Looks like you have no idea what your talking about, THIS guy on the other hand knows all! (o;

 

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,28348,26370722-5014239,00.html

 

Michael Atkinson sends challenge to gamers

 

By Andrew Ramadge, Technology Reporter

news.com.au

November 19, 2009 02:00am

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,7188809,00.jpg South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson has challenged critics to stand against him. Picture: File.
 
 

• Michael Atkinson opposes R18+ games
  
• 'Voters care less about imaginary worlds'
  
• Tech: Modern Warfare 2 tops records
  
• IGN: Video game news, reviews

THE key figure blocking an adult rating for video games in Australia says he won't change his mind – and he's not afraid of a fight.

South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson – who is opposed to "depraved sex and extreme violence" in games – said he was confident his stance on game ratings would not hurt his chances of re-election.

In a letter to a member of the public, he challenged his critics to stand against him in the state seat of Croydon.

"I am next up for election in March 2010. The state district I represent is called Croydon. I would welcome advocates of R18+ computer games testing public acceptance of my policy by standing a candidate against me," he said.

"I think you will find this issue has little traction with my constituents who are more concerned with real-life issues than home entertainment in imaginary worlds."

A copy of the letter, dated last week, was posted on a popular website and confirmed by Mr Atkinson's office as accurate.

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Atkinson, who has the power to veto any changes to classification laws, has been the most vocal opponent of introducing an adult rating for games.

There is no R18+ rating for games in Australia. Any title that exceeds MA15+ must be refused classification and banned from sale.

Gamers say Australia needs a rating for adult games as popular titles become more mature in theme. There are also concerns titles are "slipping through" as MA15+ when they include material unsuitable for children.

In Australia violent shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was rated MA15+, while it was rated M (17+) in the US and 18+ in the UK.

In the letter, Mr Atkinson said such examples were not a reason to introduce an adult rating.

"There may be games some people consider too violent for the MA15+ classification but the solution is not to create a classification to permit even more violent games," he said.

Mr Atkinson acknowledged the lack of an R18+ rating "restricts adult liberty to a small degree", but said it was worth it to protect children from violent games.

"Access to electronic games, once in the home, cannot be policed and therefore the games are easily accessible to children," he said.

"If adults think they can devise a lock-out system to defeat children, tell 'em they're dreaming."

Mr Atkinson also said gamers should be able to find something challenging in the range of games currently available in Australia.

"I understand the Wii console has been phenomenally successful for Nintendo and that system provides many games to challenge and develop skill, physically and intellectually, without depraved sex, gore and cruelty."

"I understand the Wii console has been phenomenally successful for Nintendo and that system provides many games to challenge and develop skill, physically and intellectually, without depraved sex, gore and cruelty."

 

Yep there is no depraved sex, gore and cruelty on the Wii.

 

Oh wait...

http://omgnintendo.blogfaction.com/global/radar/blog_images/66874-3.jpg

Resident Evil 4 on Wii.

Oh really?

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/02/18/child-advocates-see-wii-controller-as-violence-training

 

Child Advocates See Wii Controller as Violence Training

February 18, 2008

While the Nintendo Wii has been riding a wave of nonstop positive press since its November, 2006 launch, a physician and a child psychologist in Boston are concerned that the system may train younger players for violence.

 

A video news report on WBZ features Dr. Michael Rich of Children's Hospital:

 

""You are learning the muscle memory necessary to do those acts, to stab someone, to chop someone, to shoot someone. It's one step closer to a virtual reality in which you are actually doing these things to people.

 

We see the folks that use more violent media tend to be more violent. What we're seeing [in MRI brain studies] is that on some level the virtual violence is equated by our brain the same as real violence.""

 

 

Also interviewed was Dr. Susan Linn of watchdog group the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood:

 

""A significant number of [younger children] listed M-rated games as their favorite game to play...

 

I think parents are in the dark... You would have to play the game and you would have to get good at the game to get to the really violent parts, so it's hard for parents. ""

 

 

Although ESRB content descriptors are already listed on video game packaging, Dr. Rich called for additional labeling:

 

""What we need to do is give them the same information that's provided on a can of food they buy in the store or on a cigarette package that says here's what's contained in this, here's what it may do to you. You choose.""

this guy makes me want to eat kittens.....

What we need to do is give them the same information that's provided on a can of food they buy in the store or on a cigarette package that says here's what's contained in this, here's what it may do to you. You choose.

Haha that's great. They really should put warning labels on video games so that we are informed about these side effects of gaming.

 

"Warning Call of Duty: Modern warfare 2 may turn you into a l337 sp3shul f0rces soldier."

 

"Warning Resident Evil 5 may cause elevated fear and paranoia of the inevitable zomipocalypse."

 

"Warning Eve may unintentionally train you to pilot a starship and manage galactic economies and empires."

"Warning Picmen may train you to become a manager of a sweatshop"

If i had my choice i'd side with the psychologists and neurological studies than an ill-informed politician!

