Austrailia's censorship on mature-themed video games isn't as strict as we thought ... but it soon will be. The government is pushing forward with its national
internet filtering system, a program designed to block all the world's evils -- including video games that don't meet the country's MA15+ rating standard. As
The Age reports, the current system of "
banning" only applied to actual stores, but the new internet filtration system is supposed to catch unclassified downloadable games, Flash games and sites that sell physical copies of games that don't abide by the MA15+ standard.
Seriously, Australia needs to stop basing its video game rating system around
what's appropriate for a 15-year-old.
Source -- Web filters to censor video games
Source -- Australian 'Net filter to block video games, too
[Thanks, Isaac]
{ Jun 26th 2009 at 11:15AM } 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Heavytoka @ Jun 26th 2009 11:21AM
That really sucks for Australians, Censorship is never a good thing IMO
Alphathon @ Jun 26th 2009 1:34PM
I think most people will be in agreement with you there, other than the people doing the censoring of course. Seriously Australia, you are doing exactly what China does - do you really want to go down that route?
LaughingTarget @ Jun 26th 2009 11:26AM
End result: fails to work and costs lots of money. That and random comments here talking about how great Australia is because they steal money from one person and give it to another person (and act like generous heroes in the process).
[tre] @ Jun 26th 2009 11:31AM
Like Robin Hood, just without cute little animals.
Foetoid @ Jun 26th 2009 11:51PM
They don't 'steal' money from anyone. We all pay out taxes, and thats how the government gets their money to pay for roads, infrastucture, our totally free public health system, welfare benefits to the unemployed/low-income parents, military personnel, police and other emergency service etc. The government bonus handouts late last year and this year have been to stimulate the economy and keep us out of recession while keeping unemployment from sky-rocketing, which worked. I don't see the problem.
cknblade @ Jun 26th 2009 11:29AM
This is a slippery slope. First it's video games, then it's politically insensitive material, then its nothing that isn't first cleared by the government, and then Chin-er-Australia's internet is essentially just a government created intranet.
Professor Lario @ Jun 26th 2009 11:45AM
Yup - it's always easy to start these types of things with the 'do it for the poor little kids!' approach.
Chris Are @ Jun 26th 2009 11:32AM
So apparently governments are supposed to take on the role of parenting? What the hell are the parents even there for??
Sorry your government is Ned Flanders, Australians.
LaughingTarget @ Jun 26th 2009 11:56AM
Parents are there to make kids. When Australia figures out cloning, they'll outlaw sex because it's inappropriate for 15 year olds.
aristokrat @ Jun 26th 2009 1:56PM
LaughingTarget apparently woke up on the funny side of the bed this morning, because he's on a roll today.
G$ @ Jun 26th 2009 11:33AM
Can't Australian adults make up their own minds about what's appropriate for them to participate in? Yeeesshhhh!
Cosmo (formerly Chin-Poh) @ Jun 26th 2009 11:38AM
Unfortunately, digital distribution only makes it easier for the government to censor games.
Rob @ Jun 26th 2009 11:43AM
What is the deal with Australia? I thought they were a bunch of people didn't like others messing in their lives?
SlicerD @ Jun 26th 2009 11:47AM
Yeah so when did Australia become a nation of 15 year olds? I mean is the whole nation run by Jack Thompson or what?
Catprog @ Jun 26th 2009 9:00PM
No just one who is in a position of power Michael Atkinson
Bowser Rogozhin: Death of a Ladies Man @ Jun 26th 2009 11:53AM
Where's Foetoid and his slavish hyperbole about the nanny state?
Foetoid @ Jun 26th 2009 11:55PM
Here?
Honestly i don't see a problem. I can't think of one game that's been banned that didn't totally suck and games that have parts or bits in them censored are minuscule changes that don't affect that game at all. This isn't a big deal.
aaron rigby @ Jun 26th 2009 11:57AM
all that means to me is that a fortune is to be made on the blackmarket
Samael @ Jun 26th 2009 12:02PM
OK I am extremely thankful I do not live there. I feel sorry for you guys, good luck with this.
tenor77 @ Jun 26th 2009 12:06PM
What is up with Australia lately? Growing up I thought the place was quite liberated with nude beaches etc. Lately all I ever hear about is censorship.
Sucks for them
Joanna D @ Jun 26th 2009 12:13PM
Some of you are missing the point - MA15+ is the highest rating that can possibly be given to a video game in Australia. If the game is too dodgy for that, then it won't be in retail stores either.
They are looking to block dubious grey market importers of the few video games which step over the line.
