Compare it to movies the likes of Saw, Hostel and even old classics like Caligula. Movies have had an R-rating for longer than I’ve been alive. As video games never had a rating in the good old days – and with family friendly content like Donkey Kong and Galaga, there was no need for one.

When the rating system was introduced, again – there were only a handful of titles worthy of an R-rating (Mortal Kombat?). Now that one wasn’t introduced back then, we’re being punished now. While its out, its easier to leave the system as it is than to add in something new.

I say bring in an R-rating for games, stop pretending they’re childrens toys. Enforce their sale like alcohol, cigarettes and adult books/movies/toys. Games like Jericho and Condemned made it into the country under an MA15 rating when they most certainly deserve an R-rating – but because they weren’t as popular as the other titles, they slid under the radar.

Given we’re the only country in the world that doesn’t have an adult rating on video games, our classification board needs to wake up, though I seriously doubt their competency anyway. Two recent examples – Star Wars has always been marketed as a childrens movie, yet in the (relatively) recent Episode 3 we see numerous dismemberments, decapitations, electrocution out a building window, and children being shot and killed – yet this not only fits into an M-rating, but is advertised during cartoons and as part of kids meals at fast food places.

On the subject of kids meals, lets look at the Dark Knight. Love the disappearing act Heath, where *did* that pen go? With a body count in that film of over 30, mostly police and innocent people, how does that fit into an M-rating suitable for advertising during childrens programs? They even go out of the way to say the main character in the film is not a hero.

$110,000 for importing a game suitable for humans in every other country in the world. Thats your standard persons wage for 3 years. Importing with the intent for the sale/distribution to minors is one thing, but to play a game that the rest of the world views as being suitable for adults is utterly ridiculous.

I feel that our incompetent classification board is making decisions as though we’re in a dictatorship. Why are Australians in need of such protection and shielding from the harm of the rest of the world, when our founding country does not.

@petey – It takes some specific skill and effort to play games and progress to various points to see all aspects of a game whereas it takes no particular skill to watch a film so they would watch it all.

What if you are over 18+ then surely you cant be considered a minor?

So at the end of the day, they review games in the same way they do film. In fact, I imagine they would watch a film in its entirety. How ignorant this board is, to be honest, is an utter disgrace to our nation.

I also fully support any quest for an R18+ rating.