In the United States, we have a video and computer games
rating system that makes sense. It’s managed by the ESRB, and from eC
(early childhood) to AO (adults only) the range of ratings make it pretty easy
to know what to expect. Thanks to this system, a majority of the time we
can make an accurate pre-purchase assessment about whether or not the game is
appropriate for the audience we’re buying for. As much as your 8 year old
kid would love to play God of War, the M rating on it may make you
think twice about letting him or her get their Greek godly gore on.
Something rated E may be more the speed you’re looking for. And there’s a
rating band for everything, broken down even further than MPAA ratings for
movies: between eC and AO are E (everyone), E10 (everyone 10+), T (teen), and M
(mature). Similar ratings systems exist in other parts of the world too.
In Europe for example that’s PEGI (Pan European Game Association). And
for the most part they work – just
ask the FTC. But there’s some parts of the world where these systems
are (well, were) kind of broken and in need of some
repair. And the place in question today is Australia.
In Australia, game ratings are determined by the Australian
Government’s Classification Board, but their ratings differed a little bit
until recently from ESRB and PEGI style classifications. While ESRB and
PEGI have ratings for games meant for adult audiences, Australia didn’t, only
going up to an MA15+ at the maximum. So some games targeting adults that
were released to the rest of the world never made it to the land down
under. Mortal Kombat titles for example were banned
there. Other games, like Silent Hill: Homecoming were
modified by publishers so the Australian editions of the game conformed to
MA15+. It became a real problem down there - as systems become more
advanced thy're more capable of showing realistic scenes including violence,
which meant that Australian gamers had even that much less of a choice going to
pick up some games.
Over the last couple of years there has been a lot of debate
in the Australian government about whether or not the Classification Board
should create new ratings to allow for adult-themed games, or as they call
them, games with “high-impact” themes. And after a lot of back and forth
they finally decided that it would be a good idea. Starting this year,
two new classifications were effective: R18+ and X18+, both illegal to sell to
persons under 18 years of age.
Well today Australian gamers can rejoice, as Lesley O’Brien,
Director of the Classification Board put
out a media release announcing that the R18+ classification would
finally be in effect, and that the first game to carry the rating is going to
be Ninja
Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge on Nintendo’s Wii U. Prior to 2013,
Nintendo would have been refused classification for the game, prohibiting sale
of the game in the country.
According to the release, “The Classification Board
classified the game R18+ (Restricted) with consumer advice of ‘High
impact bloody violence’.” Further, “Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s
Edge contains violence that is high in impact because of its
frequency, high definition graphics, and emphasis on blood effects.” Now
the game will have an official R18+ rating, matching the ESRB’s M and PEGI’s
18+ ratings in the United States and Europe, and Ryu Hyabusa’s ninja antics can
be executed across the outback.
I’m a firm proponent of video game ratings and do think that
they provide folks (especially parents) with guidance as to what kind of
content is inside. Everybody should familiarize themselves so they know
the score a little better, and I will more than happily guide you to those
resources: sites for the ESRB, PEGI, and the Australian
Classification Board
Thanks GamePolitics for the heads up!
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