Joanna D @ Jun 26th 2009 12:14PM
I forgot to mention that in Australia, like the United Kingdom, video game ratings are enforced by law - if a retailer sells a game to an under age person they can be prosecuted.
A good move in my opinion, because they should face the same fate as those who sell alcohol or tobacco to underage people.
GunForHire @ Jun 26th 2009 12:19PM
And you're missing the point that there should be an 18+ rating. Seriously, the average age of today's gamer is what, 35? If the ratings are legal enforced then there should be an 18 rating like in the UK. Is there an 18 or R rating for movies in Australia?
McWilly @ Jun 26th 2009 12:54PM
Yeah because alcohol and tobacco are just as detrimental to society as video games....gtfo. You seriously need a reality check.
Professor Lario @ Jun 26th 2009 1:53PM
I love alcohol, tobacco, AND video games - I guess they should lock me up now...
chefgon_ign @ Jun 26th 2009 4:22PM
Artistic works should NOT be considered in the same way as cancer causing chemical poisons. Not even remotely close to the same thing.
cknblade @ Jun 26th 2009 6:15PM
You forget that one, in many people's, myself included, opinion, games are art, in the same sense as music and movies. I'm strongly against rating either of those mediums, but that's an argument for another day. I've been playing M games since I was a young teen, and the only issue my parents ever had with them was the fact that they had to accompany me to the game store to buy them. Let the parents decide, not the government. The issue here is comparing this to smoking and alcohol. Smoking has been scientifically proven again, and again to be extraordinarily detrimental to one's health, especially a developing person (under 18-21). As for alcohol, kids are stupid. Their stupidity causes them to abuse alcohol, which in turn amplifies the rate of their stupidity. Both of these warrant age barriers (alcohol should be lowered to 18, but that is an argument for another day). Games do not.
BigD145 @ Jun 26th 2009 12:44PM
This is Australia we're talking about here. Even if it is rated, half of all those rated games will be banned.
aristokrat @ Jun 26th 2009 2:00PM
Australia is acting like it's terrified of its criminal origins or something, similar to Germany and the Nazis. "We have to be the most squeaky clean society, or nobody will ever take us seriously." We'll take you seriously when you stop acting (or legally enforce your citizenry to act) like children.
Politicians around the world need to stop talking to voters at the lowest common denominator, and start saying more things like "Detroit, the jobs aren't coming back."
Avada Kadavra 9 @ Jun 26th 2009 2:35PM
I am sick of the man trying to tell people what they can and cannot do, these are video games! Maybe you should worry about the dingo's eating babies instead of worrying if someone is playing a mature rated video game. Happy I live in the land of the "mostly free"
Josh @ Jun 26th 2009 3:08PM
What a terrible place to live.
ps @ Jun 26th 2009 3:46PM
HA! I lived there last year, moved all around the east coast. It is actually pretty friggin amazing....better than the America I'd say.
MrLee @ Jun 26th 2009 6:01PM
Australia is going to end up on failblog.org soon
Slashee the Cow @ Jun 26th 2009 8:43PM
Hey government - f%#k off!
Yes, I'm an Australian, and less proud of that fact than ever. It's ridiculous that just because something is inappropriate for a 15 year old, everybody is deprived of it. You'd think a country which was originally a prison colony would be a bit more mature towards things (and a bit less tolerant of shivs).
There's one simple fact that the government seems to be missing: IT WON'T WORK. All they're going to do is slightly slow down those who actually want to access the bad things on the internet (like child porn, which was what the filter was originally supposed to block), while making things harder for the rest of us, and infringing on our right to free speech.
So I'll repeat my sentiment at the start of the comment - F&@K OFF, GOVERNMENT! YOU"RE NOT MY F$%KING PARENTS.
donmiguelgrover @ Jun 29th 2009 8:37PM
Australia needs to stop banning video games. Period. Hasn't anybody learned from Nazi Germany? Next thing they'll start having video game pyres.
Tezz @ Jun 27th 2009 7:05AM
say wuuut.... bring back howard, he was a tool but he did alot better than kruddy's australian communist state. >.> the money used to create this filter would've been alot better spent on improving our horrible internets or getting the budget back into shape >.>
Andrew @ Jun 28th 2009 6:46AM
I hate this and if it is passed at all (just the internet filter) I will probably move to another country, if the games thing is passed within the filter I will move, probably only to New Zealand, but i'll be moving.
goz @ Jul 10th 2009 11:14PM
i wont be far behind man. this is such bullshit. i just read they're already worried about god of war 3. if that doesnt get released here, im out.
ExoticÉlanVital @ Jul 10th 2009 11:55PM
wow. Here I thought freedom was alive and well in the English commonwealth.