Video game censorship

[Shoma Barad]

<span style='font-family:Arial'><span style='color:blue'>Hi everyone.

We have a slight situation here in Australia with video games. Our classification system only goes so far. Games can only be rated up to M15+, which means they are only restricted to people 15 years and up. Thats great. But as most gamers will know, alot of games contain content only suitable for adults (Grand Theft Auto 3: Vice City etc).

I have started an online petition to get the Australian authorities to introduce an R18+ rating for video games, so that games can be released here instead of being banned or altered before they can be released, based on their content.

I know alot of young gamers would scream 'foul', and think they were victims, but that's not the case. Its the mature gamers who suffer the most, because here in OZ, were gettng only really the parts of a game someone else decides is okay.

Also, games like Grand Theft Auto arent really suited to younger players- they are all about crime and killing inocent people, and recent studies have linked those games to violent behaviour later in life. While I dont agree with the study or its findings, the introduction of an R18+ rating for Video Games would allow parents to decide for themselves if they really do want their kids playing such games. It would also help counter the perception that the games industry doesnt care- they are making games specifically for adults, but have no way of telling people "hey! This aint a game for kiddies".

So, i ask for your help, fellow Star Wars fans, to get Australia up to speed with the rest of the world, and introduce an accurate classification for games with adult oriented content. Please follow the URL below and follow the steps to signing the petition, and help Australians enjoy games the way the developers always wanted us to style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

www.epetitions.com.au (http://www.epetitions.com.au)

When you get there, the title of the petition you need to search for is "R18+ Classification for Video Games in Australia"

Thank you all.

~~Shoma</span></span>

[bodhisattva yoda]

it's ridiculous that video games aren't protected as a form of speech. can they not simply impose laws to keep children from purchasing 'mature' games?

[Miasmo]

I think there should be a WIDE variety of target audiences for video games. I want sex games, nature games, bloody gun games, drug dealing games, slave trading games, hollywood popstar simulations, broadway play games... I want to see as much variety in games as I see in movies. But some of the games I want aren't really in demand. Also it's easier to make a good movie without the best of resources but it gets a little harder when you attempt to make a successful video game.

Back on topic, I really think there should be more of a variety in ratings for movies and video games, and I hope Australia gets with the program.

[Shoma Barad]

<span style='font-family:Arial'><span style='color:blue'>Then head over and get signing style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

We have different free speech laws here in Oz than what there is in America. Everything is a little more 'controlled'. In fact, im not sure if we DO have a Free Speech act in this country...

An R18+ restriction would prevent kids accessing the games from a point of sale- ID would be required to make the purchase. True, it would not totally stop kids from playing the games, since an older person could still get it for them. However, that person would be better informed about what they were getting into. An M15+ doesnt seem like a bad thing to buy a 14 year old- an R-Rated game DOES.

It puts the onus on parents and families to TALK about these issues, rather than letting people sit back and be told what is and isnt suitable for them.

So help us out!!! Thanks again...

~~Shoma</span></span>

[bodhisattva yoda]

i heard on the radio or something once that some supreme court judge ruled that free speech was somehow not applicable to video games as they're, like, i dunno, not an artform or valid form of expression or something.

[Lobot]

This is good! No government should censor video games. I'm sick of most politicians thinking they need to watch over the people like we can't handle ourselves.

*Lobot

[bodhisattva yoda]

yeah! pot and violent video games for everyone!

[mrnapier]

sure, only if they can guarantee that children who are not alloweds to play these games really WILL not play these games.

How would you feel if your 6 or 7 years old would talk like eminem raps

[bodhisattva yoda]

i wouldn't have positive feelings about it.
it doesn't mean eminem's music should be banned though. even though he's a sonofa*****.

[Miasmo]

Originally posted by mrnapier@Sep 17 2003, 01:30 PM
How would you feel if your 6 or 7 years old would talk like eminem raps
I would feel like I should question my parenting ability.

[vodo]

In germany if you play a game where you kill people they have to be zombies or aliens and blod isnt aloud to be green. I think this is to prevent another war!

