Plan to censor online video games

Mike Bantick
Friday, 26 June 2009 06:44

Opinion and Analysis

The Australian Federal Government has turned the eye of its proposed ISP web filter towards a current classification loophole, online video games and their import sites.

The Australian Federal Government has turned the eye of its proposed web filter towards a current classification loophole, online video games and their import sites.

According to a report today in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Federal Government has noticed the significant loophole in the stance as the only major region in the world without a R18+ classification for interactive entertainment.

It is of course the fact that though games classified as either too violent, sexual or ‘mature’ to fit within the MA 15+ definition are effectively banned from retail sale, the same games are usually available either as a digital download, or via import from our close neighbours.

Furthermore, the classification system has never been able to accurately label predominately online games such as the hugely popular World of Warcraft.  Surprisingly, games such as Blizzards blockbuster can still be purchased despite the failure to classify for store shelves.

Then there are the myriad of Flash (or similar technology) based web games, and experiences such as second life, or even PlayStation Home, where the experience is generated by the people online at the time, granted the latter in a heavily controlled way.

This ludicrous situation, along with the glaring fact that some games classified as suitable only to adults overseas, are shoe-horned into the misunderstood MA 15+ classification in Australia, in effect exposing younger gamers to an experience not intended for them by the game developers.

So what is the Governments response, rather than attempting to clear up the classification system, bringing it in line with the well understood cinematic ratings, instead they felt it would be better to further clamp down on the content.

According to the report:  Senator Conroy's spokesman said the filter would cover "computer games such as web-based flash games and downloadable games, if a complaint is received and the content is determined by ACMA to be Refused Classification".
The filtering could also block "the importation of physical copies of computer games sold over the internet which have been classified RC", the spokesman said.

The chief executive of the IEAA (Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia) points out the easier answer to the situation "It's through the introduction of an R18+ classification that adults will have access to age appropriate material and parents will have the full tool kit to understand the suitability of content for their children," he said.

There will be further questions arise from this decision, what of controlled online environments such as Xbox LIVE or the PlayStation Network?  Whilst they are a community unto themselves, once again much of the experience online is up to the users, be they adults or children.

And what of new players in the marketplace, games such as the upcoming Massive Multiplayer Online game Aion, soon to be released in Australia, and already hugely popular overseas, will the launch plans for this game be put on hold until a definitive direction emerges?