Australian AG Clark hesitant to pass R18+ rating

Poor Aussies...

...Sigh, I had hope this time. I really did.

Deep down i feel !RAGE! but ohh well, Customs better not seize my copy of Mortal Kombat

Seriously? The entire govt is behind it and this one pompous jackass is gonna screw it up. How bout they ban all movies that have a rating higher than a PG-13? That sounds fair.

"frequent and gratuitous violence, including violence against civilians and police." Which of course only happens in video games. Nasty, evil video games. I love how one person's opinion could be the deciding factor yet the fricking federal government fully supports it. So much for democracy.

I don't even live in Australia and this news makes me sad :(

Clip who behind the ear, Ward?

It's so frustrating that such a naive understanding from government crones on the game industry and whispers from religious lobbyists jam this debate up so much. Simply citing game scenarios that simply do not exist (and currently, if they do, they most always slide right into the MA15+ guidelines) on modern consoles, who have always controlled what is released on their systems, to form some filth-tsunami scenario in the mind of the public is irresponsible, and also incredibly insulting to the public and the people that pour literal years of their lives into these titles.

what people dont know is if us australians even see a glimpse of violence it brings back memories of when we were all convicts and sends us into a violent rage where we shoot snakes out of our hands

If the justification is the corruption of their citizens to avoid some crazy Columbine-esque scenario:

1. The rest of the world has managed to get along without devolving into madness, much like with the advent of comic books and rock and roll before it.

2. Australians still get their game on via the internet (and to an extent mail order services), so really they're just hurting their own economy and training their citizens to pirate software. Once they join us in the 21st century, they're going to be less USA and more Russia when it comes to sales numbers, and by extension tax revenue.

This is lose/lose all around.

...I have no words.

(insert snide remark here)

C'mon, grow a pair, already!

But actually, I feel sad for the Aussies...

its just gonna push people to pirate, and from what i last heard from the federal government, they were getting antsy about not having a rating and may push one through over the AGs.

This is a fairly nuanced issue, which isn't really picked up by the article.

For one, the Australian AG is NOT Clark. Clark is a state AG and not the Commonwealth AG. Victoria is a state which has a long reputation of thinking it knows best when it comes to the country, when it has the mostly costly inefficient regulation in the country. The Commonwealth will overrule Victoria in an instant, and rightly so.

The argument that not having an R18+ means games are that should be rated there are currently rated as being for 15 or lower is the most bizarre argument I have ever read, and can't believe it keeps getting propagated. Frankly, the argument makes absolutely no sense and assumes the OFLC is incapable of doing its job. It's an inane, bizarre, argument that plays into the hands of the opposing team and isn't necessary.

The fact of the matter is that there is an adult population that should have access to adult games. Arguing the absence of an R18+ rating jeopardises kids as it is just jeopardises the few liberties that are currently available.

Robert Clark is .

Seriously though, people like this ruin what little fun there is in the world. I guess the Aussies could always play hide and seek with a kangaroo instead of with a gun, a car and some hookers, all in Liberty City (and I don't care if that's not the one that GTAIV is in. I haven't played it yet). Better than trying to ride a kiwi. Hint: THEY CAN'T FLY. Pathetic.

Sounds like the whole OFLC is a waste of money.

"high levels of graphic, frequent and gratuitous violence, including violence against civilians and police."

Because movies never have that stuff in it.

O wait.

As horrendous as this particular viewpoint is, I think this is far more indicative of a complete and utter failure as a government. When a motion is supported by the vast majority of the people involved in its passing, a single person should NOT have the power to completely overturn it.

Who the hell established that kind of rule anyway? It's entirely ass-backwards. It gives more power to one single person than the collective agreement between everyone BUT that person.

I just came from Australia for vacation and I don't even know how people can even afford to be gamers down there.

Dear Australia:

Stop treating your citizens like children. They are grown-ass adults.

Sincerely,
A Canadian who has yet to kill neither hooker nor zombie, despite playing both GTAIV and House of the Dead Overkill.

@This Little Man Says His Name Is
I am Christian (living in Australia incidentally) and I am all for this getting passed. I also have a bunch of Christian friends who are for it to.

Sooo, try not to generalize next time. Just because the ACL is against this doesn't mean every Christian is, they are just a lobby group.