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Post by jezstyle on Oct 7, 2009 23:29:08 GMT 10
Fresh off the press: kotaku.com/5375989/valve-has-edited-version-of-left-4-dead-2-for-possible-releaseIn recent months, many games have been subjected to review by the Office of Film and Literature Classification. This got me thinking just how utterly blanketed we are as a country when it comes to the issue of videogames and their content. As gamers, what are your thoughts on this issue in a general context - alongside other relations such as the lack of an R18+ classification, etc.? Opinions? Actions that should've been taken? My thoughts? Well, there is a reason why I started this topic in the first place...  |
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Post by borgieman on Oct 8, 2009 1:14:01 GMT 10
Again, another thing that pisses me off so very much. Our nations backward stance on media censorship. I'll admit this country isn't as bad as Germany when it comes to censorship with video games, but at this rate we are getting close.
One thing I fear is that how much further they will sink into throwing games back into the faces of the developers because of it's 'content'. Last year they threw Fallout 3 back at the developers faces hence having them delay the release worldwide. They rejected Silent Hill Homecoming, yet accepted an edited version (honestly I played a version from the US and I honestly don't see what the big deal was). Then they threw Risen back and they won't edit it just for us. Now with Left For Dead 2 being rejected, this just proves much power the OFLC and of course the Attorney-Generals have. It may come to a point where one developer my make a joke game where people will just bleed rainbows. I believe No More Heroes had to edit for all of PAL regions to bleed black dust rather than spray cel-shaded blood.
I don't get it why an R18+ rating will never be stamped on a videogame. I don't see why not. If people argue that the R18+ games will impact individuals negatively, you may as well ban other offensive media outlets like movies or TV shows or books and the like. They are very much just as effective. Another thing is that it encourages parents and shoppers about what they are truly buying. It's like buying a box of cigarettes without paying any mind to the warnings.
Another thing that pisses me off about this issue is that how the public alienate gamers as a vile, grotesque group of bloodthirsty scumbags. I read a Herald Sun one day and people were debating about the justification of L4D2's rejection and the questioning of Michael Atkinsons competence of the issue. It is very clear to me that the public do not like us one bit, according to the group of people who argue against L4D2 are mainly comprised of non-gamers, old people, sensitive people and maybe (JUST MAYBE) the occasional troll.
The censorship laws of this country are backward, obsolete and a proverbial spit in the face against the gamers. Don't I, as an Australian have a right to play a game I want without having some guy in a suit telling me it's too violent.
For this I throw one question to them, has there EVER been one incident IN THIS country where video games were to blame? If so, you blame the person for not thinking with his/her head to actually do such stupid shit as such and give the rest of us a bad name.
EDIT: In response to Jezstyles actions that SHOULD be taken. I did have an idea. Atkinson's spot in government will be up for grabs in the coming election. I believe a mass protest is in order for before then. Where people who strongly oppose the current OFLC laws and his questionable judgment go cosplayed as Videogame characters (It doesn't matter from what game, it can go as G/PG rated as Mario, Link to MA15+/R18+ as Duke Nukem, Leon Kennedy) and protest stating the important fact which they fail to realise. VIDEOGAMES ARE FOR EVERYONE. That is the core message and if they can never see it, we will have to show it for him. So that's a good idea, a cosplay protest.
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Post by jezstyle on Oct 8, 2009 10:46:07 GMT 10
^  Futhermore, the problem is not only the OFLC, but it also also the current generation of parents with young children. These are the parents who believe videogames are mind-numbing, anti-social timewasters and distractions for their children. They believe that videogames make children dumb. They believe that children should be socialising instead of sitting in front of a screen. making themselves stupid. All in all they are just plain ignorant. And I know that I am right. Many people grew up with video games. From the arcades to the Genesis to the Playstation, as I have grown up, so has the games industry. I have been playing games my whole life, and I don't think I have lost any intelligence doing so. In fact I believe it is quite the opposite. As for the theory: the games are anti-social, I think the multiplayer argument speaks for itself. What gives me hope though is that my generation - a generation of gamers - will one-day run this country, and hopefully that will give the censorship a reprieve. |
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Post by borgieman on Oct 8, 2009 11:00:00 GMT 10
Let's not forget that if children do something stupid and it is even remotely related to a game. It is the parents fault for not being aware of what the child is playing. If they wanted to be good parents, they should be aware of what the child is playing rather than to blame the developers for just doing their job. It's their fault for not actually watching what the child is playing and paying attention to what content the game has to offer.
