Would it help if Aussie gamers got together and wrote/sent petitions out?

I believe there have been petitions setup already online, and there is even a political party in Croydon called "Gamers for Croydon" (or something similar). I will go on a search and sign all of them, and I will also post the links for my Aussie compatriates.

It would be good to see the gamers of Australia band together and try to vocalise our objection somehow. I even thought of a demonstration, but it doesn't personally do me any good when I can't storm his office  – it's in another state. Strength in numbers… it may even help to band together with other websites… Just a thought.

Not only are they making it hard for devs, but the retailers are also in the line of fire too. Some shop owners (like the awesome people at my GameTraders store) wouldn't sell something like GTA to a 15 year old even if the rating said it was right for that age group, but if an unwitting parent bought it and then found out down the track that their child is playing a game that isn't appropriate for them then the blame shifts from the parent to the retailer for allowing the sale.

And also butchering games so that they will fit into a classification rating suitable enough is something else I abhor. L4D2 is the example that comes to my mind. While my US friends get to play L4D2 with the content the way it was developed, Australians have to play a tailored version of the game so it is acceptable for sale here without certain gory details.

As you can see, I'm pretty steamed. So much so that I'm surprised I'm not fogging up my computer screen.

I have to admit it, and sadly alot of other people will do it to, online petitions aren't going to help anything.  If you look at some of the comments made on some petitions, they're childish and only helping Atkinson solidify his point.  Not that I'm saying to not try, but to try and convince a person who rides a push bike and likes to respond to emails via snail mail to  change his outdated veiws on video games via the internet, it just isn't going to have the same affect.  He seems to be very much sticking to his own guns on this.

I just think he should explain why he first agreed to, then blocked, a nationwide discussion paper on the subject of a R rating.

Atkinsons veiws are, to me, old fashioned.  I think everyone will agree that it is the parents job to monitor what their children play and watch.  The PS3, 360, Wii and I believe Windows 7, all have parental controls installed in them so that certain material can't be used without a parental lock.  I know that my aunty has the parental lock on all of her kids consoles (I should know, I set it up for her) and that she monitors what games the kids buy and borrow from their friends.  She accepts the fact that she has to have a part in this kind of area, not like other people I know.

Without the rating, it makes it easier for parents to NOT take on the parental role when it comes to interactive media.

In regards to L4D 2 though, I'm more than shitted off about the major changes between the original version and the "babyfied" version of the game.  There are many videos out on youtube that show the differences, and, as I think I said to Naomi when she was over, it made me depressed to know that we have to put up with this kind of over censorship because we are the ONLY western country without an R18 rating. 

It seems that us Aussies are so desperate to be in the "normal crowd" that we are willing to import and hack games in order to play them the way they were meant to be played.  I'll admit, I will be buying the game from Steam, but, I may have to change my region and use a download mirror, get someone to gift it to me or use the ever so popular "510" hack (which basically unlocks the censorship by changing a number in two files.  And yes, I tried it on the demo, and it worked a treat).

I think getting the knowledge out to those who don't understand the issue at hand is one of the most important things we need to do but, it doesn't mean those who make the decisions know what they are talking about in the first place. (Via Q&A from ABC).

Well Personally i can live without L4D2… just not Alien Vs Predator. So Since everyone of you lovely aus ladies has said most valid points i leave this, I can walk into a Game Store in Sydney an turn to an Entire wall of Adult erotica games. I love this contrast Violent Video games no, but rape simulators yes. I love this country

I was reading on Kotaku from their Australian writer that the problem is one official in particular who pretty much won't budge on creating a M or 18+ rating. Really interesting because that just seems like such a foolish thing to be a hold out on.

Post edited 5:05 pm – December 9, 2009 by Naomi

@Mr D – That's true. And I may never be able to post on GA again if they filter my interwebs.

@Trina – The Kotaku writer is right, and it's this guy Atkinson who is the one in it's way (hence the rant and steam).

It just seems completely incomprehensible as to why they think it's a bad thing to have this rating for games when we have instigated this rating for movies and other media.

It kindof makes me hope that the minute I win the lottery I will be moving to a country where I can make my own choices and not have limited restrictions put on my entertainment choices. As much as I love our country and all.