This is just sad, sad garbage. Australia is to remain the only developed nation in the world without an 18+ age rating after proposals to lift the MA15+ cap have been soundly rejected by South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson.
Atkinson had agreed to debate the matter of an 18+ rating earlier this year, despite voicing strong misgivings against it. Australian Attorney-Generals opened discussion on this matter in March, but they have gone nowhere. Australia will continue to see videogames strongly edited or outright banned.
It would seem that Atkinson is the sole wrench in the works on this one. Despite wide support for a new rating from most Attorney-Generals, it can only happen with a unanimous vote, something that will not happen while Michael Atkinson continues to have his Draconian way.
Australian gamers who have to put up with all sorts of BS at least know who to blame now. It is thanks to Atkinson that videogames and their consumers are being treated with such disrespect. Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia went as far as to accuse Atkinson of "censoring the debate on censorship," with regards to his refusal to discuss the matter any further. Reports also suggest that the lack of an 18+ rating is actually embarrassing Australian politicians.
Atkinson is clearly unpopular and a source of national humiliation. He is making countless people upset for the sake of his misguided viewpoint and I think that's rather pitiful indeed. Doesn't sound like the man's fit for his position.
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:
10:46 AM on 11.01.2008
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I feel ya Aussies.
If they want to ruin it for the ADULTS who want to buy the 18+ games, then thats crap tbh.
I don't know what it is, but I wish I was a part of it . . .
Mr. Happy Finger is just hoping to give her a warming sensation.
Not only does everything get released 20 years late...they're not even allowed to buy half of it.
Bunch of cunts that government is.
Movies are extremly violent, why not ban them too? Make it even/fair or GTFO.
Or have a law tha makes it manditory for people to get ID'd before selling games and movies, even though that doesnt work with alcohol, smokes or smut....
New Zealand has an R18 rating. However, because we are in the same region as Australia, we sometimes end up getting games that are censored to suit their standards.
This is just sad bullshit, looking forward to seeing Yahtzees response.
Little changes like Morphine into Med-X in Fallout are negligible to me. What cracks me up is that in a game where you can utterly dismember & destroy human AND animal flesh in a twisted, slow motion display - they have a problem with shooting up ""Morphine"" to dull the pain of return fire.
I hope they decided this in a bar drinking fosters and Arm wrestling shouting ina bad ass australian accent and the losers arm exploded.
and they need to bring back bauyo billy so they can say No we are to bad ass for bayou billy that game is banned, bayou billy is a pansy man.
you can say NO to it but you will still be put on a minor filter which blocks illegal content.
This is so ridiculous, we need a bill of rights!!
Fosters?!? HAHAHAHAHA.... no Australians drink Fosters. It is just a marketing ploy for that company to sell the brand overseas. YOu will literally get laughed at if you ask for a Fosters in an Australian bar or club.
If by reports, you mean 5 politicians making asses of themselves on live T.V on ABC. Talking about how "Australia should have a ratings system for video games".
*facepalm*
DrTerror:"so nobody gives a fuck here really"
Are you fucking stupid or something? Did you just decide this information for yourself? A study was released not 5 days ago saying 91% of Australians WANTED an R18+ rating. Shut your pie hole next time you want to "educate" people.
Apparent the attorney generals are having an open forum some time in the next 2 weeks to discuss this problem, so hopefully something is fucking done about this stupid cocksucker sooner rather than later.
Also, Bayou Billy was fucking awesome.
Also, also, it's true, no self respecting person drinks Fosters. I'm an Asahi/Heineken man myself.
Whether said game is crap or not is irrelevant, such harsh censorship is uncalled for.
If this stupid guy continues blocking an R18 rating, developers and publishers down under could choose to leave and work elsewhere, with aus losing lots of income. Come off your self righteous high horse and treat your game playing voters with some respect, aussie suits.
Can't the Legislative body of the Aussie Gov't just censor him or better yet, impeachment?
Wait? What the hell am I talking about? Us Americans have wasted the last 6.5 years pretending that we like G.W.Bush.
Nevermind.
(Ignored the first 1.5 years on purpose -- he hadn't fucked up yet because he was on vacation in Crawford, TX all the time. And we all wanted to golf and have a beer with him, too.)