Porn & Christian Lobbies Double Team Violent Games in Australia
Porn & Christian Lobbies Double Team Violent Games in Australia
March 28, 2008
Christian groups and pornographers don't, as a rule, agree on many things.In Australia, however, the seemingly disparate groups have found some common ground: violent video games are bad.
As reported by news.com.au, it was the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) and porn lobby group the Eros Foundation which, well, found themselves in bed together on the video game issue.
The noteworthy hook-up came in the wake of a decision by Australia's attorneys general to seek public comment as to whether an R18+ rating should be added for video games. Under present law, any game which exceeds MA15+ is effectively banned. Titles which have been blocked under the current system include Grand Theft Auto III, Blitz: The League and Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude.
Both the ACL and the Eros Foundation criticized the decision allowing Australian citizens to weigh in (GP: those oh-so-annoying democratic processes...). Said ACL managing director Jim Wallace (left):
Given what happens with R-rated films, we could have no confidence that the classification guidelines would be properly applied. For example, due to loopholes in the guidelines, real sex is sometimes being shown in R-rated films. What will happen if we have R18+ games, which have even greater impact because of their interactive nature?
An Eros Foundation spokesman (unnamed, but possibly wearing black socks and a black mask) agreed:
We support the Australian Christian Lobby's point of view. Because we believe that there's too much violence out there and there are more pressing issues for the attorneys to consider such as the regulation of the X-rated film industry.
news.com.au also reports that Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said the public input would serve as a recommendation only:
This is not a consultation on a proposal to introduce an R18+ level for games. It is a public consultation process seeking community views to inform our position. Consultation will allow us to form a view based on evidence about community views on the issue.
Rob Hulls, attorney general of Victoria, added:
It seems inconsistent that in Australia adults are allowed to view adults-only films which have been classified R18+ by the classification board but not computer games with an equivalent high level content.
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Posted 07/18/08 at 10:32pm
Paul T. Farinelli: Seriously, i haven't been so awe-struck by someone's sheer audacity in...ever!
Paul T. Farinelli: Seriously, i haven't been so awe-struck by someone's sheer audacity in...ever!
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:45pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : And I can take "No" for an answer.
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : And I can take "No" for an answer.
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:45pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : JT is such a tool. He thinks he can have his way just because he's a Christian. Listen up, Jackie-boy, I'm a Christian, too.
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : JT is such a tool. He thinks he can have his way just because he's a Christian. Listen up, Jackie-boy, I'm a Christian, too.
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:09pm
Paul T. Farinelli: Also, I must say that Jack honestly looks like a serial killer in that pic. (not saying he is one, just that he looks creepy)
Paul T. Farinelli: Also, I must say that Jack honestly looks like a serial killer in that pic. (not saying he is one, just that he looks creepy)
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:08pm
Paul T. Farinelli: Jace was apparently polite.
Paul T. Farinelli: Jace was apparently polite.
Posted 07/18/08 at 09:07pm
Paul T. Farinelli: I agree, it just seems like pure insanity that Jack would seriously say that to the man's face during an interview, one in which
Paul T. Farinelli: I agree, it just seems like pure insanity that Jack would seriously say that to the man's face during an interview, one in which
Posted 07/18/08 at 07:48pm
Jack Wessels: If not then... Damn...
Jack Wessels: If not then... Damn...
Posted 07/18/08 at 07:48pm
Jack Wessels: Hey Dennis, I know you can't share the videos JT sent you, but was there perhaps even a slight amount of sarcasm in his replies?
Jack Wessels: Hey Dennis, I know you can't share the videos JT sent you, but was there perhaps even a slight amount of sarcasm in his replies?
Posted 07/18/08 at 06:21pm
tallimar: ... news story so much as a punch line.
tallimar: ... news story so much as a punch line.
Posted 07/18/08 at 06:21pm
tallimar: breaking story: JT hates on game dev, news at 11... id find that interesting to watch only to the point that JT isnt a ...
tallimar: breaking story: JT hates on game dev, news at 11... id find that interesting to watch only to the point that JT isnt a ...
