again: we're not playing violent rape games, there are no such games available for sale, please PLEASE play some games and see what they're all about.

As long as adults are given a fair go with the R18 classification definitions then this looks very positive for us indeed. Yes there will be some shifting of category definitions, but I don't believe the entire scale will merely shift upwards. That would be the same result as having no R18 at all. What O'Connor is saying is that there are some games that shouldn't be in MA15 in the first place with our current system. That's all. The introduction of R18 will increase the overall spectrum, not shift it up.

So if we do have R18 and MK is rated R18 in other countries, then it should be released here. I find it hard to believe a game could still be refused classification if it fits under the R18 classification of other countries. Stupid backwards government. On the plus side at least importing wont be a risk like it is with MK9

Unfortunately I don't think that introducing the R18+ rating will mean we get games into the country that would otherwise be banned in Australia. More than likely the government will find an excuse for games not to fit within the R18+ standards and will still refuse classification. We will still have to keep importing out games.

@FlamingFury, hopefully it would mean that "future" releases that would have been refused classification would get an R18+ rating instead. And that future games won't suffer the same fate as Left 4 Dead 2, getting so ridiculously censored. At least the government has thrown their full weight behind it. It's time that the moronic attorneys-general stopped pushing their own personal views down on the public, and only vote the way their public have voted without letting their own feelings get in the way.

I was hyped when I was able to get "Left 4 dead 2" (edited) in Australia, only to find that "Left 4 dead 1" was more gruesome...

At least if this happens I'll be able to import MK.

So it's not letting us get refused classification games like Mortal Kombat at all. It's just bumping all the ratings up one level. That's useless. At least Australia kicks ass in other areas, such as our policies on drinking and our lack of an overbearing religious presence in every facet of our society. And less crazy patriotism. But come on! I wanted unedited Left 4 Dead 2! Curse you Australian Government, CURSE YOU!!!