Australia's OFLC wants to classify iPhone, mobile games
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Oct 22nd 2009 at 7:25PM } 
Let's just try to ignore that the task of classifying all the games released on the App Store would be overwhelming -- but, bless the OFLC for trying. The US's ESRB is also currently trying to get mobile games under its purview, however, the difference is that the ESRB accepts that games can be for adults.
[Via Edge]
_thumbnail.jpg "Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce (Ryu)")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DamonTheMoney @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:39PM
Well, you have to sympathise with the Australian government. They have to rehabilitate all of their criminals somehow.
Robot Moses @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:31PM
Freakin' Nazis, man.
Street Justice @ Oct 23rd 2009 11:39AM
I swear man, the Australian goverment seems to br taking babysteps to Communism, i guess the same could be said about Germany as well, in terms of cencorship. Almost as bad as China - see the hilariously pedantic censoring of world of warcraft(they actually friggin banned skeletons and bones)
squeehunter @ Oct 22nd 2009 11:42PM
It's Australia, not America. I'm not even Australian.
LaughingTarget @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:32PM
That and not submitting a game to the ESRB doesn't result in a ban nor are ESRB ratings legally binding. A much better system. Voluntary trumps compulsory.
Premature ejaculation man @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:32PM
Rate all the fart apps R18+ since that means refused classification and an Australian ban.
Probably the only good thing that could possibly happen due to a lack of R rating.
Joanna D @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:40PM
Why does the title of this post specifically mention a single mobile phone model?
sonicspike41 @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:47PM
Perhaps because of the immense popularity of said model, it's usually considered to be it's own platform, or on it's own level.
If the Android or Pre were as popular as a mobile phone+gaming handheld then I'm sure they'd have more of the spotlight.
Marco le Polo @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:45PM
Au See...
JubeiSaotome @ Oct 22nd 2009 7:46PM
They also want to rate flash games on the internet, some of the things they want to do are really unrealistic.
Weezer @ Oct 22nd 2009 8:06PM
At least it's not Ronald Donald Mcdonald, actually I wish it was.
dynnnbag @ Oct 22nd 2009 8:35PM
This article is worded very badly. It's not the OFLC's fault. They're just doing their job.
The fault lies soley on Mr Atkinsons feet by not letting an R-rating for games be established.
The OFLC are just doing what the ESRB are doing, as mentioned in the article by trying to rate mobile games.
But awesome job once again bashing Australian ratings board, you guys are doing super today
Kyle @ Oct 22nd 2009 9:19PM
I don't think it's bashing, necessarily, but then again, do you really expect a blog about video games to be sympathetic towards a government-run ratings board that doesn't take video games seriously?
xaiax @ Oct 22nd 2009 9:20PM
If the ESRB is allowed into iPhone ratings, they will destroy the entire industry. ESRB ratings cost several thousand dollars, which will murder independent development entirely. There's a reason the XBox Indie games don't use ESRB ratings: there'd be no indie games whatsoever.
The ESRB doesn't give a crap about children, they just want the increased revenue. iPhone already has a functional self-developed system, and the ability to restrict access. There is no reason for the ESRB to get involved.
In Australia, the situation is different, as they don't have any free speech rights and have a government run censorship system with legal control, instead of a private, voluntary body.
The media industry should just stop selling things to Australians. A nice boycott of the country would be good for it.
dynnnbag @ Oct 22nd 2009 9:36PM
@Kyle
True man, i agree. Im just getting a little sick of every day a new article about australia where every comment is: "OMG teh australians are pussy naziis!!11!"
@ xaiax
You have no idea what you are talking about. Stop talking you sound like a fool.
xaiax @ Oct 22nd 2009 10:37PM
I am aware of the specific individual responsible for this idiocy, but economic boycott is effective at getting jackasses like that booted.
And Australians do not have legally protected free speech. It is completely absent from the .au constitution.
Dartmerc @ Oct 22nd 2009 10:58PM
xaiax, I think ESRB rating for iPhone and indie apps is a great idea. For most indie devs, the ESRB rating will cost 800 - 1000 dollars, which is pidgion feed compared to the rest of the development costs.
Yes, it does raise the entry bar a little - but it should also raise the quality bar, and removing crap and the flood of 99c apps from the app store might actually make it useful again.
aussiesam @ Oct 23rd 2009 4:01AM
while you are right that australia does not have explicitly protected free speech, in practise the judicial arm of government has invalidated most laws which violate this. in addition they have implied a constitutional right to freedom of political communication. what im trying to say is that in general our lack of a bill of rights has not hindered us. also, the refusal of a classification does not make it illegal to own, but to sell, it is still obtainable (via importation). as a side note, it is very likely that we will have a bill of rights as a reccomendation has recently been made to parliament for one.
but im just as annoyed at everyone else that we'll be recieving an edited copy at retail.
Orion @ Oct 22nd 2009 8:49PM
OMG A WINTER DRESS!?!?!
:orders 50:
No but seriously, fuck off.
Jval @ Oct 22nd 2009 9:18PM
"The US's ESRB is also currently trying to get mobile games under its purview, however, the difference is that the ESRB accepts that games can be for adults."
Way to misrepresent the situation. The OFLC wants nothing more than to be able to rate things in the R18+ catagory... but are unnable to due to the South Australian attorney general.
If you're going to "report" on something... at least TRY to do it correctly
Elmoogle @ Oct 22nd 2009 9:41PM
Henceforth all Australian games will be subject to a stringent approval process at the hands of the Ministries of Truth.
V1L3 @ Oct 23rd 2009 5:54AM
What good does it do if the ESRB "accepts that games can be for adults," when an AO rating on anything other than a PC game makes that game unavailable for release in the United States?
LaughingTarget @ Oct 23rd 2009 7:53AM
AO doesn't make a game unavailable for US release. Major brick and mortar retailers simply chose to not carry AO games. If GameStop chose to carry AO games, no law is stopping them. Retailers do so for PR purposes, just like how you don't see porn at Best Buy.
jquadman @ Oct 23rd 2009 9:03AM
No, V1L3 is right, the platform holders do not allow AO games to be released on their console. AO is PC only.
LaughingTarget @ Oct 23rd 2009 3:12PM
Then it isn't a US thing, making his statement false.
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