R18+

R18+ headlines

• Queensland passes R18+ game legislation

  As of today, R18+ games can be sold in Queensland, after the region’s Governor signed off on legislation vital to the movement.

• Mortal Kombat Australian release date secured

  Mortal Kombat will release in Australia on May 29, Kotaku reports. The ninth core entry in the gory fighter was refused classification back in 2011, and again in handheld form last year. After the introduction of an R18+ ratings category for video games on January 1 2013, Warner Bros resubmitted the title in its Komplete […]

• Queensland confirms parliamentary support for R18+ legislation

  Having agree to implement legislation in a parliament meeting yesterday, Queensland has announced its support for Australia’s R18+ ratings category for video games.

• R18+ laws get the nod from New South Wales

  New South Wales has become the second Australian state or territory to introduce laws in support of the nation’s new R18+ classification for games, PlayerAttack reports. The new ratings category was green lit at the federal level in June, and is expected to go into effect by January 1, 2013 – the deadline for states […]

• R18+ sticker scheme no longer on the cards in South Australia

  South Australian state attorney-general John Rau has decided against implementing a plan to re-sticker all MA15+ games as R18+.

• Wednesday Shorts II: Hitchhiker’s, Wheatley, Splatters, MoH, Mad Catz

  It’s time for your second batch of shorts. Take the plunge after the break.

• Western Australia still for R18+, but Victoria remains undecided

  Western Australia has said that it’s for the introduction of the R18+ for videogames around the country.

• Report - NSW attorney general to abstain from Friday's R18+ vote

  GameSpot AU’s reporting this morning that the attorney general of New South Wales is to abstain from the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General meeting on Friday, which would have seen AGs as well as state and territory censorship ministers voting on the introduction of an R18+ rating for games in Australia.

• Australia: Survey calls for feedback on R18+ draft guidelines

  The Australian Government’s Attorney-General’s Department is seeking feedback on the recently released draft guidelines for a proposed R18+ ratings category for games.

• Proposed Australian R18+ ratings category detailed

  The office of Australian federal minister for home affairs, Brendan O’Connor, has released draft guidelines for proposed changes to Australia’s games rating system.

• Key pro-R18+ Australian politician resigns

  To introduce an R18+ video games rating in Australia, each state’s Attorney-General has to reach a consensus. Tasmanian Attorney-General David Bartlett has always been one of the most passionate supporters of the cause – until he unexpectedly resigned yesterday.

• Australian R18+ debate: waiting on "silent majority"

  The key ministerial roadblock to a R18+ rating for games in Australia – Senator Michael Atkinson – stood down from the front bench half a year ago. Yet Australian gamers of any age still cannot legally play games with content judged beyond a MA15+ rating.

• No R18 rating for Australia is censorship, says EA

  EA Games boss Frank Gibeau has called out Australia’s Attorneys General to have the introduction of an R18 rating in the country as soon as possible.

• South Australia Attorney General John Rau supports R18+ rating

  Australian gamers may finally have something to be excited about now that South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson has stepped down from his position. According to a news report, his replacement, John Rau, has voiced the opinion that an R18+ videogame rating makes perfect sense for the country.

• Australia: R18+ discussion paper nets over 55,000 submissions

  Looks like over 55,000 people have responded to the R18+ discussion paper in Australia by the February 28 deadline.

• R18+ discussion scheduled for April in Australia

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

• No R18+ advocacy website opened; Michael Atkinson gets more threats

  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.

• Initial votes show Australians strongly in favour of R18+ rating

  Out of 1,084 submissions processed so far into an Australian public consultation on the debate on an R18+ rating, only 11 people have been opposed.

• Australian 18+ rating debate to go public

  Australian politicians have failed to reach a conclusive agreement on whether or not an 18+ rating should be introduced for games in the country, meaning the debate will now be opened to the public. The move comes after a meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys General (SCAG) in Canberra today. A paper is to […]