5 reasons why a R18+ game rating is needed

Mike Bantick
Tuesday, 26 February 2008 06:06

Opinion and Analysis

So the Attorneys-General Standing Committee is finally going to look at the question of introducing an adults on R18+ classification for interactive entertainment in Australia.  Here are some reasons for doing so.

Despite the inevitable calls asking whether the introduction of a R18+ rating for games will be the end of Civilisation as we know it in Australia, there are many compelling reasons to say the introduction of such a classification system will indeed help the fabric of our society.

1 Clarification -  The Australian public is already comfortable with the movie industry classification system, apart maybe between the M and MA demarcations.   But everybody understands the difference between G and R (and to a certain extent X) rated films.

Bringing game classification in line with this rating system will help alleviate any confusion, especially amongst parents and care-givers, the primary target of a classification system in the first place.

2  Respect -  The Australian Games Industry is (and has been for some time ) now larger than the local film industry, in both development and money intake.  Yet, it is still seen in an underground way by everybody from the public up to Government levels.

Acknowledgment of the industry by the Attorneys-Generals will be a small step towards the vindication that industry bodies such as the Game Developers Association of Australia are looking for. 

The GDAA has long called for government action to bring rebates to the growing industry in line with those received by the local film industry – which currently receives a 40 percent tax rebate.