"Warning: Playing Katamari excessively may result in you attempting to roll up all objects smaller than you."

"Warning Eve may unintentionally train you to pilot a starship and manage galactic economies and empires."

 

This made me laugh out loud inside a library where I am suppose to be studying for exams.

 

For that, rep for you.

Yes well maybe someone should show him this picture and ask for nothing above MA15+ classifications on books too.

http://neil.franklin.ch/Jokes_and_Fun/BibleWarning.jpg

dont forget to include the Islamic, Buddist, Jewish texts as well there Dan . . . oh and Evolution as well just to cover all bases.

Warning , playing EMPIRE Total War may cause you to run a major colonial power that may enslave a certain percentage of the human populace for its own interests.

Yes well maybe someone should show him this picture and ask for nothing above MA15+ classifications on books too.

 

Hey just letting you know, some people might actually be offended by your post...

i dont really think it was a stab, just a comparative statement.....

 

posted this i the random thread a day or so ago, for thos e whom did not see.....

 

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/8880/r18poster.jpg

Edited November 19, 200915 yr by duanegordon78

C'mon seriously? This has been a misinformed battle fought since Mortal Kombat first came out. When are they going to learn? Playing Mortal Kombat never made me want to go out and decapitate people via uppercuts or tear peoples spines our with my bare hands. Just like playing Mario never made people want to go around headbutting boxes for coins.

 

Games are a form of media, and they should be treated as such. Games should be given the same treatment the movie industry has had for over 40 years.

C'mon seriously? This has been a misinformed battle fought since Mortal Kombat first came out. When are they going to learn? Playing Mortal Kombat never made me want to go out and decapitate people via uppercuts or tear peoples spines our with my bare hands.

True but I remember many a schoolyard fight where someone inevitably had to yell out in an uber deep voice at the end...

 

FINISH HIM!!!

Warning , playing EMPIRE Total War may cause you to run a major colonial power that may enslave a certain percentage of the human populace for its own interests.

 

http://linuxfud.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/eve-online.jpg

 

warning, may cause you to become a space rebel, or develop a huge corrupt mining industry, or become a smuggler in deep reaches of another galaxy.

 

i have to admit, this guy is a good troll.

dusty, crotchety old conservative who has some how found himself in the position to wield a little bit of power over people (gamers) and doesn't want to go down without a fight - what a prick.

 

 

WTH anyone who doesn't game is doing in a position where they can influence the gaming culture of Australia boggles my freaking mind.

Edited November 19, 200915 yr by Soulrogue

dusty, crotchety old conservative

 

He is from the ALP! He wants to control your life, as most leftists want to do.

dusty, crotchety old conservative who has some how found himself in the position to wield a little bit of power over people (gamers) and doesn't want to go down without a fight - what a prick.

 

 

WTH anyone who doesn't game is doing in a position where they can influence the gaming culture of Australia boggles my freaking mind.

 

I think the only way to win is to actually go back in gaming time and just highlight how inconsistent the ratings system is.

 

Compare censored L4D2 vs L4D1 and L4D1 is more violent.

 

Compare Modern warfare 2 nailing innocents in an airport with L4D2 and you'll go uh...

 

Compare Fallout 1, 2 and Tactics vs 'drug' use in Fallout 3 and you'll go uh...

 

Compare GTA4 fantasy world of hookers and drugs with the real world of hookers and drugs and youll go uh...

 

And then just generally take a look at FPS's since the dawn of FPS's, question the violence and all that. But dont worry that basically the majority of the time you're wasting either

 

a.) monsters/zombies/machines

b.) terrorists extremist (sometimes germans, but mostly from random middle east nations/central asians)

c.) Russian ultra nationalists

d.) basically any other nationality that isnt US/UK/other justified ally...

Edited November 20, 200915 yr by Hambang101

It's retarded and ignorant to suggest that interactive media such as games are the cause of violence and depravity, meanwhile, they're letting movies like SAW (which people go to see purely for gore, depravity and extreme violence) pass with MA15+ ratings, without batting an eyelid. Hell there are movies that push the limit with extremely graphic rape scenes that aren't campaigned against. Yet blow a fictional pixelated, characterized head off in L4D2 and suddenly we're being influenced into becoming mindless killers?

 

Inconsistent and hypocritical.

Inconsistent and hypocritical.

 

bam

Playing a game, and being directly involved in the outcomes ie. pulling the trigger is considered different than watching a movie as a 3rd person.

 

warning, may cause you to become a space rebel, or develop a huge corrupt mining industry, or become a smuggler in deep reaches of another galaxy.

 

i have to admit, this guy is a good troll.

 

wait haven't we got a mafia who already does that ? , but without the space and there is more then mining involved and not to mention the galaxy part. More like international

Edited November 20, 200915 yr by MasterShrike

wait haven't we got a mafia who already does that ? , but without the space and there is more then mining involved and not to mention the galaxy part. More like international

thats like saying "I own a ferrari, but without the badge, leather interior, sweet mags and thumping engine . . . more like a datsun painted red" (o: