Hon Michael Atkinson MP Responds
News from Yug - Friday, 11 July 2008 @ 1:28pm
We're all for the anonymous sources at the moment, as we've had someone who has contacted the South Australian Attorney Generals office regarding the lack of an R18 rating in video games, and they recieved a response! Quoting a segment from the letter:
Given this data, I cannot fathom what State-enforced safeguards could exist to prevent R18+ games being bought by households with children and how children can be stopped from using these games, once the games are in the home. If adult gamers are so keen to have R18+ games, I expect children would be just as keen. I have publically argued that because electronic games are interactive, the violence and other adult content in games have a strong impact. I am particularly concerned about the impact these games have on children, who can spend a lot of their unsupervised leisure time gaming.
As per usual, it's all about 'protecting the children', and skirts around the issue of adult gamers HAVING the choice to play the games they want. I didn't realise it was the job of the government to do the parents job for them. Hit 'view more' to read the full document.
Given this data, I cannot fathom what State-enforced safeguards could exist to prevent R18+ games being bought by households with children and how children can be stopped from using these games, once the games are in the home. If adult gamers are so keen to have R18+ games, I expect children would be just as keen. I have publically argued that because electronic games are interactive, the violence and other adult content in games have a strong impact. I am particularly concerned about the impact these games have on children, who can spend a lot of their unsupervised leisure time gaming.
As per usual, it's all about 'protecting the children', and skirts around the issue of adult gamers HAVING the choice to play the games they want. I didn't realise it was the job of the government to do the parents job for them. Hit 'view more' to read the full document.
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SgtReznor @ 12:29pm 30 Aug
yeah, we all know that. believe it or not, it's something that's been discussed around these parts
QUOTE (Jagji56 @ Aug 30 2008, 11:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Well, I do. It was because of one word. Morphine. As in the drug. That was it. Stupedes thing EVER. All you will have to do is ge a mod, and it is back in there.
yeah, we all know that. believe it or not, it's something that's been discussed around these parts
Jagji56 @ 11:33am 30 Aug
Out of interest, dose anyone know why Fallout was banned?
Well, I do. It was because of one word. Morphine. As in the drug. That was it. Stupedes thing EVER. All you will have to do is ge a mod, and it is back in there.
lavalevel @ 8:11pm 14 Jul
Most Australians feel like that kid in winter who was forced to wear too many clothing layers. Gamers are pretty universal nowdays, (he says on an australian gaming forum) through the internet we are all part of the same gaming culture and community. We're just frustrated that we have a curfew while all our friends are all out partying.
Wiggett @ 7:21pm 14 Jul
This is from The Game Creators ™ monthly news letter. It's a British company so don't expect much from channel 4 on your aussie browser, but the main thing I wanted to highlight is how they used a game made by children that highlights violence in such ways as to educate children of the consequences of violent behaviour. I've checked out some of the process of the game development not too long ago, it's actually quite impressive, and goes to show how video games can be a tool for good no matter what the content.
In relation to the above
"Games are definitely not the way to educate...."
QUOTE
The feature outlined here - a Channel 4 production in the UK - is of particular interest to anyone wanting to know if games written in DarkBASIC Professional can make the grade in the commercial world. Dead Ends, an educational Grand Theft Auto-styled game, forms a significant part of this season of documentaries. It is written in DarkBASIC Professional by RollingSound, and aims to educate through computer gaming. Young people were integral to the process and were involved in storyboarding, scripting, acting, animating and testing the game. For some young people this project has paved the way for full-time work in the video games design and media sectors.
"Disarming Britain", a gun and knife crime season of programmes on Channel 4, takes an unflinching look at the increasing violence and use of weapons by young people on our nation's streets.
In support of this season several initiatives have been developed to encourage young people, the group most affected by street crime, to express their views on the issue.