Posted 07/18/08 at 02:50pm
BlackIce: I absolutely refuse to read about that Wanker Cameron
BlackIce: I absolutely refuse to read about that Wanker Cameron
Posted 07/18/08 at 01:52pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : BTW, anyone see the new JT story Dennis put up?
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : BTW, anyone see the new JT story Dennis put up?
Posted 07/18/08 at 01:51pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : IDK about that, Grizzam. Who knows if it did or not?
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : IDK about that, Grizzam. Who knows if it did or not?
Posted 07/18/08 at 01:49pm
GRIZZAM PRIME: So yeah. E3 hath sucked ballz apparently.
GRIZZAM PRIME: So yeah. E3 hath sucked ballz apparently.
Posted 07/18/08 at 01:42pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : @BlackIce: But I'm not gonna do it, because I have no reason to do it.
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of : @BlackIce: But I'm not gonna do it, because I have no reason to do it.
Posted 07/18/08 at 01:36pm
BlackIce: No wait.. That's Beemoh that i'm thinking of. KN licks people too.
BlackIce: No wait.. That's Beemoh that i'm thinking of. KN licks people too.
Posted 07/18/08 at 01:36pm
BlackIce: @Shadow Darkman: He's only trying to get you to call him an annoying dick.
BlackIce: @Shadow Darkman: He's only trying to get you to call him an annoying dick.
Posted 07/18/08 at 12:07pm
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of: @Rodrigo: You can tell him. Spoilers get more negative attention than they deserve, anyway.
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of: @Rodrigo: You can tell him. Spoilers get more negative attention than they deserve, anyway.
Posted 07/18/08 at 11:51am
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of: *evades Zippy's lick and slaps him* Dude, I'm a guy, and I'm straight. Go find a girl to do that to.
Shadow Darkman Anti-Thesis of: *evades Zippy's lick and slaps him* Dude, I'm a guy, and I'm straight. Go find a girl to do that to.
Posted 07/18/08 at 10:38am
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: LOL, I don´t know if I can tell you more, because spoilers.
Rodrigo Ybáñez García: LOL, I don´t know if I can tell you more, because spoilers.
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Comments
Two words for you:
Pot, & Kettle
Was it just me, or did the Eros group merely side with the Christian group because the porn guys want *their* ratings taken care of first?
"there are more pressing issues for the attorneys to consider such as the regulation of the X-rated film industry"
"For example, due to loopholes in the guidelines, real sex is sometimes being shown in R-rated films. What will happen if we have R18+ games, which have even greater impact because of their interactive nature?"
Sounds to me like there's less of a problem with mature game ratings, and more of a problem with the movie raters. Maybe you should focus on that...
Real sex in R-rated films? Really? Or is he talking about "real" simulated sex, such as in many US R-rated films? Are there actual full-on penetration scenes in R rated movies in AU?
Is this guy pulling an FCC, and "imagining" more than is really going on?
I'd also imagine the video game industry is significantly larger...
Does anybody else get the feeling the porn lobbyists are just jumping on to try and keep a slice of the 18-35 male demographic? Less guys playing videogames means more guys renting Hot Outback Nights. I guess they're not interested in the potentially lucrative field of interactive porn...
.. *looks at the copy of GTA3 he bought in a K-Mart in Western Australia not even a year ago*
Wait, what?
PORNO GROUPS:
"Oh, the games industry promotes violence against prostitutes, which is bad cause us porno stars are good homies with the Prostitution Coalition.
CHRISTIAN GROUPS:
"The games industry makes fun of our porn stars, we dont take to kindly to folk criticizing our porn stars because..uh...if we are nice to them we get discounts okay?? "
VIDEO GAMERS:
"You are both either crazy...or really really really retarded"
I FEEL SO CONFLICTED.
XD
or just plain WTF???
It is now considered to be the vagina of the world.
That is so true!
The Porn industry has been under attack by Christian organizations for a long time. Now the Porn industry is jumping on the band wagon and saying:
"Lay off me (bad pun), look at how bad violent video games are. Let's get 'em fellas"
If the world went crazy(-ier), and all violent video games were banned world wide, provincial groups and ignorant leaders will find the next thing to attack and ban...the Porn industry is just buying time, but shooting themselves in the foot for the long run.
