r18 logo Australia May Finally Get A R18+ Rating

The Attorney-General’s office of Australia is asking for public comment on whether or not the country should get a 18+ rating for computer games under the Australian National Classification Scheme (think MPAA and ESRB ratings combined).

Submissions are being taken until 28 February 2010.

Why this discussion paper is being released now?

Research commissioned by the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) indicates adults are increasingly consumers of computer games.

IGEA research indicates the current average age of computer gamers is 30 years (up from 24 years in 2005)….

Nice of them to wake up to the 1990′s. Those kids that played Pong and Pac-Man still play games and don’t like being told “No games for you because little Johnny might see it.” What a shock.

But still this is a great first step. Currently, Australia’s highest rating for games is R15+. That means if its not fit for a teenager, then no one can have it. The American equivalent is the T for Teen rating from the ESRB. You can imagine how many games are not legally available inside Australia because of that.

Even if you’re not from Australia, I suggest sending a comment in anyway. You can find the discussion paper and submission forms here.

4 Comments Games

4 Responses to “Australia May Finally Get A R18+ Rating”

  1. Mitch on 17 Jan 2010 at 11:19 pm #

    About time now we can get games like Grand Theft Auto 4 and others like it out of Kids Hands and into Adults hands and that we can final have a system that isnt broken

    [Reply]

  2. Greg Barbe on 18 Jan 2010 at 9:20 am #

    Ultimately getting “inappropriate” games out of kids hands is the parents responsibility. I use quotes as I have never agreed with the criteria of any rating system, and I believe the parents should decide for their own kids if a game or movie is appropriate for them. That said I don’t mind retailers checking ID against the recommended rating, but if Mommy still buys GTA4 for her 8 y.o. I could care less.

    But whatever you feel is appropriate for children, adults should have the ability to buy any game or movie.

    [Reply]

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