Angry Rant #10: So where's that R-rating for Video Games?

Four Words: The Australian Christian Lobby.


It seems that they're at it again - trying to stop the rest of the population from doing what they want to do. This time, they're still not moving on the R-rating classification for video games. It's not enough for them to have a mostly Christian Government at their every beck and call, but force us to live by the bible - because they think it's it the right thing to do. (Being a good person should be logical and should not come from a book that was written thousands of years ago...and people say we have advanced as a race. Technologically, yes. Morally? Nope. But I digress)

Morality: It should come from here. 

This R-rating issue needs to be put through quickly. Not only is it idiotic, but it forces violent video games into the MA15+ category - something of which I don't agree with. I was trying to avoid using the cliched "look-at-what's-in-Australia-already" line, but it's difficult to avoid. GTAIV should not be in that MA category, along with games like MOH and COD. They should be in the R-rated category - I support this idea entirely.

The thing that pisses me off the most is the naivety of some people, in this case the ACL. They can say that the country will become more obsessed with violence, and that it will make it easier for kids to get their hands on violent videogames - yet I know kids under the age of 14 who play GTAIV. If there was an R-rating, it would make it harder for children to get their hands on it. How Modern Warfare 2 got released as an MA15+ title STILL amazes me. Every time I see that infamous Airport level, I think "how could there not be an R-rating?"

Is the ACL happy that this got into a LOWER rating category?

Check out Kotaku for more info on it if you're interested. They currently have an online petition that you can sign up to so that you can directly email your local government rep, or directly to the Minister of Home affairs, Brendan O'connor. Whether it changes things is another thing entirely, but here's hoping!

I don't understand the ACL's point of view, that being if there was a R-rating category, more violent games would reach our shores. Really? More violent then slaughtering hundreds of innocent people in an airport with the MA rating letting kids get to it easier? Yeah, you can tell they're using their...

The solution here is so bloody obviously, you'd think the rating would finally be allowed. Wait. What's that? We're dealing with politicians? Oh, cancel that then.

Don't believe the Lies and Spin.