That’s pretty bad, Mr. Atkinson.

I was around the same age that I first saw and R18+ film.

I wasn’t aloud MA15+ games until I was 13 though and compared to the films which depict realistic gore and depraved sexual acts I have always wondered why I was refused MA15+ games by my parents until the age of 13.

Most people I know saw R18 films before playing MA15+ video games. I’ve got scared shitless over some horror films but video games have never frightened me.

F—k you Atkinson.

And while his arguments on face value seem promising and wise, he is basically discriminating people on their interest.
Say if I was a fan of horror/gore my interest is supported in Australia, but my interest in playing games with a fan base such as aliens vs predator is not. Why? Both are equally valid interests.

Michael Atkinson has an extremely poor understanding of why supporters of a R18+ classification is angry and as a General Attorney he is imposing his will instead of finding a solution that keeps everyone happy, and hence game players feel their freedom of rights are being infringed by one man. (Yes he states that other GAs support his stance, yet they have not voiced their support of him. That speaks more about their support than anything else)

What he fails to understand is that gamers are not just disgruntle about games getting banned or edited because of violence or inappropriate to minors content, but by the obvious lack of a standard across the censorship board. How one game can get through unscathed and another must be edited on arbitrary grounds.

Gamers feel that their interests are not being represented by people who know anything about their interests. No one likes the things that they enjoy governed by people who know nothing about it.

Anyway, my last point is this video games are a valid past time and an increasingly valid market in Australia. They should get the same respect as movies, books and other forms of entertainment, Sure it has its cons but please tell me what doesn’t. Michael Atkinson is a poor official for not understanding this fact, and his handling of the censorship issue demonstrates his poor leadership. He argues that parents are not influenced by classification then fails the point out the reasons and never even mentions the lack of education on the subject.

He should realise that banning never works but just pushes content underground, but that proper education on these topics are far more effective in addressing the issues that he brings up. That way families are better educated and are in a better position to make choices that effect their families and protect their children. This allows the R18+ rating to be effective, young children to be protected by their parents and not infringe on Australian’s liberty to enjoy content as it was originally intended to be.

As for his vulnerable adults argument, it is a piss poor attempt to add validity in an area of liberty. No politician would ever use an argument like that and expect to stay in office, it just highlights Michael Atkinson’s gross misuse of his powers.

Also i remember when i was 16 and when i went to buy games rated MA15+, being i didn’t have any ID i could not buy the game unless i had my PARENTS buy it for me, even though i was over 15 years old because i didn’t have ID they wouldn’t sell it to me and same thing happened when going to rent games and movies when i was that age, so there is no real way you can say “there is no way from stopping children or young adults from playing these games if they are in the house hold” which means there is no real reason you cant inforce/allow a R18+ rating for video games.

And banning a game from Australia these day is useless with such easy access to the internet, banning a game really is just going to take sales and profits from retail stores and gaming company and give them to people who will download, burn and sell it on the streets (piracy), so really you are just aiding piracy and turning fun-loving gamers children/young adults and adults into criminals and thiefs…….

Okay, that, I thought was a legitimate point. The rest was logicless and contradictory and made me want to hit things

firstly ruining the game makers work because games are an artist medium they shouldn’t have to be changed

secondly they have done multiple tests proving violent video games don’t lead to violent behavior in real life as i say jack the ripper was around long before video games

thirdly i can go buy alcohol or cigarettes which
could someday kill me but i can’t buy a video game that hasn’t been heavy edited down

fourthly who said these R18+ games would be pornographic if that’s the major issue just don’t let games with pornographic content in even under an R18+