Tuesday, June 19th 2012

Australian R18+ Game Rating System Ends Mature Game Embargos

Australian legislators voted in a new game rating system that expands choice for gamers, allowing them to play ESRB-Mature games, which often get restricted or banned in the Australian market. Called R18+, the new rating marks games restricted to consumption by people aged 18 and above. Before it, the highest game rating marker for the Australian market was M15+ ("mature", above the age of 15), which let through titles with depiction of violence, but blocked out quite a few that in the eyes of the powers that be, were "too violent" (eg: Mortal Kombat, with its gory critical hit animations). Like with every other government, in every part of the world, it took a lobby to move the Australian House and Senate (Parliament) and make R18+ a reality. Go ahead and score fatalities in style, mates.
Source: GameInformer
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24 Comments on Australian R18+ Game Rating System Ends Mature Game Embargos

#1
theJesus
Cool, now Mussels can play fucked up hentai games.
Posted on Reply
#2
RejZoR
theJesusCool, now Mussels can play fucked up hentai games.
Lol. :D Though on a second note, i don't think states should be regulating what ppl want to buy. That's parents job...
Posted on Reply
#3
MilkyWay
It had a lot to do with games that where 18's but where being slightly tweaked to masquerade as a 15, so 15s where actually as violent as an 18. The fact a lot of gamers just imported banned games meaning lost commerce for Australia.
Posted on Reply
#4
theubersmurf
Congrats to the aussies here, glad they can't nix your content anymore.
Posted on Reply
#6
Yo_Wattup
Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinaaaaaaaallyyyyyyyyyy
Posted on Reply
#7
erocker
*
Congrats Aussies!!! oi oi!
Posted on Reply
#8
TheMailMan78
Big Member
Now they will have less of an excuse to pirate.......:rolleyes: :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#9
[H]@RD5TUFF
It's about damn time, I just don't get the aussy governments fascination with censorship.
Posted on Reply
#10
KissSh0t
Ohh my goodness is that for real finally!!!!

Left 4 Dead 2 was completely butchered compared to the original... maybe they will update it to be the normal version now!!!

And no more R18+ games being classified as MA15+ LOL!!

And no more Censored games!!!

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY FREAKING YEARS I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS...

Mates xD
Posted on Reply
#11
tacosRcool
Well now Australia is a little less communist now...
Posted on Reply
#12
mcloughj
About time. can't imagine how frustrating that must have been to put up with.
Posted on Reply
#13
THE_EGG
Haaaaazaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on Reply
#14
qwerty_lesh
Will games be unbanned for us now or something?

Thank goodness we wont get gore gimped games anymore like L4D2(gore free rubbish version)
Posted on Reply
#15
Disruptor4
Comes into effect on 1st January 2013 though. But at least we are going to get a bit more freedom. They will still censor some games :(
Posted on Reply
#16
Widjaja
Now the Aussies don't have an excuse for the heat when they play games naked with sex themes in the summer heat.

But in all seriousness, about time!

Sure Aussie settlers were initially criminals and may have a predisposition to mimicking criminal activities from anything they may find influential but that was a long time ago and many of them should have evolved by now!
Posted on Reply
#17
DannibusX
Now I gotta find some other way to make fun of the Aussies.

Well, they do have Mussels there so it shouldn't be too hard.

All kidding aside, this is awesome.
Posted on Reply
#18
Melvis
About BEEEPING time!!!

They actually realize that we can think for ourselves now and that most of us are infact over 15 lol
Posted on Reply
#19
AsRock
TPU addict
RejZoRLol. :D Though on a second note, i don't think states should be regulating what ppl want to buy. That's parents job...
It's parents what 1/2 the problem is.
Posted on Reply
#20
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
steam better patch L4D2, i'm sick of the butchered version (and its why i gave up playing it only a few days after its release)
Posted on Reply
#22
Prima.Vera
Someone needs to explain this English:
"Restricted to 18 and over" . So if I am 32 I am still restricted, but if I am 17 is OK. This is what I understand from this statement.
Posted on Reply
#23
KissSh0t
Prima.VeraSomeone needs to explain this English:
"Restricted to 18 and over" . So if I am 32 I am still restricted, but if I am 17 is OK. This is what I understand from this statement.
It means if you are under the age of 18 you are not allowed to purchase or play it... I think :/
Posted on Reply
#24
Disruptor4
Prima.VeraSomeone needs to explain this English:
"Restricted to 18 and over" . So if I am 32 I am still restricted, but if I am 17 is OK. This is what I understand from this statement.
Not sure if srs......

It says "Restricted TO 18 AND OVER"
meaning...
"Restricted TO people 18 years old AND OVER"
Posted on Reply
#25
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
Prima.VeraSomeone needs to explain this English:
"Restricted to 18 and over" . So if I am 32 I am still restricted, but if I am 17 is OK. This is what I understand from this statement.
it doesnt say 'restricted for people 18 and over'
Posted on Reply
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