That's why there's the Wii now. It's the most family friendly console there is on the market. That is...unless you play it with over enthusiasm and break a few bones.
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Post by jezstyle on Oct 8, 2009 11:05:46 GMT 10
It looks like the Wii is well on its way to broadening horizons 'round here: www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/11941.cfmNintendo has announced that its ever-popular Wii console has sold 200,000 units in Australia in just under 50 weeks of release, making it the fastest-selling console in the country's history.
The console sold almost 60,000 units in its first week of sale last December and the console has helped Nintendo of Australia double its sales revenue for the financial year, to AUD 138.8 million.
The Wii continues to sell heavily worldwide, with some countries still having supply issues due to such high demand for the console. |
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Post by kazuwacky on Oct 8, 2009 19:11:10 GMT 10
Ok, I really really hate to play devils advocate but there are modules of logic in arguments earlier in these posts. Games *can* be quite antisocial for children. Sitting alone for hours is the very definition of antisocial but, of course, the same is true of being on the net. Neither one is any good for young children in my opinion.
I don't know how bad censorship is in this country but I am very tired of hearing about it in England. Bloody Germany ruins any game released for Europe. In No More Heros, it may be that here the enemies bled black dust rather than red but in my copy they just transformed into money. Even the bosses. Not impressed.
Game controversy also tends to be a giant "what?!" as with the Mass Effect farce. The apparent "pornography" that game contained was only noted because it was a game, rather than a TV show or a movie. Oh, and the fact that homosexuality was acceptable *shock horror*. Sometimes I feel that censorship reflects something about the culture that makes me feel quite uncomfortable.
I'm sure we all know that parents love to ignore cause and effect. It's far more likely that a violent person will want to play overtly violent games rather than violent games MAKING said person violent. I really don't understand why parents complain about kids playing violent games when, logically speaking, it should be their fault the child got it at all. Shops are far too concerned about covering their asses now.
We all know that the controversy is pretty much a moot point. I've never met someone who loved games who was violent in any way. I'm a complete pacifist but I still giggle when I play God of War and get to rip up monsters, I still cheer in TF2 if I get in a backstab. I think the stereotype of gamers being antisocial, male, adolescent geeks is slowly but surely dying and it can't come soon enough. The Wii has done so much to help that, making gaming accessible for all ages, and I hope that trend continues without alienating current hardcore gamers.
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Post by FaxyWaxy on Oct 8, 2009 20:45:19 GMT 10
i agree with everything said i would write my one story here, but borgie has beaten me too it, its annoys me how games are blames for everything, movies are just as violent, if the parents don't like it, DONT BUY THE GAME FOR YOU KIDS!!! Ok, I really really hate to play devils advocate but there are modules of logic in arguments earlier in these posts. Games *can* be quite antisocial for children. Sitting alone for hours is the very definition of antisocial but, of course, the same is true of being on the net. Neither one is any good for young children in my opinion. i see your point, (not trying to argue) but i started gaming at a very young age, and im perfeclty fine, well as fine as a little crazy person can be  NOW IF YOU ALL EXCUSE ME I'VE BEEN PRACTICING MY FPS SKILLS AND I AM NOW GOING TO ROB A BANK, I AM A EXCEPTIONAL AIMER SO THIS SHOULD BE EASY! GAMES TAUGHT ME HOW TO SHOOT AND HAS ENRAGED ME!! yeah... the excuse... FAX OUT! |
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Post by kazuwacky on Oct 9, 2009 12:24:53 GMT 10
I don't think that videogames have any kind of lasting damage to social perceptions etc etc, I just get a bit freaked out when I see 4 year olds on twitter, 6 year olds with mobile phones and 7 year olds demanding an xbox 360 with gears of war 2. It's probably just as much that gaming is so expensive, I worry that if I bought it for a young child they would immediately be transformed into a spoilt brat. Certainly all the young kids I overhear bothering their parents in gaming shops *sound* like spoilt brats. Plus I didn't get into gaming until I was 16, a fact I really regret now.
