The last thing our community needs is more explicit violence and sex. Australian Governments have always refused R18+ rated computer games for this reason. However, following pressure from the gaming industry, the Federal Attorney-General’s Department is conducting a public consultation asking for submissions on whether the Australian National Classification Scheme should include an R18+ Classification category for computer games.
Action: Please write a submission before Sunday 28th February. (Link to submission template below.)
The Department has released a discussion paper that details current legislation and classification standards as well as arguments for and against allowing an R18+ classification for computer games.
Currently under Australian law there is an R18+ classification for movies and DVDs but not for computer and video games, with any game exceeding the MA15+ rating being refused classification. According to the (previous) Office of Film and Literature Classification's original guidelines for the classification of computer games, regulations for computer games are applied more strictly because, "Ministers are concerned that games, because of their ‘interactive’ nature, may have greater impact, and therefore greater potential for harm or detriment, on young minds than film and videotape".
The potential for violent and sexually explicit interactive games to cause harm has only increased in recent years as these games have become even more sophisticated, graphic and interactive. It is also naive to think that R18+ games could be restricted to adult users. If these games are allowed to go on sale in Australia they will inevitably find their way into the hands of younger players through older siblings or friends.
If any changes are to be made to the classification system it should only be to resolve to tighten up the MA15+ rating to ensure that games aren’t wrongly getting through in this category.
There is strong community concern about the impact of violent video games on children’s development. Many games force the child to identify with the aggressor and children are rewarded for immoral conduct and violent behavior. Research shows that increased playing of violent first person shooter games can significantly increase aggression.(1)
And remember, even if R18+ games were only sold to adults, they would inevitably find their way into children’s hands.
Please take action to stop the introduction of an R18+ rating for computer games – by writing a short submission before February 28th to the consultation and answering 'NO' to the question, ‘Should the Australian National Classification Scheme include an R 18+ classification category for computer games?’ (To make a submission you can complete a submission template, which can be found by clicking here.)
(1) Bartlett, CP et al (2007) “Longer you play, the more hostile you feel: examination of first person shooter video games and aggression during video game play”, Aggressive Behavior, 33(6), 486-497. |
