As it stands, iPhone App games have gone unrated, with developers able to submit their games for Apple's approval and nobody else's. In Australia, where the ratings board has an iron grip on videogame content and doesn't want people to have fun, this obviously will not stand. Australia's rating board has voiced a desire to start deciding what people can and cannot download. Fun times are sure to be ahead.
"I recently wrote to the [Commonwealth Censorship] minister regarding my concern that some so-called mobile phone applications, which can be purchased online or either downloaded to mobile phones or played online via mobile phone access, are not being submitted to the board for classification," complains board director Donald McDonald.
Apple responded to McDonald's concerns, seemingly quite happy to submit Apps for approval: "We do what the Australian Classification people tell us to do... If there is a legal requirement within Australia to do something, absolutely we would adhere to that requirement."
Currently, iPhone games seem to have escaped getting must regulation. America's own ESRB also has no control over what Apple sells, although the US rating board has expressed a will to start getting involved. Should ratings boards get their hands on iPhone games, or should it be Apples decision alone?
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
12:40 PM on 10.22.2009
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The bad part is it cuts out the small developer who has little money to get started.
I always thought that you could write and release a game entirely outside of the ESRB, just don't expect a console release. Or at least not one supported by Microsoft, Sony, or nintendo.
Where does this end? Would it hit homebrew?
then again this is the country that got rid of black garbage bags in order not to offend black people.
I had no idea that companies had to pay the ESRB to rate their games. This made me realize just how little I know about this organization.
Anyways ...yeah they should get rated too!
Also to the iPhone game haters: I guess that means you hate Critter Crunch, good shmups, puzzle games, and retro classics as well.
whaaaaat? I'm offended that anyone see that connection.
I'd be pissed off all the time too. Cut them some slack, Jim. <3
This is the agenda of governments in stealth, to gradually censor everything on the net, and in the name of freedom on the net, should be battled against. Apple have been doing just fine with their ratings (or lack of them) on all games, music, podcasts etc. Because there's no complex stupid ratings system per region, there are two types of content, explicit content and non explicit content. When anyone goes on iTunes, this stuff is easy enough to understand. And because all these games are being downloaded onto personal devices, as well as being expensive, there's less chance of kids having them.
Apple should grow a pair of balls. iPhone is unique as a device becuse it is a phone that gives you global access to the net. When you start censoring something with such global reach, it kind of shoots down the whole concept of the iPhone.
As for the indie developers, all this talk is going to hurt them the most, and play into the hands of the big established devs and pubs, with plenty of money to pay such ratings costs. Its they who will end up richer, and once again dominate a platform. How ratings boards come up with their prices for ratings, would have to change to adjust to this unique market, and maybe indie might be still able to operate if this comes to pass.
Two fingers to the nut jobs down under. Stop trying to strangle censor your people. I pray Apple will see sense and do the right thing. Self censorship is always a better way to go.