Finally! A petition!

[pevergreen]

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/vie...1346&lIndex=-1

Huzzah!

A formal petition to grant R18+ ratings for games!

No more censoring of terrible proportions (L4D2: Yeah I shot a grenade launcher into a bunch of zombies...oh they all faded to black within half a second. No blood, no bodies, no limbs. Just fade away.)

[miotas]

Now when will NSW catch up I hope it goes through and sets the standard for the rest of the states. Although, if it does go through and the rest of the states refuse to follow then it will be a great boon for the games retailers in Qld.

[naut]

then it will be a great boon for the games retailers in Qld.

Yeh, will have to travel up north to buy games, just don't drink their beer.

[CountArach]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I am 90% sure this is a Federal issue falling under the OFLC and, in turn, the Attorney-General.

[pevergreen]

You got something against XXXX? Better than your VB. Yes I know what it stands for, I just don't know of anything brewed in NSW.
Nor do I drink.

Regardless, if legislation is passed, any game refused classification by the Federal Government can be classified by QLD government. So....L4D2 uncensored please!

Edit: way to ninja in the same minute pever, answer the silly welshmans concerns within seconds

[CountArach]

Yeh, will have to travel up north to buy games, just don't drink their beer.

Ours ain't any better. Only SA and Tasmania can do it decently. Maybe Victoria too.

Regardless, if legislation is passed, any game refused classification by the Federal Government can be classified by QLD government. So....L4D2 uncensored please!

But you can't get them into Queensland without going through Customs. Customs is entirely Federal and as such, even if it isn't banned in Queensland, it will still be illegal to have a copy. That's my understanding of the situation anyway.

[CountArach]

And why isn't this Backroom?

[pevergreen]

Delving into too much law for me to say anything with proof.

But if a game is classified, then QLD retailers can buy them and sell them.

Its not illegal to be gifted the copy of L4D2 not allowed for sale here over steam.

If you own the silly version of L4D2, you can launch the unrestricted one anyway, just no MP with normal people and no achievements.

edit: I didnt intend for it to be a thing like it is becoming, just a declaration that australia may be heading towards civilisation.

[CountArach]

Here is the situation explained:

The OFLC’s game classifications are based on the charter handed down to them by the Attorney General’s office. To amend the charter, the Attorneys General from each state have to meet and come to a unanimous decision.

And one of them is holding up the otherwise unanimous decision to introduce an R18+ rating to games.

Would you know it, it’s the same man who’s in favour of internet censorship (which is also a horrendously bad idea). He’s the South Australian Attorney General, Michael Atkinson.

So it would still be illegal.

[pevergreen]

Yes, to make it legal throughout australia

In the letter we received from Michael Atkinson he stated that:

"In Australia there is merit in a national classification scheme that requires unanimity between jurisdictions. State and Territory boarders are incapable of restricting media to jurisdiction: once games classified R18+ are available in one State they will be readily available in others."

In Queensland computer games are regulated by two Acts:

* The Federal Act: Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995
* A State Act: Classification of Computer Games and Images Act 1995

A small adjustment in the State Act could mean that computer games refused classification under the Federal Act would then be able to be Classified R18+ under the State Act. This would make those games legally available in Queensland.

Sponsoring Member: Hon Kate Jones MP

MP approval, I'm happy.

[Subotan]

Why does the Australian Government hate computer games?

[pevergreen]

It doesnt, a certain man does.

One man, blocking an entire country.

The board itself (the one that classifies) complains about it, but this shiela won't bloody well let it pass.

[Subotan]

Oh. It's just the impression to non-Australians that this one man's actions gives is that Australia hates video games.

[Rhyfelwyr]

But video games cause violence!?!?

[Beskar]

Don't Aussies just drink Fosters all the time?

[Husar]

You wish...

We have that sort of 18+ thing here but we can only get the censored version from Steam and in stores anyway because Valve are too lazy to do any age checks other than type in your own birthday and want to get more customers anyway.

[HoreTore]

Why not just...... scrap both the censoring and the silly age thingy?

I mean.... It's a computer game, not heroin....

[Beskar]

I love that in America they have to be 21 to drink alcohol, cracks me up everytime.

[Husar]

Why not just...... scrap both the censoring and the silly age thingy?

Because children cannot differentiate between virtual things and real things as well as adults can?

[HoreTore]

Because children cannot differentiate between virtual things and real things as well as adults can?

Who cares?

No, seriously?

[A Very Super Market]

Because children tend to be stupid and immature? Of course, most parents don't care at all.

[Husar]

Who cares?

I do.

[miotas]

Who cares?

No, seriously?

Unfortunately Michael Atkinson does.

[HoreTore]

I do.

Time to realize that people should have the freedom to decide for themselves how to run their lives, Husar

[Boohugh]

Time to realize that people should have the freedom to decide for themselves how to run their lives, Husar

Children don't always know the logical/morale choice to make or predict the likely outcome in the same way an adult can, which is where their parents need to step in to guide them. Now, if a parent buys an 18+ game to give their children that is their choice so there is some freedom to decide. However I don't feel a child should be allowed to walk into a store and buy an 18+ game. Just because it is a game does not mean it can't affect them in a negative way.

[HoreTore]

Children don't always know the logical/morale choice to make or predict the likely outcome in the same way an adult can, which is where their parents need to step in to guide them. Now, if a parent buys an 18+ game to give their children that is their choice so there is some freedom to decide. However I don't feel a child should be allowed to walk into a store and buy an 18+ game. Just because it is a game does not mean it can't affect them in a negative way.

Why do you want people to download even more stuff illegally?

[Azathoth]

Children don't always know the logical/morale choice to make or predict the likely outcome in the same way an adult can, which is where their parents need to step in to guide them. Now, if a parent buys an 18+ game to give their children that is their choice so there is some freedom to decide. However I don't feel a child should be allowed to walk into a store and buy an 18+ game. Just because it is a game does not mean it can't affect them in a negative way.

Yeah, JC Denton's death gurgle scared the **** out of me at age 7. Maybe lower it to 13 or 14?