South Australia to introduce R18 rating – but not for already 18-rated games

Posted April 28, 2011 by Lewis Denby in News.

South Australia will soon introduce a new R18 rating for videogames, in a system that will replace the current one which doesn’t permit 18-rated games to be sold at all.

But, alas, this isn’t the great step forward many Australian gamers have been hoping for; a step that would allow them to get their hands on the new Mortal Kombat, or an uncensored version of Left 4 Dead.

No, in many ways, this feels like a step backwards.

The new R18 rating will replace the current M15+ rating. At present, a 15 certificate is the highest a videogame can be awarded. But in the new system, all that will change is that previously 15-rated games will become 18-rated games, and stores will not be permitted to sell them to minors.

Games that were refused classification on the grounds that they were unsuitable for 15-year-olds will still be refused classification. Essentially, what was once deemed suitable for teenagers will now be locked down to adults only.

Acceptability

South Australian attorney general John Rau said that he hopes the new system will catch on elsewhere in the country, and explained that the decision was to create a more obvious separation between what is appropriate for adults, and what is appropriate for children.

“There has to be a clear difference between what adults can get and what children can get,” he told ABC News. “At the moment the MA15+ classification is like a crossover point between what is acceptable and what is unacceptable.”

The system is unlikely to be officially confirmed before July, but Rau thinks it should go through easily.

Speaking to Gamespot, he said: “There will need to be some regulation or possible statutory amendments made but I don’t think it will be hard to do this. We just have to wait until the federal position becomes clear.”

Tagged as Australia, Australian Classification Board