It's like, well...It's like pairing Blank Rome with Jack Thompson against some hypothetical problem (yes, that example could be considered a little extreme...maybe...but you get the idea).
And that's where the confusion comes in. At least for me.
It’s like, well…It’s like pairing Blank Rome with Jack Thompson against some hypothetical problem (yes, that example could be considered a little extreme…maybe…but you get the idea).
And that’s where the confusion comes in. At least for me."
Nah. On an issue by issue basis most christians would hold hold hands with the devil if they agreed with him on one point and that one point was the only thing being discussed.
"For example, due to loopholes in the guidelines, real sex is sometimes being shown in R-rated films."
Also could somebody change it from being called R18 or R-rated? I know the law is only for you Australians but here in the UK R18 means something else entirely. If there was an R18 film here *without* real sex the customer would have the right to his money back under the trade descriptions act.
..Aside from that, the "Public consulting" comment made me want to smack someone. Fuck that. I would want a vote if I lived in Australia
The christian group being in the same side is a pretty hefty surprise but if they are indeed actively working with their former mortal enemy, it just proves the basic lack of ethics which seem to be at the heart of any organisation that combines political lobbying and religion (I think that all the different voices allow jack thompson to qualify as his own organisation of that type).
Normally I'd hypothesise about some inter-organisational palm greasing going on but that expression takes on an entirely different meaning when porn is involved...
@Finback
I think that GTA3 was banned in Australia initially but then there was a reversal, I seem to recall fairly lengthy delays in getting it which ironically made me want to drive recklessly and shoot stuff...
Well, I wouldn't say most...but definitely the more "religious" ones. Thankfully, all my friends who are Christian aren't like that at all.
Hey idiot! Do you realise how much you are working against your industry!?
Adult films are NEVER going to have the X18+ rating approved in Australian States before Video Games get an R18+ rating. Just not going to happen.
Also as previously mentioned, there are opportunities for INTERACTIVE PORN.
Not that the porn industry's opinion matters, but they should reconsider their position for their own sake.
(In Australia, the X18+ rating for films is for ACTUAL sex acts and is only legal in NT/ACT, but not NSW/VIC/QLD/SA/WA/TAS, whereas R18+ rating for files is for IMPLICIT, OBSCURE or SIMULATED sex acts and is legal everywhere)
But then again, everyone is getting on the "Games are Evilz!" bandwagon these days.
But the actual Porn industry association of Australia, now that's a bit farfetched. Most of the others on the wagon would normally want to throw them off and run them over a couple of times for good measure.
On a different note, a few games that get a PEGI 18+ or ESRB M rating elsewhere get the MA15+ in Australia, just with a lot of clarifying text. (the upcoming Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures is a good example)
Also, GTA III was banned in Australia, but R* edited out some content, resubmitted it to the OFLC and got an MA rating. The issue was the prostitutes. Vice city was also edited by R* to conform to MA. May I direct anyone interested to the best and most comprehensive australian censorship database: http://www.refused-classification.com
Gift.
It seems inconsistent that in Australia adults are allowed to view adults-only films which have been classified R18+ by the classification board but not computer games with an equivalent high level content."
Maybe Australia is not a lost cause yet...
www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation
Also, he's dead funny in his game reviews.
If that passed then they could makre prono video games. True they may not know how to make games or they may not want to but even if, it gives them the option to make those games which is good.
Oh and the porno industry need not worry about competition from american porn game makers. Our Ao rating here effectively bans porn games (unless it's for the PC).
Droug dealers?
Rapist?
Maybe?
But yeah, what's wrong with public consultation?
So how can there be a loophole for real sex in games if a game is completely simulated? I just don't see motion capture porn as possible...
http://goatse.ch
"Keep the sex toys out of the pool please"
"Hey! Stop trying to get my wife to sign that contract!"
never underestimate the sheer size of the pornographic industry, its quite a bit larger than the normal movie-biz and a whole shed-load larger than the gaming industry, so if it wants it can throw a lot of weight around. :)
Now we've seen everything. So apparently it's more harmful to shoot a simulated enemy who generally shoots first than it is to watch full blown real sex scene. And the porn industry thinks it can talk down to games. And christians are allied with them.
Huh. Interesting day.
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