December 6, 2010

• R 18+: Critical Thinking

  
  

  In Australia, there is debate over whether to install an R 18+ classification to video games. My point of view is this is required in order to protect children and to encourage free speech. R 18+ does not mean that the government should allow for more extreme violent games and behaviors based upon these games to commence. In fact it means the opposite. Currently games like Grand Theft Auto are given M ratings (15+) which allow for undeveloped minds to take advantage of these forms of adult entertainment. If an R 18+ rating were implemented, these games would be reclassified to such and shop owners would be forced to deny purchase of these games to minors. R 18+ would also open up the doors to games from outside the country that are marked as R 18+ elsewhere. This allows for free speech to have a larger hold upon the entertainment industry. These games would be out of reach for minors, but available for those who have the mental capacity to truly understand what it is they are seeing.

  An example of this is Dead or Alive. It was recently refused classification in Australia due to its graphic nature. This nature as horrid as it seems, is something that requires the choice of the purchaser to make, not the governing body of the country to make for them. Without an R 18+ rating, this game could not and should not be allowed in Australia. But, with an R 18+ it would be restricted to adult entertainment, and out of reach of impressionable young minds.

  I must admit that I myself am a gamer, which is both part of my bias and the origin of my point of view. I have played games since I was a young child. I have played violent bloody games, and peaceful enlightening games. When I was younger I admit that I truly did not understand what it was I was playing. Mortal Kombat for instance requires the utter obliteration of your opponent in a bloody carnage. As a younger child I saw this as mere entertainment, not comprehending the catastrophe of actually killing someone. My parents did not bother explaining this to me either, and as such, some of my artistic impressions from that time are gruesome and grotesque. It was not until years later did I begin to understand what it was that was happening, and the reasons for right and wrong. The United States has since that time implemented an R 18+ rating that would have blocked me from purchasing this game as a minor. This same protection needs to be afforded to the children of Australia as well. As an adult, I do not mind playing these games as I understand them to be just that, games. But I would not, and could not, allow children of my own to play them until they fully understood the meaning behind chopping someone’s head off.

  Other people claim that by having no R 18+ rating we block altogether violent video games from entering into Australia, this is in fact a fallacy, Grand Theft Auto, Dead or Alive, Call of Duty, and any other assortment of first person shooters are brought here for any minor to purchase. An M +15 rating does not block a store owner from selling a game to a minor; it merely states that a minor should have adult supervision if not over the age of 15. Whereas, a R 18+ rating blocks the purchase outright to anyone not over the age of 18. The only thing that an M rating does is force the entertainment industry to remove blood from a screen, and overly excessive violence (e.g. instead of a head being blown off, it falls off…still graphic non-the-less).

  In the end, if R 18+ is granted, these games will be reclassified, and purchase will be blocked. Unknowing parents will be given a hand when their child asks, “mom/dad, can I have Bloody Carnage of Death and Destruction 2 for Christmas?” Yes it is obvious that the game is bad, but a child may instead say, “mom/dad can I have this really cool game that all my friends are playing and say is cool too, it’s called BCDD 2? Just ask the store for it they will know which one it is.” This does happen, as another one of my biases is that I myself used to work in a game store, and this did happen, ALL THE TIME. I was nice enough to inform parents, however, the true title of such games, and the impact they would have on a child’s mind if they so chose to play without parental supervision.

              The consequences of such a rating are more games would be allowed into the country, but their purchase would be restricted to adult entertainment. Increasing free trade, but at the same time protecting impressionable minds. Games currently under-classified would be reclassified and purchase blocked to underage children. Free speech would be given another step. The gaming industry would be considered a true adult entertainment business, rather than relegated to something your child would do.

  • 6:03 am
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