Does Australia need an R18+ rating for computer games?

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23 November 2009The computer game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Two was released worldwide this month and broke all previous sales records, grossing US$550 million in its first five days.

It's a shoot-em up game, in which players massacre civilians in a Russian airport. Overseas it received an adults only R rating, but in Australia it was rated MA 15, meaing it's considered suitable for 15 year olds to play.

Unlike other developed countries, Australia has no R rating for computer games.

Supporters of the current system say this helps to keep us free of games with sexually depraved or extremely violent content. Gamers argue that Australia needs an R rating so that games like Modern Warfare Two can be restricted to adults.

Guests

Michael Atkinson
South Australian Attorney GeneraL

David Doe
Founder of political party Gamers4Croydon, employee of Australian games developer Firemint

Permanent URLhttp://apo.org.au/node/19774
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