Australia is a bit weird in some ways.
For instance, we rant about our right to freedom of speech, but in reality we have no legislated right to freedom of speech. Usually people find this out the hard way.
We take a hard line on government censorship… China you bastards… Your net censorship is piss-weak in comparison to the incoming Australian net censorship!
- Internet censorship plan gets the green light
- Internet uprising overturns Australian censorship law
- Web filters to censor video games
Likewise we don’t mess about rating video games.
Good hunh. No R rating means a 5 year old could buy the most bloodthirsty porn filled game a shop.
It sounds like this is a good thing (ok, maybe not little kids with age inappropriate games). Not rating them has to be good right?
No rating = no limitations, right?
Wrong!
You see (officially) if something isn’t rated, it can’t be sold.
The best known game that is officially illegal to sell in Australia is… WoW!
Yep, it’s not rated, therefore it is officially illegal to sell it in Oz.
Occasionally this hits the news, particularly overseas because “Australia bans WoW” is a great headline.
I remember reading one of these articles and an official admitted they weren’t going to enforce it (in the case of WoW).
It doesn’t matter, until it matters
The problem with laws (and loopholes) like this is they never matter until they matter. It will only take one hardcore conservative (because we all know D&D and WoW are the tools of the devil. You know D&D was banned in some Australian states originally, now it’s banned in prison) to push the case and suddenly it matters.
Anyway, as bad as it sounds, the best way to ensure the availability of games now and in the future is to encourage the government to classify the titles, give them a rating.
One of the chain games stores here is running a petition to get classification introduced.
Until February 14th.
So if you are a game playing Aussie, or know a game playing Aussie, direct them to this website (or their local shop) to sign the petition.
To be honest, I would feel so much better knowing I was playing R-rated WoW than G-rated WoW. At least them I could claim I was playing an adult approved game 
Edit: WoWinanhour pointed out that WoW did finally receive a M rating in October last year. Great news for one game, let’s make sure that other games don’t have to go through the same hoops! Thanks for the update Gaeldar – Go Aussie Bloggers!
Gnomer and Out
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http://gnomeaggedon.net/2010/02/06/grow-up-australia/
Internet uprising overturns Australian censorship law
Web filters to censor video games
Hey, do you know what the rule is with that petition for people from other countries? I had a look and saw there was a field for for which country you live in, soo…
I ask because I live in New Zealand, and we get many of the cut-down Australian games, even when we have an R18+ rating. For example, many stores only sell the Australian version of Left 4 Dead
Hey Hierakles, I don’t know the official answer, but I would expect that it is acceptable to petition the Australian Govt no matter where in the world you live… afterall, you would assume the games companies themselves would be petitioning the Aust govt.. and we sure as hell petition other countries…
So, go for it!
Awesome, thanks for the response!
I went ahead and filled out the survey, nothing like helping out a good cause.
if i remember this when i get home i’ll fill it out when i get home. cmon aussie cmon
There’s an old Ice-T rap song. It’s called Freedom of Speech, the chorus goes…”Freedom of Speech, Just watch what you say.”
Even though we have our right to freedom of speech, I don’t think in today’s this lawyer ran society we have here in the states, we really do have freedoms that we once had.
Yeah well, as long as it will hold up in court.
Ice-T. I always thought it was funny that he was a cop on a TV show. One night I caught the episode he guest starred on – as a gangster – and died.
Nice wipe recovery that one!