Videogames Classification Policy in Australia

The Office of Film and Literature is the body responsible for viewing every film, video and videogame that enters Australia and for giving it a classification. It works on the principle that its role, in accordance with the Commonwealth Classification Act and National Classification Code, is to ensure the following values are upheld.

Under the Act, each of the following matters must be taken into account in classifying films and computer games:

the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults;

the literary, artistic or educational merit (if any) of the publication, film or computer game;

the general character of the publication, film or computer game,including whether it is of a medical, legal or scientific character;

the persons or class of persons to or amongst whom it is published or is intended or likely to be published.

Under the Code, classification decisions are to give effect, as far as possible,to the following principles:

adults should be able to read, hear and see what they want;
minors should be protected from material likely to harm or disturb them;
everyone should be protected from exposure to unsolicited material that they find offensive;
the need to take account of community concerns about:
- depictions that condone or incite violence, particularly sexual violence;
- and the portrayal of persons in a demeaning manner (OFLC, 2003: 3).

Classification Categories

Videogames are classified under the same categories as film; however there is no dispensation for a Restricted 18+ category. The categories are as follows:

PG/G (8+)
M/M (15+)
MA/MA (15+)
R
X
RC

NOTE: R and X apply to films only (OFLC, 2003: 2).

Hence the term censorship could be applied instead of classification because a game may be banned from being sold in Australia. A game considered to have high impact themes by the Classification Board may be refused classification and thus the right to be sold legally in Australia.

Criticism of the current situation

The OFLC has attracted much criticism from gameplayerâ€™s groups, industry associations and publications about the absence of a Restricted 18+ category for games. Essentially, this means that any videogames designed purely for adult players do not receive classification and thus are not be able to be sold in Australia. As the demographics of the videogames industry changes, signified poignantly by the average player age of twenty-nine years, the censorship situation is criticised for not fulfilling its perceived role of protecting the vulnerable but also allowing adults to freely choose the material they consume. Media effects theory and its role in creating moral panics seem to reinforce attitudes toward videogames and the resultant censorship situation.

History of the current classification system

The present censorship situation largely came about from a Senate Select Committee held in 1993. The Committee was charged with compiling a report on â€˜video and computer games and classification issuesâ€™ <http://www.geocities.com/anthony_larme/gc/gcrgovt.html#sen93> October 16, 2004. It arrived at a number of assumptions about the video and computer game industry, including that the audience for videogames was largely comprised of children. They also concluded that parents were not competent to supervise childrenâ€™s gameplay. Secondly, they found that video games, as a set of media texts, were particularly violent. Lastly, they claimed that interactivity worsened the effects of viewing violence. In light of the changing demographics of the videogames industry, many believe this report to be outdated and irrelevant to todayâ€™s situation. Consequently, they also believe that the system that came out of this report, namely that of the current classification system, is also irrelevant and does not take into account the needs of players.

Others in favour of censoring game include pro-censorship advocate Barbara Biggins. She states that 'here are instances where adults' freedoms to see what they want and where they want, have diminished the rights of children to be protected' (Biggins, 1998). Other groups in favour of further censorship of games include: The Lyons Forum, the Christian Democratic Party, Australian Family Association and former Senator Brian Harradine.

Other systems

An alternative classification system includes the ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) ratings guide. This system has widespread use throughout North America. Some titles in Australia carry ESRB stickers yet these are of an advisory role as opposed to the restrictive role of [ratings].