Australian censorship ministers met yesterday to discuss changes to our classification system for video games. While many within the industry and gaming community were optimistic this would see the introduction of an R18+ rating, it appears those hopes have been cruelly dashed.
The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General have agreed in principle to remove the M and MA categories, meaning the highest rating now allowed under the new classification system will PG. All games released in Australia will need to meet the requirements to be suitable for gamers aged 12 and above.
A spokesperson for the Attorneys-General Department said the decision was made with a view to protecting children and vulnerable adults from potentially harmful interactive content. The spokesperson cited titles such as Halo 3 for its full frontal alien nudity, Dawn of War II for the way it encourages aggressive behaviour, and Blacksite: Area 51 for being, well, crap.
The new classification system will be tabled in Parliament in the coming weeks.
Blake
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 11:34 AMDamn it! Why do I come on the internet on this bloody day. Everything tricks me.
Tristan
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 11:35 AM@Pricie: Wow, you bought it hook, line and sinker.
Don’t suppose you’d be interested in buying some magic beans?
:P
ben
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 11:36 AMI realize that this is an April 1 joke, but please don’t give them any ideas!!
brad
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 11:41 AMDavid, you’re an A’hole!!!!
LOL
i was sittin here thinkin WTF? then i realised what day it was too.
Tim
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 11:43 AMI guess it’s a sad state of affairs when so many of us
initially thought this story could be true….
Nick
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 11:44 AMNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Oh wait GOD DAMN IT! stupid April Fools
Simeon
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 11:48 AMDammit, foiled. But really, TWO April fools jokes?
David Rayfield
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 11:50 AMDavid, let me paint you a picture of how you fooled me.
I started reading this post and my mouth dropped open. The more I read (specifically when I reached the ‘only PG games from now on’ bit, my hand went to my mouth in shock.
You wanna know the last time my hand went to my mouth in shock? SEPTEMBER 11 2001 THAT’S WHEN.
For approximately 5-10 seconds, you had me hook, line and sinker. And it was horrible.
Bravo.
Casey
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 12:03 PMD’oh, Beaten by Endu and Pricie. Should have read ALL the comments.
Thomas Gribben
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 12:06 PMFINALLY THE DAMN ELECTRONIC VIDEO TOY MACHINE HAVE BEEN SAFENESS TO MAX!
CitizenDee
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 12:28 PM@David Reyfield – I hope you’re not for real.
Arran
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 12:55 PMNice try (especially picking such a touchy subject)
ouch
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 4:33 PMYou fooled me
DONAR
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 6:51 PMNice try, David, but this wouldn’t have fooled most people even if it wasn’t April 1.
Bureaucracy takes time. To suddenly lose ratings with no warnings wouldn’t happen. You would’ve had a better shot saying we might lose the M ratings, not that they were gone.
LordLeckie
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 9:31 PMinteresting, all of a sudden i find there are indeed lots of Aussie who read this and who do actually post from time to time and all it took was an obvious april fools.
Rohan
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 10:37 PMOMG!! You got me good. I was telling all my friends and then I realised, It’s April 1st. Good one.
Steve
Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 11:34 PMI was sick all day and I get up and (as you do) check Kotaku…. That was really mean guys :P I had read the gBall gag and thought it was silly, I cycled through half dozen emails… Then I read this and I am like “oh my god they have gone too far! this isn’t right! this is… oh… April fools… grrrrrrr” . Good work guys :P
Mentos
Sunday, June 19, 2011 at 12:10 AMHoly crap, thats not cool guys, here i am, reading through this two years later with no idea of the date, about to include it in an essay for a geography research project about a chosen issue in Australia