Australia has a long, sordid history when it comes to banning the sale of mature games. Titles which exceed the limits of the Office of Film and Literature Classification's MA15+ rating are refused classification, preventing them from being sold in the Land Down Under. Following such a ban on Valve's Left 4 Dead 2, the introduction of an R18+ rating has been feverishly debated by the nation's officials -- however, a South Australian attorney general named Michael Atkinson is holding up the proceedings by vehemently opposing the adoption of the mature rating.
Atkinson told Australian news outlet News.com.au that he's uncomfortable with the interactive nature of the medium. "People are participating and 'acting-out' violence and criminal behaviour when they are playing a video game," he explained, later adding, "it certainly does restrict choice to a small degree, but that is the price of keeping this material from children and vulnerable adults. In my view, the small sacrifice is worth it."
Rarely can governmental actions be attributed to just one person, but the OFLC's refusal to rate mature titles is a direct result of Atkinson's opposition. Remember, this is the same guy who tried to censor a public document which canvassed Australians on the issue in an attempt to better advise the nation's ratings officials. He censored the study on censorship. Consider our mind truly boggled.
[Via GamesIndustry]
Reader Comments (84)
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 4:59PM (Unverified) said
ahhh, another case of hating something you don't understand, soooo refreshing
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 5:57PM (Unverified) said
You better watch what you say or the ACLU will sue your ass into oblivion. I'm with you though.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 6:46PM VIDEOGAMES said
Auto Tune the News is a glorious thing
Joe Biden from space - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dqTrUpmwPg
Reply
Joe Biden from space - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dqTrUpmwPg
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 6:46PM Uphillbothways said
And as we all know, you ARE America (and so can I).
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 7:06PM SonicH04 said
Just to make sure we're all on the same page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Oscar_%22Gob%22_Bluth_II#Gob
AND
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_gGC4JmJmI
Reply
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Oscar_%22Gob%22_Bluth_II#Gob
AND
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_gGC4JmJmI
Posted: Oct 1st 2009 11:52AM (Unverified) said
More like god damn that mother fucker Atkinson!
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 4:50PM (Unverified) said
It's sad that such a beautiful country is so f'ing restrictive when it comes to videogames.
Is it like this in every aspect of their life/culture? Like are they restrictive gender/sexuality/race? I don't know much about Australia outside of what we see on TV in terms of locations and the beauty of their land...that and Joystiq.
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Is it like this in every aspect of their life/culture? Like are they restrictive gender/sexuality/race? I don't know much about Australia outside of what we see on TV in terms of locations and the beauty of their land...that and Joystiq.
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 4:53PM TheDarkWayne said
from what i've heard from a lot of posters from Australia here and other sites, it's really just this guy fucking shit up for games and movies
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 4:54PM (Unverified) said
How can one guy have so much power? And a lawyer at that?
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 5:48PM (Unverified) said
He's not a lawyer, he's THE lawyer, and unfortunately that means he can fuck up as much shit as he wants.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 6:06PM SoCoolCurt said
it's probably my American bias speaking here but i feel like ever government should have checks and balances. this guy can apparently do whatever he wants though and everyone is bound by his opinions.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 6:49PM Uphillbothways said
Yeah, but even in America, it's not unheard of for one guy to say "Fuck the Constitution," and try to get away with whatever they want.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 6:56PM RobS the 3rd said
Yeah, but we at least try to reign in his dochebagness after a while.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 9:35PM (Unverified) said
No, we're not that censored for the most part! Australian culture is very accepting in general, ie in terms of sexuality, race, etc., because we're a very varied culture. It's just this ridiculous old dude here in South Australia that doesn't seem to understand that people can CHOOSE whether or not to buy these games. If anything the system just makes them tirm bits off 18+ games to juuust make them come in to MA, exposing the kids to it for the most part.
Addressing his two points of argument, children would get exposed... Their PARENTS are the one who should be monitoring what they view, same as movies/music. And kids couldn't buy 18+ games themselves anyway, that's the whole POINT of the rating.
As for 'sensitive' adults... Man, what the hell. These sensitive people are still ADULTS. They can make informed decisions based on - oh, surprise - the 18+ raitng label which would give specifics like "high-level gore/violence" and then CHOOSE NOT TO PLAY IT. It's not like you're forced to view everything that is available to your age bracket!
