New Adult Category For Games

Federal Justice Minister Brendan O’Connor has put on the table proposed guidelines for introduction of Australia’s new adult category for computer games

Federal Justice Minister Brendan O’Connor has put on the table proposed guidelines for introduction of Australia’s new adult category for computer games.

The latest Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games amend a draft which was released in May for public comment.

In July, attorneys-general from all jurisdictions except NSW gave in-principle support to the amended guidelines and agreed to take them to their cabinets for approval. In August, NSW also weighed in, agreeing in principal to the introduction of an R18+ classification.

“For the first time in the history of computer game classification in Australia, there is unanimous, in-principle support for the introduction of an R18+ category for computer games from all law ministers,” O’Connor said at the weekend..

“Introducing the new classification will give parents better advice about what games are suitable for their children, while allowing adults to view material designed for adults,” he said.

“Games with high impact violence that is, in context, frequently gratuitous, exploitative and offensive to a reasonable adult will not be permitted in the R 18+ category.

“And I want to make it clear that sexually explicit games, or games with very frequent and unduly repetitive strong and realistic violence, will not be classified under the MA15+ category.”

O’Connor claimed Australia had been the only industrialised nation without an adults-only classification for video and computer games.

The games industry, voiced by the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA) , has added its tick of approval for the proposed guidelines with the exception of definitions on interactivity.