BigKid.com.au

The likeliness of children gaining access to adult material in any format increases when something is legalised, which, in a sensible society would mean that parents were doing their jobs and making informed decisions based on what they think is best for their children.

In this dubiously intelligent society however, we have a Government who removes the right to make informed decisions and plays parent and guardian for us all. I don’t understand why pornographic material is available in every newsagent in this country and a game with content akin to Playboy gets banned.

Granted, this game represents the basest of interests out there, but it has far-wider reaching ramifications. After all the hoopla last year over Grand Theft Auto 3, a game which contained questionable content but involved it in a context which made sense, the refusal to allow an R-rating for games will continue to affect the way in which video games are perceived, but not in how they are played or accessed.

If anything, a move like this is only going to strengthen a move towards piracy, another problem which the Government seems reluctant to do anything about. While they obviously fail to see the connection there, any half-wit with a chipped Xbox, PS2 or GameCube can get the game from overseas, thus excercising their right to make adult choices without the consent of a Government or even manufacturer.

My greatest concerns are that in what seems to be an increasing push by some of the leading studios around the world to create more adult content, the number of games Australian consumers miss out on is only going to grow. Cue next year when B.C. arrives, if Molyneaux makes good on his promise to make this “the goriest game ever”, I don’t like our chances of being able to purchase it at the local EB.

These days I make an effort to stay away from pirating on the consoles, and none of my machines have mod-chips in them. I am starting to come around on the idea though, and while the thought of playing pirated copies of games remains as undesireable as ever, the option does remain to import games from overseas. The affect this has on local operations of overseas companies is bound to be unpleasant, but it would not be the first time lovers of an art form were driven underground in order to satisfy a particular desire. The fact that making a choice to play a video game means you’re breaking the law is absurd, our Government may yet make martyrs of us all.

And just when it seemed when we were on the verge of something big…

Another thing that gets me is the sheer hypocrisy of the whole deal. I read this in todays courier mail… nearby was another story saying that music stores would be allowed to sell lyrics with 18+ content as long as they made sure it wasnt sold to minors.

So run it by me again, where an EB or an HMV are different? in fact Big Ws sells both games AND music. At least some retailers are going to have to deal with one and not the other, so if theyve proved it possible for 18+ lyrics whats the big hoo-ha over games? both are entertainment mediums , both have been accused of fomenting violence (think rap and hiphop stuff from the states).

Most people who have been looking about the “so called” (because it is) violence issue have noticed the noises about “games breed violence” have largely come around to the -it comes down to parenting-
or -people have the ability to make those distintions- and even conclusions like -games promote problem solving abilities and encourages kids to develop focus and find patterns- (my bro playing streetfighter 2 was like this - picked apart the characters in no time).

The conclusion more often being drawn now is that games dont promote violence. People do (loosely speaking).

So I smell a rat. Anyone who wants these kinds of titles isnt going to find it hard to get an import copy anyway… who does the Attorney Gen think hes fooling?

Well said splash. This is an idiotic and short-sighted decision.

I had a lot of things to say, but on top of reading this and the US election fallout I’m far too depressed to argue right now.

*sigh*

Well we all know that this is a ridiculous decision… I think that movies are actually more influential than games.

Movies are much more realistic and have REAL PEOPLE (actors), with the exception of animated flicks, and I think a person who is likely to be influenced would look at the characters (people) in the movie and think Hmmm, I want to be like him (or her), or … Well if they can get away with it that then so can I etc. They then go out and live this new fantasy in “real life”.

However, the majority of us will watch a movie like “Leon: The Professional” (my fav movie) and think how cool this hitman is… But rather than live out this fantasy in the real world, because we know that this behaviour is not acceptable, we pick up a game (like Hitman 2) to live it out instead.

I hope you guys can see my point that I am trying to get across.

In short, a game provides a place to live out your fantasy… Where as a movie provides the initial thought for your fantasy.

What always gets lost (conveniently) in this whole debate is that every study on the effects of games on behaviour - every single one, even those quoted selectively by either side to defend their position - has returned inconclusive results. There is no proven direct correlation between games and behaviour, despite the assurances from those who claim otherwise. In fact, all the evidence points to there being none.

“..violence in interactive games had a greater influence on behaviour than violence in films…” - notice there is nothing to back up that claim, because it doesn’t exist. Despite the best efforts of politicians and media everywhere, repeating something often enough to be believed to be true does not make it so.

Now I’m not saying I like the trend of gaming toward gore and smut (I’m on record as being opposed to it generally), but politicians making uninformed decisions about things they don’t understand based upon erroneous cliched assumptions is at least as bad. It’s inevitable there will eventually be an R-rating, just as with movies. Whether that’s a good or bad thing… I guess we’ll see.

Canberra doesn’t care.

They have their porn and they obviously have more than enough fun playing with peoples jobs/lives to need to play computer games…

With the average age of gamers going up though, they may want to rethink this stance sooner rather than later.