Augh. Hopefully he'll lose his job, or retire, or die or something and we can finally take a step forward. It's just so frustrating to know this guy is here practically in my own backyard.
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Addressing his two points of argument, children would get exposed... Their PARENTS are the one who should be monitoring what they view, same as movies/music. And kids couldn't buy 18+ games themselves anyway, that's the whole POINT of the rating.
As for 'sensitive' adults... Man, what the hell. These sensitive people are still ADULTS. They can make informed decisions based on - oh, surprise - the 18+ raitng label which would give specifics like "high-level gore/violence" and then CHOOSE NOT TO PLAY IT. It's not like you're forced to view everything that is available to your age bracket!
Augh. Hopefully he'll lose his job, or retire, or die or something and we can finally take a step forward. It's just so frustrating to know this guy is here practically in my own backyard.
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 11:27PM (Unverified) said
The worst thing is he's a state representative, so he may as well be in another country as far as the east-coast is concerned. States shouldn't have so much power over a federal policy.
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Posted: Oct 1st 2009 3:34AM alinos said
yeah i love how in a democracy this one guy holds the power
and yes it is the goddamned pparents responsibility but our current govt is a bunch of censoring A holes( they plan to censor the internets BWARZ)
UNSTABLE ADULTS ohh so giving them no outlet thats gonna prevent there murderous rampages yes???
our piracy add say that piracy funds the terrorists
well we need an add that says
"michael atkinson forces us to pirate, He forces us to fund terrorism, He is a terrorist"
"he infinges on my right to use drugs to numb pain to kill the murderous onslaught of enemies thats after me"
Parents should have the right to decide for themselves and there kids enforce the same sort of penaltys a bottle-o or a cigarette store gets for selling things to minors
my backwards granpa who doesnt realise that we use lightbulbs not candles should have no fucking say in what i do as a 20yr old
Reply
and yes it is the goddamned pparents responsibility but our current govt is a bunch of censoring A holes( they plan to censor the internets BWARZ)
UNSTABLE ADULTS ohh so giving them no outlet thats gonna prevent there murderous rampages yes???
our piracy add say that piracy funds the terrorists
well we need an add that says
"michael atkinson forces us to pirate, He forces us to fund terrorism, He is a terrorist"
"he infinges on my right to use drugs to numb pain to kill the murderous onslaught of enemies thats after me"
Parents should have the right to decide for themselves and there kids enforce the same sort of penaltys a bottle-o or a cigarette store gets for selling things to minors
my backwards granpa who doesnt realise that we use lightbulbs not candles should have no fucking say in what i do as a 20yr old
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 5:40PM xaduurv said
It's because you need a unanimous decision between all of the attorneys general to change this law. Frankly I think a significant majority would do (so we can avoid retarded situations like these).
We aussies have a fair few archaic laws in desperate need of changing. It'll happen eventually.
Reply
We aussies have a fair few archaic laws in desperate need of changing. It'll happen eventually.
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 4:52PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
Michael Atkinson can smoke a dick. Oye.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 7:35PM (Unverified) said
Wow, they went beyond "think of the children!" to "protecting vulnerable adults".
Seriously, that is some messed up Fascist territory that the AG is marching into. He is straight out saying he wants to control what media ADULTS can access. Totally messed up.
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Seriously, that is some messed up Fascist territory that the AG is marching into. He is straight out saying he wants to control what media ADULTS can access. Totally messed up.
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 4:54PM Shagittarius said
That's it I'm never watching another Crocodile Dundee movie again in protest.
Who am I kidding I'll never be able to stick to that.
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Who am I kidding I'll never be able to stick to that.
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 7:26PM Petebot330 said
i do think its funny that that is the ONE quote everybody remembers from that movie. OH Dundee!
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 4:55PM Colossalhat said
Alright, here's the problem with the guy's statement. "People are participating and 'acting-out' violence and criminal behaviour when they are playing a video game,"
#1. it's fantasy, fake, fiction. Nobody is participating in the actual behavior, and unless the people are completely moronic, they'll realize this.
