Today, an Australian federal ruling on the establishment of an R18+ adult video game rating was delayed, despite the hopes of many adult gamers and industry members riding on it. The decision was reached after a meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys General in Canberra, the country’s capital city. Without said ruling, any games with mature content cannot be sold in most retail markets within the country, amounting to an essential ban.
The highest rating the country has is MA15+, so any games considered too graphic for those over the age of fifteen can receive no classification. Developers are then forced to review the games and remove any graphic content in order to receive a favorable rating. Major titles, such as Modern Warfare 2, have run afoul of the lack of mature rating, leading some industry leaders, like EA Games’ Frank Gibeau, to blast the government over their lack of foresight. Ron Curry, CEO of Australia's Interactive Games & Entertainment Association, is saddened by the delay, but he remains hopeful that his voice will be heard.
"It's disappointing that an adult rating for video games will be delayed once again despite mass support from the Australian community, whether it is from adult gamers who want the right to play games that appeal to them or parents who want clear guidelines for their children," said Curry.
"While there are some opponents who argue an R18+ rating will only give children access to high level content, this is simply not true. Content that exceeds the guidelines required for an R18+ classification will still be refused classification and banned in Australia,” continued Curry. "An R18+ rating for video games will go a long way in helping parents make informed decisions about the games their children play and also provide more consistent guidelines aligned with other forms of media.”
No alternate date for the ruling has been given yet.
[Thanks Gamasutra]
