News

Australian gov't agrees in principle on R18+ rating
Posted: 04.09.2011 01:12 by JonahFalcon Comments: 5
Australian gamers can finally celebrate as the Australian Ratings Board has voted to include a new Mature rating, the R18+.

While NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith abstained from the vote, Home Affairs Minister, Brendan O'Connor, promised the federal government would over-ride NSW and implement the R18+ rating regardless of its decision, though expressing a desire to get their vote as well before that happened.

Smith may bow to pressure. Greens MP David Shoebridge attacked Smith, pointing out “Greg Smith should stop moralising and start looking into having sensible rules to reflect the material that is out there and at the same time ensure that consumers are properly informed. Public submissions were overwhelmingly in favour of the introduction of the R18+ category. To abstain from the vote despite knowing months in advance that it would occur is politically culpable."

O'Connor stated at the press conference, “We've now struck an historic agreement and we can move forward to having an adult classification in this country as is the case in New Zealand, the US, Europe and many other parts of the world."

Australian is the last developed country to adopt a Mature rating for videogames.

Comments

By Sporey (SI Newbie) on Sep 04, 2011
Sporey
Finally! Mortal Kombat here I come.
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Sep 04, 2011
nocutius
Congrats to all the gamers in Australia :).
By Revan (SI Elite) on Sep 05, 2011
Revan
Well thats about time! Finally some good news for Australian gamers.
By SiyaenSokol (SI Elite) on Sep 05, 2011
SiyaenSokol
Hehe, congratulations Australia. I am glad to hear of this news :)
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Sep 05, 2011
herodotus
I seriously doubt that games previously Refused Classification will be now allowed in, and the question remains:
Is this just an opportunity to re-label [MA15+] games like "CoD" to [R18+]?
I'll reserve judgement for when it's passed, if it's passed seeing as we may have an extremist Right Wing Gov't coming into power at the next election (led by Tony Idiot).

PS. Retail games are touted to drop in price here early next year by up to 40% - all platforms.
Cop that Steam, Origin and others who have bowed to the regionalised pricing of Digital products.