Friday 29 April, 2011

R18+ video game rating (294.76 kB)

Uniting Church SA Moderator  Rev Rob Williams says he supports plans to improve video game  classifications with the introduction of an R18+ rating.

The Uniting Church Moderator is in favour of the proposed changes to the rating system because he believes that it will make it simpler for parents to tell whether the content of games is appropriate for their children.

“We welcome a system that makes it easier for parents to understand what their children are accessing and the level of violence and sexually explicit material it contains.

“We need to take seriously the video games that our children are accessing.

“Improvements to the current rating system are a good idea but in reality parents need to engage with their kids. We all need to get involved and play these games with our kids.

“That’s how you know whether games they are playing are appropriate or not. That’s how you start conversations about what’s okay behaviour and what not.”

“From talking to gamers I understand that the current system isn’t good for our kids.

“Many of the current games rated MA15+ which are legally available to minors now are restricted to adults overseas.

“The introduction of a R18+ rating would mean that parents would be able to much more clearly see which games are suitable for children, and which should be only played by adults. Currently these are all lumped in together under the MA15+ classification.

“What we need to ensure is that the R18+ category has appropriate restrictions and that we don’t see any relaxation of restrictions on inappropriate games.

“Many people are frightened that the introduction of the R18+ rating will see a flood of objectionable material, but it is my understanding that the classification guidelines will still ban outright inappropriate material.”

“The bottom line is - this is about protecting our kids.”