Mortal Kombat: one of the recently banned games in Australia

under the MA15+ highest rating system

Now that the wheels to progressive thinking move further along in the gaming industry down under, we've caught wind of the proposal regarding the controversial rating. Gamespot reports that the following guidelines are enlisted in the said proposal:

• Virtually no restrictions on themes
• Violence except where it “offends against the standards of morality, decency, and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults”
• Implied sexual violence, if justified by context
• Realistically simulated sexual activity
• Virtually no restrictions on language
• Drug use and nudity are permitted

If all goes well and the proposal is accepted, then R18+ will become the highest rating in the country, bumping off the much-contested MA15+. Apart from that, MA15+ will also have to usher in some modifications in its guidelines as well:

• Strong and realistic violence should not be very frequent
• Sexual activity must not be tied to rewards or incentives
• Interactive drug use that is detailed and realistic is not permitted
• Nudity must not be related to incentives and rewards

The proposal seems pretty sound at this point. Hopefully, whoever will be left to decide on the matter will look at it clearly and objectively. Minister Brendan O'Conner, a staunch supporter of the proposal, has said that "This issue has been on the table for many years, without the necessary progress to make change." With the proposal now at hand, there should be a relief in sight for both publishers and gamers in Australia.

The proposed guidelines will be reviewed by the country's state and territory attorneys-general before finally making a judgment at their next SCAG meeting sometime in early July.

Via [Gamespot]

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