Australian
Video Game Censorship Minster News, by Greg Tingle
- 8th May 2010
Censorship,
both online and offline, and in this case, off the
shelf, remains a red hot topic down under in Australia.
Media Man
and Gambling911 investigate and learn that fun and
games (and delays) are just part of the ride.
Australian
Federal and state censorship ministers have failed
to make a final decision on R18+ rated video games
despite expectations a meeting yesterday might produce
an outcome.
A
meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General
yesterday instead opted to release a report into the
extent of the consultation, showing there had been
about 60,000 submissions of which 98 per cent supported
allowing R18+ games to be sold.
But
federal Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said
the ministers were not yet able to make a decision.
Current
laws set MA15+ as the highest rating for a game, meaning
anything more explicit cannot be legally sold in Australia.
Any
change to the laws would require unanimous support
from state ministers.
The
R Rated Superstar (Edge) WWE Superstar pro wrestler,
was unavailable for comment, as was Angelina Jolie
(Lara Croft in Tomb Raider) and Billy Murray (Captain
Price in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare).
Media
Man will follow up all parties and contact the
Australian Communications and Media Authority office
into the new week to satisfy the demand of the astute
and loyal Gambling911 readership.
The
head of one of the world's largest computer game publishers
has accused Australia of censoring video games.
Frank
Gibeau, the head of interactive powerhouse EA Games,
weighed into the debate on whether games in Australia
should be granted an R18+ rating by writing an open
letter to the Government criticising its lack of support
for the adult rating.
Mr
Gibeau said the current policy forcing developers
to rewrite game code was "censorship".
"Government
policies that don't allow for the rating of mature
content in video games effectively censor entertainment
choices for adults," he said.
"These
policies show a poor understanding of today's video
gaming audience.
"Existing
legislation in Australia that limits age ratings of
games to 16 demonstrates a distance between those
policies and the reality of the video game industry
and the people that play interactive games in Australia
today."
Mr
Gibeau said adult consumers were entitled to be responsible
for their own entertainment choices and the classification
system for films had done a good job protecting children
from inappropriate content.
"The
spectrum of gamers is as wide as the viewership of
television, movies, theatre, and the readers of books,"
he said.
"Governments
don't insist that all books be written for children,
or that all television shows be cartoons.
"Adult
gamers want their governments to treat them with the
same respect they get as movie-goers and book readers.
"Adult
Australians should be allowed to choose the games
they play, including those with mature themes."
Mr
Gibeau also warns the existing Australian policy towards
gaming classification could also have a negative financial
impact on the many talented local developers.
"Policy
makers should consider the environment they create
for game makers," he said.
"Governments
that design policies hostile to game developers and
their creative medium will struggle to attract investment
from the global industry."
Richard
Branson's Virgin
Games (and partner, Domain Game International),
are currently looking to attract investment to move
forward their international expansion plans of AWOMO
(A World Of My Own), an online multiplayer gaming
platform. Games to be released on AWOMO include Rome:
Total War, Fifa Football Manager, Warhammer: Mark
of Chaos and Tomb Raider: Legend. These will be offered
in addition to Virgin Games’ current suite of
online gaming products. Over 200 titles are expected
to be added once complete. Potential investors can
made contact via the AWOMO official website.
Virgin
competitor, PartyGaming, which PartyCasino
and PartyPoker
brands are available to players in Australia, are
understood to be watching the AWOMO space closely.
PartyGaming is strong in the themed online gaming
sector with branded titles including Sinatra,
The Terminator, Mission: Impossible. Like Virgin Games,
they also offer a range of Marvel Entertainment -
Marvel Comics themed slot games, including Thor, due
to hit the movie cinema in approximately 1 year. PartyGaming's
Noble
Casino also offers iconic Iron-Man, however the
Playtech powered Noble Casino has some technical issues
in the past few weeks. PartyCasino is working at 100%
and Media Man
has a number of reviews available for reading. PartyGaming
and Virgin
Games have both won a number of awards and commendations
over the years and are regarded as two of the best
and most trustworthy gaming brands in the world. Virgin
was founded in 1970 and PartyGaming in 1997. PartyGaming
remains listed on the London Stock Exchange.
What
Next For Gaming In Australia?
It
is currently unclear how this video game classification
- censorship situation may or may not be related to
Australia's seemingly ultra censorship agenda, well
documented by leading journalists, academics and social
and political analysts. In the past week weeks bible
bashers and other do gooder groups have lobbied government
to see magazines such as FHM and Zoo Weekly disappear
off newsagent and shopping centre shelves.
The
report of gaming and gambling by the Australian Productivity
Commission is currently due to finally be made public
in approximately 1 month.
The
government initiate to filter the internet down under
is currently due to be actioned in 1 to 3 months,
depending upon what report and source you choose to
believe.
Ah,
the fun and games continue.
Please
adhere to your countries or jurisdictions laws regarding
gaming and gambling.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
