Craig HillSorry World, R18 Rating In Aus Won't Stop Games Bans
September 10th 2008 23:40
Australia is an island. And that's we way we want to stay according to Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus. Debus wades into the debate surrounding the modification, or non-modification of Fallout 3 to comply with the Australian Classifications Board. "In the board's view the game warrants an RC classification in accordance with item 1(a) of the computer games table of the National Classification Code," Debus said.
"As a general rule material that contains drug use related to incentives will be refused classification."
Okay, we already know that. And from this has sprung the argument that we need an R18-plus rating to allow such things for a discerning consumer audience. Now here is the clanger, the back-breaker that sinks syringes full of Syanide(tm) into the hearts of gamers world round. "The availability of an R18-plus classification would not necessarily have resulted in a different decision by the Classification Board." Et tu, Debus?
WIth Bethesda claiming that the Fallout 3 hitting the shelves shortly is the same version globally and was always intended to be, it seems that the grab for a wider audience will forever tame developers. If one country insists developers change a title including their definition of particularly unsavoury content, that decision will be made for gamers world-wide.
For anyone hoping that an R18-plus rating would make a difference, a review is currently underway. The only thing standing in the way of a policy change? The unanimous agreement from all state, territory and federal censorship ministers...
Thanks to computergame.com.au for the original story.
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