#2. That's why we have these things called parents, to keep children safe.
#3. Quote all the studies you want, the only games that make people violent are the ones not rated M.
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#1. it's fantasy, fake, fiction. Nobody is participating in the actual behavior, and unless the people are completely moronic, they'll realize this.
#2. That's why we have these things called parents, to keep children safe.
#3. Quote all the studies you want, the only games that make people violent are the ones not rated M.
Posted: Oct 1st 2009 8:22AM kawaiipikachu said
Well there are one thing to add to it Videogames are interactive.
Unlike a movie where you just watching some guy chainsawing heads of people but in the videogame [b]yo[/b]u chainsaw the heads of everyone.
I agree with in that some game content must be controlled but not by refusuing R18+ ratings but by baning games that have the negative psychologial effects so nobody in Australia can play games like Grand Theft Auto.
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Unlike a movie where you just watching some guy chainsawing heads of people but in the videogame [b]yo[/b]u chainsaw the heads of everyone.
I agree with in that some game content must be controlled but not by refusuing R18+ ratings but by baning games that have the negative psychologial effects so nobody in Australia can play games like Grand Theft Auto.
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 4:55PM Tre said
Censoring censorship?
*head asplodes*
On a side note, I seriously don't understand why he says "DO NOT WANT" to the rating if there are clearly adults(or, in my case, teenagers) that are mature enough to handle the games that would get said rating.
Such a shame how great games that would probably get the rating have to be banned, a la L4D2.
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*head asplodes*
On a side note, I seriously don't understand why he says "DO NOT WANT" to the rating if there are clearly adults(or, in my case, teenagers) that are mature enough to handle the games that would get said rating.
Such a shame how great games that would probably get the rating have to be banned, a la L4D2.
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 5:00PM BrockObama911 said
Someone needs to shoot this guy in the face. He's about as Authoritarian as Hitler or Stalin.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 5:03PM Stix Remix said
Godwin's law invoked. You have lost. Game Over...
...
...
...
Continue?
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...
...
...
Continue?
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 5:11PM BrockObama911 said
Indeed, however I'm not comparing some game company nerfing my class or some moderator deleting my posts, I'm comparing a legitimate authoritarian. I'm talking about someone who actually believes that reducing individual freedoms for the sake of safety is a good trade off.
Let me quote Benjamin Franklin in that
"Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither."
Reply
Let me quote Benjamin Franklin in that
"Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither."
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 6:44PM RobS the 3rd said
And that's why he's one of our greatest Founding Fathers.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 5:03PM CrabBattle said
1 moron
x
thousands of gamers
What are you aussies waiting for?
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x
thousands of gamers
What are you aussies waiting for?
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 5:55PM WiNGSPANTT from TopTierTacticsco said
The thing is that if the angry gamers kill him, that means he was right!
(at least in the eyes of his supporters)
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(at least in the eyes of his supporters)
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 6:48PM CrabBattle said
woah, I didnt mean that. (but yeah, someone could make it look like an accident =p )
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 5:55PM (Unverified) said
He already said because they're interactive and for some reason that's too much for teens and whatever "vulnerable adults" means.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 6:29PM Shagittarius said
What about 'Adult' Diapers then?
They are interactive...
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They are interactive...
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 5:09PM Zertoss said
How is it that these old farts running Australia haven't banned the beaches yet? The children might be exposed to shirtless men there, and that would just be downright indecent! And that's not to mention the crabs, stingrays, sharks and jellyfish, those could actually hurt or even kill the poor children!
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 5:55PM WiNGSPANTT from TopTierTacticsco said
Or nature-show hosts.
Too soon?
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Too soon?
Posted: Sep 30th 2009 5:10PM JuanLovesHorror said
Guess GOW III will never see the day of light in Australia.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2009 7:53PM LuTon James said
Mate, if GoW3 doesn't make it here I will literally turn into Kratos and kill that motherfucker myself! And then import a copy.
The stiq have already posted an article about how Sony Santa Monica have been suggeting ideas to OFLC and they aren't liking them. So stupid.
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The stiq have already posted an article about how Sony Santa Monica have been suggeting ideas to OFLC and they aren't liking them. So stupid.
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