A new draft of the R18+ classification has been released by home minister Brendan O’Connor through the Australian Federal Government. The new guidelines closely match those in place for Australia’s film industry. The new R18+ rating removes restrictions on bad language, drug use and nudity; in contrast, the current guidelines forbade the classification of any adult-themed games.
O’Connor’s draft claims that the R18+ rating will allow “virtually no restrictions on the treatment of themes”, and violence in games “except where it offends against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that it should not be classified.” As far as sex, the draft says, “Sexual activity may be realistically simulated. The general rule is ‘simulation, yes – the real thing, no'”.
Of course, “standards of morality, decency and propriety” is still troublesomely subjective, while “simulation, yes, the real thing, no” is comicly inept for videogames, where everything is simulation. You may be able to tell when live actors are actually performing sexual acts, but when can you tell a videogame character is actually having sex?
O’Connor stated:
“The Gillard government wants to provide better guidance for parents and remove unsuitable material from children and teenagers. The introduction of an R18+ classification will help achieve that and will also bring Australia into line with comparable nations. This issue has been on the table for many years, without the necessary progress to make a change. We’ve recently seen several states publicly express their support for an adult only rating for games and I’m keen to reach a unanimous decision at the July meeting.”
Rather than banning games, why not punish stores for selling mature games to underage children? Or put the onus of raising children on the parents?
@Avellone: Kickstarter still in its infancy
Not sure if backers will become more wary when a high profile project doesn’t make it. When somebody wants something really bad, they’re willing to ignore any kind of risks.
Now I’m not going to quote Michio Kaku however, since that would imply that most projects are trying to just rip people off, and I don’t think that’s true.
@CD Projekt RED’s new licensed sci-fi RPG officially titled Cyberpunk 2077
… really? No better title than that?
But again, the Witcher games were well received, so who knows …
@Zombie Nation – well, it was a severed flying giant head, so I guess you can count the character as a zombie.
@QOTW: dunno, really. I’m not into conferences that much, never been to one, so meh …
I’m very sorry, but I won’t be able to donate to your Kickstarter because I don’t have a credit card, and I don’t think my parents will accept “giving strangers money” as a valid reason for using theirs.
@QOTW: Being in such a small country, I could never attend such conventions.
Dynamic Jul: Try GamesCom in Germany.
I dont have much to contribute this week, i’ve been studying a f*cking lot
@QOTW:
yeah… Brasil doesn’t have many gaming conventions, and those we have are in Sao Paulo, wich is far far away from my house. it looks fun see people getting toys, shirts and exclusive stuff for free. i’d like to go to a big one in US some year… when i win the lottery :3