A partnership with Bebo, a leading online social network for young people, sees the creation of 3 fictional profiles (victim, witness, and ex-gang member) that will be introduced over consecutive weeks. Developed using young people and based on real-life experiences these seek to fuel debate and opinion in a familiar and trusted environment. Sushil, the second profile in the series will also have a cameo role in the web drama Sofia's Diary in a continuation of a story line involving knife crime.
All discussions within the profiles are being closely monitored by C4 journalists who may use their comments to form part of a submission to the Street Weapons Commission chaired by Cherie Blair.
Dead EndsA further initiative sees Channel 4 launch Dead Ends, an educational anti-Grand Theft Auto style game targeted at schools around the country. Part-funded by C4 and developed by Rolling Sound, in conjunction with young people from all over London, it aims to raise awareness among young people of the harrowing consequences of knife crime. Young people were integral to the process and were involved in storyboarding, scripting, acting, animating and testing the game.
Finally, in an effort to capture the opinions of those living in areas of high-street crime, Channel 4 will be running a series of challenging and evocative street based events created and run by renowned New York Urban Artist, Paul Notzold. Coined "Txtual Healing", these events use public space in order to explore notions of community through public story telling. Integrating SMS activity with socially charged graphics, featuring images of street crime, projected onto public spaces in London, the public will be invited to interact and see their opinions form part of the art. Channel 4 will be hosting a series of events in Brick Lane and Shepherds Bush from 9pm on the 26th and 27th June.
Disarming Britain on the Channel 4 websiteThe season of begins on C4 on the 30th June. You can download Dead Ends, read and watch more about the production on the Channel 4 website.
"Disarming Britain", a gun and knife crime season of programmes on Channel 4, takes an unflinching look at the increasing violence and use of weapons by young people on our nation's streets.
In support of this season several initiatives have been developed to encourage young people, the group most affected by street crime, to express their views on the issue.
A partnership with Bebo, a leading online social network for young people, sees the creation of 3 fictional profiles (victim, witness, and ex-gang member) that will be introduced over consecutive weeks. Developed using young people and based on real-life experiences these seek to fuel debate and opinion in a familiar and trusted environment. Sushil, the second profile in the series will also have a cameo role in the web drama Sofia's Diary in a continuation of a story line involving knife crime.
All discussions within the profiles are being closely monitored by C4 journalists who may use their comments to form part of a submission to the Street Weapons Commission chaired by Cherie Blair.
Dead EndsA further initiative sees Channel 4 launch Dead Ends, an educational anti-Grand Theft Auto style game targeted at schools around the country. Part-funded by C4 and developed by Rolling Sound, in conjunction with young people from all over London, it aims to raise awareness among young people of the harrowing consequences of knife crime. Young people were integral to the process and were involved in storyboarding, scripting, acting, animating and testing the game.
Finally, in an effort to capture the opinions of those living in areas of high-street crime, Channel 4 will be running a series of challenging and evocative street based events created and run by renowned New York Urban Artist, Paul Notzold. Coined "Txtual Healing", these events use public space in order to explore notions of community through public story telling. Integrating SMS activity with socially charged graphics, featuring images of street crime, projected onto public spaces in London, the public will be invited to interact and see their opinions form part of the art. Channel 4 will be hosting a series of events in Brick Lane and Shepherds Bush from 9pm on the 26th and 27th June.
Disarming Britain on the Channel 4 websiteThe season of begins on C4 on the 30th June. You can download Dead Ends, read and watch more about the production on the Channel 4 website.
This is from The Game Creators ™ monthly news letter. It's a British company so don't expect much from channel 4 on your aussie browser, but the main thing I wanted to highlight is how they used a game made by children that highlights violence in such ways as to educate children of the consequences of violent behaviour. I've checked out some of the process of the game development not too long ago, it's actually quite impressive, and goes to show how video games can be a tool for good no matter what the content.
RagnarokPwnage @ 7:02pm 14 Jul
Kotaku just did a huge article about this. Link
