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Attorney General explains why an 18+ rating shouldn't happen in Australia

July 16, 2008 in News comments 9

Fallout 3 is the latest game to be banned in Australia because they do not have anything close to a mature rating. Many other games have been banned as well. Michael Atkinson, who is the Attorney General of South Australia, thinks an 18+ shouldn't be allowed in Australia because the games are "interacting" with the children.

Last week, Fallout 3 joined a long list of games deemed unsuitable for sale in Australia. Because that country lacks an equivalent to a Mature rating, many more adult-themed games receive this treatment. Michael Atkinson, Attorney General of South Australia, has explained why he believes that an 18+ rating should not be put in place.
tyranitar24 via arstechnica.com »
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  • 4
    Miss Razz Jul 16, 08
    quote
    because they do not have anything close to a mature rating.
    Eh? Yeah, we do. Our 'Mature Rating' is M15 or MA15+.
    R18+ is the adult rating.
    (most of the games that get rated 17+ in America just get a M15 rating in Australia. We're pretty lax in that area... Just not when it comes to the few games that do fit into the R18+ category).


    Anyways, the attornel general's reasoning was utter shit, to be frank. Of course kids will want to play violent games, just like they think it's cool watching violent movies and TV shows... but that's not the rating board's problem. It's up to stores not to sell these games to kids, and it's up to parents not to buy these games for their kids. It's common freakin' sense.

    (lol at most of the comments talking about beer. XD)
  • 0
    Sakuraba Neku Jul 16, 08
    Why is everyone in politics a freaking idiot?
  • 0
    Gamesta100 Jul 16, 08
    What about smokes for crying out loud, it's absolutely astounding how many teens smoke these days.Hell I saw a kid that must have been no older than 10 and he was freaking smoking while his damn mother was with him.Yet he wouldn't even think of trying to ban them.

    This fool makes me embarrassed to be a South Aussie.

    If the world ever got totally flooded and I saw this guy float past, I would just point and laugh lol.
  • 0
    Demonfurby Jul 16, 08
    Wow, that really sucks for Austraila. Fallout 3 looks incredible. This guy's an ass. He looks like an old Will Ferell
    • 0
      Gamesta100 Jul 16, 08
      We may still get the game though, but edited.But even if we don't we can still import.
  • 2
    Big Willie Jul 16, 08
    It's the same way in the states. There has become a strange double standard in households where parents are responsible for every great thing their child does but somehow isn't at fault if something bad happens. I think the world would be a much better place if people would just take the time to think for a second or two.

    You know what? I'll make it even easier for the parent. Just replace words "adult rated game" with "porn and slasher flick" in sentences. Because that's the worst it could get for an adult game so it makes it a much easier judgment. For example:

    Timmy: "Mom can I get this adult rated game?"
    Mom: "I don't know Timmy. I don't know what that is."

    Timmy: "Mom can I get this "porn and slasher flick?"
    Mom: "Absolutely, not!"

    It sounds ridiculous but trust me it would help. I once had a woman to come into the store I worked at and complain about how much violence and bad language was in the Scarface game. Hmmm... A game based on a movie that had excessive violence, language, and drug use? That would be great for my child!
  • 0
    Slumpy monkey Jul 16, 08
    "because the games are "interacting" with the children."

    Its an 18+ rating were talking about, Not a 3+.
  • 0
    Final Blade Jul 17, 08
    What type of reasoning is this, seriously its no different to reading mature books and watching Movies, yet games always has to be one put on the highest pedestal. Its no different, its not like im going to be walking down the street with a controller push the X button to kill someone. Jesus logic fails.

    Lets not forget this is really the parents and the stores fault.
  • 2
    Bale Fire* Jul 17, 08
    *Sigh*

    The whole point of the rating is so these games will not get into the hands of children, M is seen as the norm these days, parents would be a lot more hesitant about buying a R rated game. This guys basically running under the logic that "well this would be bad for these people, so we better just ban them altogether" its bloody censorship, what is this communism?

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