Kid playing video game – the SUN, UK
On the 1st January 2013, an R18+ classification for computer games was introduced in all Australian States and Territories. On behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops, its Australian Catholic Office for Film & Broadcasting (ACOFB) welcomed this new national and uniform approach for parents to understand that there is R18+ material in computer games and they might stop their children from accessing it.
Rev Dr Richard Leonard SJ, the Director of the ACFOB said, “Until now the Office for Film & Literature Classification had only has five categories available in regard to computer games: G, PG, M, MA 15+ and RC (refused classification). Like many parents, many Australians assumed that material that was not MA15+ was refused classification. But this is not the case.
Every few titles are RC, so under the present system many titles that deserve an R 18+ rating have been classified as MA 15+. Parents, responsible adults and teachers have been totally unaware of this so when they see a game with an MA 15+ they assume it is in the same range and content as film classification. There have been totally reprehensible items available in every state that should be RC or at least R18+.”
“The Catholic Church’s preferred position is that R18+ material should not be available, but welcomes this outcome as a way of strengthening our morally imperfect system to protect children, establish what material is only available to adults, and inform parents about what may be the content of the video game which their children may be accessing”, Fr Leonard said.
“The reason we gave our qualified and reserved support to this change in the classification system is especially to help parents to understand that there is R18+ material in computer games and they might stop their children from accessing it,” Dr Leonard said.