R18+ Game classification debate heats up

Mike Bantick
Wednesday, 30 July 2008 09:29

Opinion and Analysis

Maybe it is the next political band wagon to be jumped upon, or possibly there truly is an undercurrent developing for an overhaul of the Australian classification system of video games.  Currently there is no R18+ rating for interactive entertainment, could ACT politician Greg Tannahill be a white knight in the crusade for bringing games in line with movie classification.


It looks as if the fallout from the classification refusal (read banning) of the upcoming Fallout 3 is providing further fodder for those (like myself) pointing out the folly of the Australian interactive entertainment classification system.

A recent talk show (snippet of which is below} briefly debated the introduction of the vacant R18+ classification for interactive entertainment.  The panel of politicians and “experts” that discussed the topic came across as sadly ill-informed. 

Though perhaps this is a little harsh as the topic did indeed seem to come out of the blue, not giving the requisite research period the experts fell back on the clichéd arguments that they had young children which they did not wish to have exposed to violent video games.

Only one, Senator Mark Arbib from Labour NSW openly stated that there seems to be a strong argument to have an R18+ rating, but acknowledged he had not seen the games to judge.

But it looks like this issue might be the a great band wagon for younger pollies to jump on, find out who is making waves on page two.