[Darth Darthy]

My god people. Any person, regardless of age should be entitled to play any video game they wish. Any person or persons who blame social misconduct on any piece of entertainment (media is irrelevant) is a damn fool and using the product as a scapegoat. It really is that simple.

F*ck censorship and f*ck the people who "want" to protect us. They care nothing for you or I, only the dollar.

[Kapit]

^what he said

one of the things that bothers me most is these people that say video game violence is causing children to be angry and more ready and willing to fight and kill

bull freakin crap!

if a kid gets all messed up, it's not because of the game, it's the parents fault for not being parents

i personally love violent video games, i think they're one of the ultimate stress relievers

if you're ever POd about something, you turn on your comp and play some counter-strike or something for an hour or two and you feel better

i'd like to hear others opinions too, i have to write a speech on this

[Sam Kenobi]

F the FCC . . .

Oh wait, wrong medium. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[Leto Aldriss]

As a Gamer and Father, sometimes I think that the ratings are good sometimes bad.

Up here in Eastern Canada, Yeah we have ratings that go all the way to NC-17, But except for that one rating (ie: because you have to get them from specialty or adult boutiques) the ratings are generally ignored. My friend's nine year old brother went to Wal-Mart and bought GTA: Vice City last week, owns several Eminem CDs, etc...

What good is the Rating system if it isn't enforced.

[Phantom Revan]

i do think that there should be a way to stop kids from buying these games. but then again its universally imposible to stop them and then again the compainies wont allow them to ban kids from M games because they will lose profits. but seriously i dont think that Super smash brothers should be called a violent game because since when are we going to shoot lightning from our faces?

(off topic posible)

I also think that Rogers videos should put a list of warnings on the movie shaun of the dead. im glad i left after the first 239 swear words which isnt far in that movie. I mean really, the box says nothing on the back about the stuff on that show.

DO NOT WATCH THAT SHOW

[Kapit]

there IS a way to stop kids, it's just that the employees are too lazy to care, and their managers don't enforce it like they should

i'm happy if i still get carded for an M game or an R movie, that means people are doing the right thing, more power to them

being an employee of a supermarket, it's not really the employee's ffault, it's just taht it's not EVER enforced by the managers, just teh "no cigs for 18 y.o." and "card anyone who looks under 30"

[Phantom Revan]

yes but why its imposible is that kids will rebel. they will use the internet they will use anything to ge tthe games. kids only want something because they usualy arent aloud to have it causing them to think its good unless there sensible childern and also lets put it this way.

You are the manager of EB games. you have had a press conferince about whether or not we should ban kids from Rated M games and get alot of happy parents. although on the other hand you could not do that and your proffits would go through the roof.

HONOSTLY ANSWER THIS.
what would you do?
popularity?
or power?

[Kapit]

as a manager, definitely the money, that's the point of business, to make money

[stormtrooper9]

well I have and act apond my morals so I would go with the happy parents

[Phantom Revan]

so far it would be a 50 50 of the companies that would and wouldnt ban kids from M games

[Leto Aldriss]

In my book if it's the LAW, then it should be enforced, and leave the exceptions to the lawers.

I mean, here in NS, shops selling tobacco to minors suffer heafty fines if reported, up to $1000 per incident. Even in Cdn$ that's alot, plus if you get caught more than once, they can suspend the tobacco liscense.

Maybe this is what's needed for the games. It still doesn't work all the time, but there are alot fewer places willing to take the risk.

PS: stores can make the responsible employee responsible for financial and social damages.

[Kapit]

i agree, that would help more, especially if it came out of the worker's pay check

[Phantom Revan]

today there was something on the news about video game censor ship. it also said about fines that you can get from playing some games when your to young like grand theft auto.

[Darth Darthy]

Originally posted by Leto Aldriss@Feb 6 2005, 02:23 PM
In my book if it's the LAW, then it should be enforced, and leave the exceptions to the lawers.
Quoted post


Not when it comes to invading my own personal space, persuing an activity which affects no one other then myself. NO one has the right to do that and the law can be damned if it thinks that it can.