In a significant victory for adults who prefer to make decisions for themselves, the Australian government has finally been persuaded to introduce an R18+ rating classification for games. Until now, the highest possible rating for a game down under was 15, effectively banning outright any content which couldn’t fit this category.<\/p>\n
Which really doesn’t make much sense, considering the entire continent is a penal colony. What haven’t those guys already seen?<\/p>\n
Eight of Australia’s nine territories have agreed to introduce the new classification pending the approval of the proposed R18+ guidelines, although New South Wales abstained from the vote claiming further discussion was required. One would imagine that government-mandated censorship doesn’t require “further discussion” in any context whatsoever.<\/p>\n
“This is a big step forward in the long-running debate on classification of computer games for adults,” says federal minister for home affairs Brendan O’Connor.<\/p>\n
“Once introduced, the classification will afford adults the opportunity to view material designed for adults. It is a credit to all jurisdictions that the meeting has now been able to achieve agreement over what is a complex matter in classification policy.”<\/p>\n
The process is expected to take “a couple of months”.<\/p>\n