Australia: "We want an 18+ Rating Classification for video games, now!"

Since September 17, 2009

Australia 

This group was designed to help push the effort of the creation of a R18+ classification for video games in Australia - the only democratic western nation which as of current does not have an R18 rating for Video games despite one for other media.

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The average age of the Australian Gamer as reported from 2010 is between the ages of 28 to 30. Those who grew up with the emerging industry in the 80's and 90's and want games aimed towards their age group. Video games are no longer a medium who's largest audience were children as once thought in the 90's; those children have all grown up and still play on the medium.

Games which are designed for adults contain content that is generally unsuitable for children or young teenagers. These unsuitable elements might include quantities of excessive gore, blood, adult and sexual situations and an extreme amount of coarse language. Due to the lack of an R18+ classification, these games are required to be slightly censored in order to satisfy the next classification under R18+ - Mature Audiences (MA15+).

The problem with this censorship is that no matter how much content is taken out, the game's adult preferences is still there. The sale of MA15+ rated products is not restricted, which means any age group is allowed to purchase them.

Is this therefore a call to ban the games as a whole? Stepping on the toes of adult gamers to make sure that children cannot get their hands on them?

No. Doing so will cause more problems for Australian adults and parents rather than solving them. Our 20 year old classification system must be updated to be more consistant with the public's views and permit Australian adults to watch and play R18+ content. Education for the public is needed on these fronts.
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An R18+ classification is a restricted classification; this means its sale to minors is prohibited by law. A R18+ classification may also assist parents judgement if a game is appropriate for their child, as there is confusion to the content between M and MA15+. An R18+ classification will let serious parents know the game is plain unsuitable for their child.

Video games are the only digital media which does not have an R18+ rating, whereas films do. Rob Hulls, Victoria's Attorney General has gone on record stating: "It seems inconsistent that Australians are allowed to view 'adult only' films, but not computer games with equivalent content'.

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We believe it is in our rights as those who pay our taxes which in turn pay the salary for those in the government to understand that as adults, as gamers and voters, we demand an R18+ rating. Video games are not just a platform for children, but are also for the working class.

If you support our cause, we need you to help in our initiative. Each of us can help to push this one step further at a time.

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