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Australia wants to rate iPhone games photo

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?


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29 comments | showing # 1 to 29

RenagadePanda's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 12:43
RenagadePanda
Here is a universal rating system for iPhone games: They all suck.
lolipantsu's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 12:44
lolipantsu
So will iphone games start costing as much as PSP Minis if the ESRB extends its tentacles into the app store?
fundando's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 12:45
fundando
I think even here in the US Iphone games should get rated. Apple should not get preference when it comes to this. All Sony and Nintendo portable handheld games have to be rated by the ESRB whice is also one of the reasons those games cost more than iPhone apps. SInce they have to pay the ESRB to rate a game.
The bad part is it cuts out the small developer who has little money to get started.
Eficent's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 12:46
Eficent
Donald McDonald? Are you serious? No wonder the guy hates the world and doesn't want people to have fun. Probably the only way he can show his self loathing of what his parents named him.
Tino's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 12:51
Tino
Are people even legally obligated to submit things to the ESRB?

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?
HYRULESKNIGHT's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 12:52
HYRULESKNIGHT
man does Australia blow (no offense), have they ever heard of freedom...I mean to have to rate everything under the sun and outright ban games is ridiculous, its like the rating bored 1. hates fun and 2. thinks every adult in Australia is immature and highly impressionable......cause seriously killing a zombie graphically = killing a person in real life.....dont think thats how it works unless you are coocoo
GamesAreArt's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 12:52
GamesAreArt
I think the Australian Censor....Rating board should go screw off till they come up with a 17/18+ rating.
Steel Brotha's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 12:54
Steel Brotha
if MY name were Donald McDonald I'd simply go on a shotgun rampage...
then again this is the country that got rid of black garbage bags in order not to offend black people.
KyleGamgee's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 12:55
KyleGamgee
I think Apple should allow but not require ratings, and then everything will sell more because it's UNRATED (which doesn't always mean more nudity, but it SHOULD)
HYRULESKNIGHT's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 12:58
HYRULESKNIGHT
oh and Im with RenagadePanda...Iphone games do suck
doctor insidious's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 13:02
doctor insidious
Absolutely not. Next there going to require a rating for EVERY game on the internet! Besides, getting a rating from, for example, ESRB requires money, and not everybody has a whole lot of that.
Char Aznable's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 13:07
Char Aznable
So, basically, what you're telling me is that Australians condone boiling children alive like lobsters? Ban this sick filth!

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.
Carl Sagan's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 13:25
Carl Sagan
Hey, is that Skyscrapers of the Midwest up there?
Riegel88's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 13:25
Riegel88
I think the ESRB should rate them, they rate psp-mini games, and DS titles OH GOD A CLOCK RATED M LOOK OUT...
Anyways ...yeah they should get rated too!
Solid Squirrel's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 13:50
Solid Squirrel
McDonalds: I'm hatin' it.

Also to the iPhone game haters: I guess that means you hate Critter Crunch, good shmups, puzzle games, and retro classics as well.
reindall's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 14:31
reindall
Wait, isn't that guy's name supposed to be Ronald?
bodybreak's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 14:35
bodybreak
@steel brotha
whaaaaat? I'm offended that anyone see that connection.
jamBOT's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 14:36
jamBOT
Jim, that picture is adorable. What was the article about again?
Fiat Mediocrity's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 15:33
Fiat Mediocrity
The board dictor's name is Donald McDonald?

I'd be pissed off all the time too. Cut them some slack, Jim. <3
Psy-Phi's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 16:04
Psy-Phi
At least his first name isn't Ronald.
matrixdude171's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 16:14
matrixdude171
About damn time. If they rate psp mini games, then why should apple apps be any exception? It'll bridge the price gap between the two.
Lydeck's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 16:29
Lydeck
DONALD MCDONALD?!?! LMAO
superporkeater3d's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 17:27
superporkeater3d
stupid freedom hater politicaly correct communists trying to stick their noses in everything. hope god rates him "not suitable" by smashing a piano on fire in his head
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 17:43
Cowboy TTop
Frankly, I think that Apple should hold out from doing this. Some of you people are shortsighted, because as soon as Apple hand these beggars the keys to their iTunes kingdom, it will start with games, then next it will be audio books and podcasts, and yes, that can even mean Dtoid podcasts too.

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.
lewness's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 17:56
lewness
Don't mind me. I'm just here for the baby.
pl0x kthanxbai's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 19:03
pl0x kthanxbai
IM LOVIN' IT
Ben Scott's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/22/2009 20:17
Ben Scott
None of them really warrant any restricting ratings. The only hand full of applications i can think of that would get a high classification are terrible to begin with.
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