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GameSpot : An in-depth analysis of the Aussie rating system

April 09, 2008 in Blog comments 6

This may be a little bit old, but nevertheless a good read. GameSpot AU takes a look at the current media rating system of Australia which has caused certain games like Grand Theft Auto IV, Dark Sector, Marc Ecko's Getting Up : Contents Under Pressure and Duke Nukem 3D to be edited or banned outright.

"I find censorship today in Australia a mass of confusing and conflicting laws..." -- Bill Hayden, Former Governor-General of Australia

Dark Sector, Manhunt, Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, Reservoir Dogs, BMX XXX, Blitz: The League, and Postal 2. What do all these games have in common?

All of the above games are banned for sale in Australia, casualties of our country's strict games classification system. While other forms of media (such as films and DVDs) have ratings that allow for the distribution of content deemed suitable for adults only, games do not. The highest classification available for a video game down under is MA15+, a rating which states that anyone under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult while playing. Films and DVDs, on the other hand, have an R18+ rating for content deemed suitable only for people aged 18 years and over. With MA15+ the highest rating available for games, any content deemed suitable only for adults 18 years old and over is refused classification by our country's peak ratings body, rendering that content illegal for sale in Australia.
StarJet via gamespot.com »
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  • 0
    Euphoric Apr 10, 08
    It's so stupid that we don't have an 18+ rating. I seriously thought we did up until this whole GTA IV thing. I'm guessing it's because the politicians are trying to keep 'bad influence' games out of the country but that's jsut stupid as people can bring them from overseas or get fake copies from the markets. Just release them with a higher classification and enforce that only 18+ people can purchase them in the first place. This is now a prickly topic with me!
  • 0
    theundertakergonzo Apr 10, 08
    Well we do have the R rating on our movies but i don't understand why this isn't applied to games likewise. It really annoys me how they ban games i mean it only puts us at a disadvantage aswell as the seller.
  • 0
    Euphoric Apr 10, 08
    Exactly. I mean what intelligent gamer is going to buy GTAIV from here is Aus when they can order it from overseas and get all the extra goodies that got cut out of our version. I mean if they are being realictic it's more inconvenient overall not having the rating than implementing it.
  • 0
    RyB4Shields Apr 10, 08
    I don't live in Australia and don't understand the gaming laws, but this article raises some good points. Good stuff StarJet
    • 0
      theundertakergonzo Apr 11, 08
      Well if you did live down here you would understand, we have to put up with having some nice titles banned 'cause there too "violent". A prime example ins Manhunt.
  • 0
    Divinorse Apr 12, 08
    Wow. I never actually new that it would come to this, to games being banned from countries and stuff. I mean it all depends on how old you are, how willing you are to play a game even considering what is inside the game such as the violence, crude humor, etc.

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