And OMG JACK THOMPSON WAS TOTALLY RIGHT!! YOU LOVE YOUR MURDER SIMULATIONS!!
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Post by kittah on Oct 10, 2009 11:28:31 GMT 10
I think there needs to be an R18+ rating in Australia. I hate it when i here about a new game only to have it not come to Australia cause of small things. I thought fallout 3 was fine, i have it and i dont see why they kicked up a stink about one stupid drug reference and whatever else they may have decided to hate about it. Personally i don't think games are bad. I shall protest to have an R18+ rating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would so do a cosplay protest, someone has to do Duke cause he is awesome as  well i have been playing video games for as long as i can remember, Ah the good ol days of the sega. *looks back at the good memories* And i think i have turned out alright... i think.... I also agree that it is up to the parents as to what games they let their children play. the ratings such as M15+ are there to let parents know that their 10yr old kid probably should play that game unless the parents check out the game first to make sure that content isnt that bad. I mean i remember when i was just a little kid my parents wouldn't let me anywhere near the computer when they were playing Doom cause they knew i would freak out when i saw the ten foot rocket dude, lol. Nowadays i have a good laugh when i do a drive by in GTA, haha... *runs down and old lady*...... And i think that playing games are great for socializing. My brothers and i got along really great cause we playing multiplayer games together all the time. I think that games are great for learining. they can help you deal with loosing better, good for the brain when you play a puzzle solving game or a strategy game and the list could go on. Personally i think movies effect me more than games. i can play a violent game without getting really disturbed by it, but i cant watch scary movies cause they scare that shoes off me and i have nightmares about it afterwards lol (hate to admit that but its true). |
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Post by FaxyWaxy on Oct 10, 2009 20:10:14 GMT 10
Nowadays i have a good laugh when i do a drive by in GTA, haha... *runs down and old lady*...... well'p its official, your gonna run over old ladies when you can drive [/sarcasm] I don't think that videogames have any kind of lasting damage to social perceptions etc etc, I just get a bit freaked out when I see 4 year olds on twitter, 6 year olds with mobile phones and 7 year olds demanding an xbox 360 with gears of war 2. It's probably just as much that gaming is so expensive, I worry that if I bought it for a young child they would immediately be transformed into a spoilt brat. Certainly all the young kids I overhear bothering their parents in gaming shops *sound* like spoilt brats. Plus I didn't get into gaming until I was 16, a fact I really regret now. hehe i dont regret gaming, not at all =P but you have a point, kids a getting away with too much, at a young age, but its funny how games get all the blame (well most) |
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Post by Elite Knight on Oct 22, 2009 14:48:33 GMT 10
It's just as bad as left for dead 2 is going to be banned or modified due to rating unless we get a 18+ here even l4d wont have a chance.
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Post by borgieman on Oct 22, 2009 22:26:58 GMT 10
That's the funny thing, Valve resubmitted a toned down version for classification and that got passed. If I know the internet, there will be a patch and we can play the game in it's original glory!
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Post by Elite Knight on Oct 23, 2009 7:06:33 GMT 10
Patch yes maybe a leak but who knows into we get R18+ we cant play games in all there glory like some parts of the world.
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Post by borgieman on Oct 26, 2009 18:21:00 GMT 10
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Post by borgieman on Oct 30, 2009 13:39:22 GMT 10
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