Ever since the release of Space Invaders, violence has been present in video games. While the culling of various alien lifeforms was not enough to start a mass outcry, censorship has been sticking side by side with games for many years now. In the early 90s after the industry took one step too many over the line, a rating system was introduced to help keep overly sensitive content from younger audiences. But that was over a decade ago. And now in a world where video games are becoming more than a child's plaything, does this system of regulation need to evolve?
Over the years the medium itself has been able to mature on a technical and artistic basis. Pixels have given way to polygons, points have been replaced by plots and so on. And with this increase in realism, comes an increase of public outcry from family first groups and other anti-violence associations. After several years of 'controversial' releases it's almost tradition for minority groups to spread word about these games existence. Because after all, it isn't quite a Grand Theft Auto release without grand media hysteria from these organisations.
In 2008, the Australian Classification Board had several run-ins with games that they deemed too extreme for Australia's highest video game rating of MA15+. During the year, a total of five games have been refused classification in Australia, meaning the importing or ownership of these titles is considered illegal. So far, two of the five (Dark Sector, Fallout 3) have received minor edits and have been resubmitted for rating with both being released at the MA15+ rating. At this time two games (Shellshock 2, Silent Hill: Homecoming) remain unreleased while the publishers try to find a solution to allow these games into consumers hands, and the final game (F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin) has successfully appealed the ban and gotten through unedited.
The lack of an R18+ rating for adult oriented software has caused many games to suffer the fate of heavy editing in Australia or simply for the banned titles to never reach our shores. Australia is the only developed nation that does not have an adults 18+ or equivalent rating for video games, making our nation one of the strictest in terms of video game regulation. However, while we may ban a handful of games every year, it's what is let into the country that demonstrates why we need to update our rating system with an R18+ rating.
In April 2008, Grand Theft Auto IV was released in Australia to the delight of gamers nationwide. What was kept hidden until the last minute was that the developers had submitted an edited version of the game to the Australian ratings board. Upon comparison of the Australian build and international versions, the only difference was being able to move the camera from its 'behind the car' view when soliciting prostitutes. All drug references, violence and other mature material was left intact, available to any 15 year old teenager. The same game is rated 18+ in all other developed countries, which makes you wonder why the government is letting this loophole slide instead of giving the Classification Board an option to increase the rating to an R18+ level.
The most recent game to be refused classification, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, was banned for high levels of violence. Luckily for publishers Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, an immediate appeal against the ban has allowed the game to be released unedited at the MA15+ rating. Once again, demonstrating the flaws in Australia's dated rating system.
While it is only a small percentage of games that would require the new rating to prevent banning, dozens of games that would otherwise be crammed into a lower MA15+ rating would finally be properly classified. It has taken numerous complaints to the Attorney Generals, who need to unanimously agree to introduce the new rating, to even agree to discuss the idea. Aside from South Australian AG Michael Atkinson all are in favour of a new rating. Hopefully with growing media attention on the issue and consumer awareness about video game ratings, Atkinson will give in and allow Australia to grow up and give games the ratings they deserve.
Just when you start getting used to being as broke as the US economy, this has to remind you that the drip of new releases is about to go full blast til December. But even with my experties in bargain hunting, all I can afford for a while is the train ticket to get to my local game retailers to look at the boxes. Maybe if I'm lucky I can pick up the box and hold it for a little while too *fingers crossed*
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