Legislation Passed in Australia Adds R18+ Rating for Video Games

After years of censorship due to Australia's penchant for banning any game deemed to exceed its rating system, the country has finally approved an R18+ age rating for videogames, allowing adults to choose their own entertainment. Announcing the move, Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said, "The R 18+ category will inform consumers, parents and retailers about which games are not suitable for minors to play, and will prevent minors from purchasing unsuitable material. The reforms also mean that adults are able to choose what games they play within the bounds of the law."

Introduced in the early 90's with the onset of games like Night Trap and Mortal Kombat, Australia's ratings system was as follows:

E - Indicates material that is exempt from classification. Games exempt from classification usually include online titles in which the content cannot be regulated, and educational games.
G - Indicates material that is for general play. Violence must "have a low threat and be justified by context", sexual activity, nudity and drug use may only be "very discreetly implied", and coarse language must be "very mild and infrequent".
PG - Recommends parental guidance for young players. It is more relaxed in all categories. Violence should be mild and infrequent, and drug use and nudity should be justified by context. Coarse language must be mild and justified by context.
M - Recommended for mature but moderately young audiences, around the teen years. Language is relatively free, but "aggressive or strong coarse language" should be infrequent, and sexual innuendo is freely thrown around and sex may be mildly implied, and there is slightly more violence present. Drug use can be depicted in context. This rating is not restricted.
MA15 - Those under 15 cannot legally play or buy the game without being accompanied by a legal guardian. It can contain strong gruesome violence if justified by context, strong implication of sexual activity, strong coarse language (though "very coarse language" should be infrequent), and "strong themes".

The new R18+ rating, introduced at the end of last year, makes games restricted to those 18 and over, meaning those under 18 cannot legally view/play the game. Themes, violence and coarse language are virtually unrestricted however sexual violence is not allowed to be depicted but implied only if justified by context and drugs related to incentive or rewards must be kept at a bare minimum.

Before this rating, any game that exceeded the MA15+ classification was automatically given the "Refused Classification" and banned. Games met with this fate in years past have included Manhunt, Mortal Kombat, Left 4 Dead, Silent Hill, and even Marc Ecko's Getting Up.

But now with the R18+ category passing through the Australian Senate without amendment, it appears as though gamers (of the proper age), will finally get their chance to relish in blood shed.