Australia...less censorship?!

[DEATHMASTER]

The Federal Government has announced it will support a push for an adults-only classification for video games.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/05/3084954.htm


Now you can play L4D3 adults version!

 

[Sir Phoenixx]

So, would it be similar to the AO rating here in America, where no one uses it because virtually no major retail store will stock anything with an "Adult" rating?

 

[Top Secret]

While what you say is true, I'm sure there could be "online" stores in Australia that would sell such products.

 

[Bad^Hat]

So will it be R18 or AO? The article kind of flits between saying both, but there's a difference...

 

[Naph]

They're redoing the entire classification board to allow R18 to have exclusive properties and inherit some that MA15 took. I'd be surprised to actually see L4D2 even achieve a R18 classification after this change. Not because it's too late to think that the game can be reclassified, but how hard it would be too have games achieve R18. Atkinson or whoever was just a little to harsh with the previous/current implimented.

So will it be R18 or AO? The article kind of flits between saying both, but there's a difference...

AO doesn't exist since 18 has always been classified as adult here (Legal drinking and smoking age). I doubt they will make up a new design altogether to incorperate some odd class.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Awesome. I'm not sure if it'd make a difference in regards to age, but an AO rating just carries different connotations with it, and like someone said, certain retailers might be less willing to stock media with that sticker.

Anyway, good stuff. Now us kiwis won't have to put up with shit like GTA IV, where we got the censored version and our ratings board still gave it an R18. :|

 

[DEATHMASTER]

Predictable...
http://www.gamepron.com/news/2010/12/09/australian-r18-rating-not-yet/

 

[Naph]

It's understandable that they can't just leap into it after an attorney general like Atkinson.