Tag Archives: Michael Atkinson

Australia’s ratings board, the OFLC, has classified Dead Rising 2 for a release in the country with an MA15 rating. Best news? It’s releasing in the country uncut and unedited: Aussies get a break at last.

More »

If you’ve been keeping up with the headlines, you could be forgiven for believing there were only two sides in the battle to create an R18+ games rating in Australia: South Australia Attorney-General Michael Atkinson and everyone else ever.

Well, good news, Aussie guys and gals. Mr. Atkinson has decided to step down from the front bench, effectively ending his status as the wicked witch in good ol’ Oz.

More »

It looks as through a discussion over whether to add an R18+ ratings category for videogames in Australia has been scheduled for April.

More »

Two bits of news concerning the R18+ debacle going on in Australia today has an advocacy against the rating getting its own website, and the second bit has South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson getting more death threats.

More »

South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson has said that despite the possibility of an 18+ rating becoming a reality thanks to a recent discussion paper, he does not plan on changing his stance on the matter anytime soon.

At least, not until gamers start to “behave in a civil fashion”.

More »

South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson – Australia’s most visible opponent to the country adopting an 18 age rating for games – has confirmed he’s to appeal an OFLC decision to release Modern Warfare 2 with a 15+ rating in the country.

Speaking on radio show National Interest last week, Atkinson said he thought the ruling “is wrong,” adding:

“This decision doesn’t surprise me. The Classification Board in Australia does everything to try and get games in under the radar.”

If he’s successful, the game could be banned from sale in Australia.

In an email to Gamespot, Atkinson accused the game of “glorifying terrorism”:

“I worry about any game that encourages gamers to perpetrate extreme violence and cruelty on screen, but this game [Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2] allows players to be virtual terrorists and gain points by massacring civilians. Expecting game designers to be responsible by not glorifying terrorism will always lead to disappointment,” he said.

More through there.

South Australian attorney general Michael Atkinson has been reported to be holding up debates proposed by the nation’s officials on the introduction of an R18+ rating for games.

His reason for the opposition, is because he does not want children or “vulnerable adults” to get a hold of violent, interactive material.

“People are participating and ‘acting-out’ violence and criminal behaviour when they are playing a video game,” he told News.com.au. “It certainly does restrict choice to a small degree, but that is the price of keeping this material from children and vulnerable adults.

“In my view, the small sacrifice is worth it.”

In the past, Atkinson tried to censored a public document which polled Australians on the issue of censorship.

Don’t look for any of this to be resolved soon Aussies. Sorry ’bout that.

More through Joystiq (GI.biz)

South Australian attorney general Michael “Head/Sand” Atkinson is refusing to allow a public debate on the launch of an 18+ rating for games in Australia by apparently failing to make amendments to a paper on the matter.

Atkinson said he was to make “minor” changes to the paper four months ago. He hasn’t. Until he does, no dice.

“I fully support there being consultation on this issue, but ultimately SCAG is waiting for the South Australian attorney to agree to consult on the matter,” Victorian Attorney General Rob Hulls said.

The office of federal attorney General Robert McClelland added: “At this stage, censorship ministers are considering the content of a draft discussion paper and awaiting comments on the draft from South Australia. Any changes to classification categories, including introducing an R18+ classification for computer games, require unanimous support of the Commonwealth and all state and territories.”

Once the paper’s finalised, the public will be invited to enter a debate on the introduction of the R18+ classification for video games in Australia.

Atkinson’s staunchly opposed to the 18+ rating. Read more on that here.

More on Gamespot.

South Australian Attorney General Mike Atkinson, the Australian politician usually blamed for the fact the country doesn’t have an 18 rating for games, has told Gamespot AU that his stance is necessary to protect children and vulnerable adults from explicit, interactive content.

“Some of your readers may believe that the present system restricts adult liberty,” he told the site. “It certainly does restrict choice to a small degree, but that is the price of keeping this material from children and vulnerable adults.

“In my view, the small sacrifice is worth it. Classification exists for advertising, films and books for the same reason – to protect children and vulnerable people.”

Atkinson, in a lengthy comment to Gamespot, explains his stance in detail, claiming violent games are more affecting to children and impressionable adults than film.

“The interactive nature of electronic games means that they have a much greater influence than viewing a movie does,” he added.

“People are participating and ‘acting-out’ violence and criminal behaviour when they are playing a video game. They are essentially rehearsing harmful behaviour. Children and vulnerable adults (such as those with a mental illness) can be harmed by playing video games with violence, sex and criminal activity.”

Australia’s maximum game rating is 15+, meaning many more “adult” titles must be either edited of banned to make sale in Australia.

The Age is reporting that a canned public discussion paper on the subject of Australia adopting an 18 rating for games is to be generally released.

Attorney general Michael Atkinson put paid to any plans to have a serious debate on the matter when he vetoed it at the end of last month.

Australia currently has a 15+ rating as the highest a game can achieve in the country.

Thanks, Joystiq.

South Australian attorney general Michael Atkinson has yet again blocked moves in Australia to step on a road towards a ratings system with an 18+ category.

As reported by Gamespot, the politician has withdrawn his support of a proposal to allow the public to give its opinions on the inclusion of a higher rating.

Atkinson was the primary factor in refusing an 18+ rating to go ahead earlier this year.

Currently, the oldest rating a game can receive in Australia is 15+. As you’ll know if you follow the news, the fact this is out of kilter with the rest of the world constantly gives rise to games being edited and refused classification in the country.

Atkinson gave no reason for the move.

“Whilst the issue is still formally on the SCAG [Standing Committee of Attorneys-General - Ed] agenda, it now appears unlikely that there will be unanimity from all jurisdictions to proceed further at this stage with introducing an R18+ category for computer games,” said Victorian attorney general Rob Hulls.

More through the link.

A forward-looking Australian politician has said he will refuse to grant an 18+ certificate for the country, meaning that the oldest age-ratings available for games will remain at 15+ after a Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) meeting on March 28.

A spokesperson for Michael Atkinson, the South Australian attorney-general, has confirmed that he will maintain his long-running opposition to the proposed system.

“The attorney-general remains very firmly opposed to introducing an R rating for computer games in Australia,” the spokesperson said.

Minister Atkinson would not consider an 18+ rating even if there were measures to protect children from being exposed to adult content, the spokesperson said.

“He doubts whether any safeguards could be put in place to deter young people, who after all (are) the most computer literate and savvy in our society, from being able to access material.”

It was hoped that the meeting might yield a decent debate on the subject, although the chance of a positive result has never been good.