Australia asks public for R18+ input
Questionnaire wants citizens' views.
After many controversial game bannings, Australia's Government will finally hear what the public want from their country's media ratings body.
Citizens are being asked to fill out a questionnaire that will help the nation's leaders decide whether Australia should allow an R18+ rating for games, like there is for films.
The document presents arguments for and against a mature game rating. There are the usual "games affect us more than films" and "children will buy them" standpoints, but these are countered with declarations that an R18+ stamp sends a clear and unavoidable message to parents that this is not content for kids.
Deadline for submission is 28th February 2010, at which point results will be correlated and the Nation's State and Federal Attorney Generals will try to come to an agreement on the matter.
Aliens vs. Predator was the most recent game to be deemed to mature with an MA15+ rating and was therefore barred from sale in the region.
