Australian Video Game Classification Vote Delayed
Following in the footsteps of a few other countries, Australian lawmakers are working on putting together a new set of age specific guidelines that would determine how video games are marketed, packaged and sold. Originally, a Standing Committee of Attorneys General was scheduled in Wellington, New Zealand where ministers were to define which video games would get the R18+ rating. The decision was made after the overwhelming majority of adults polled in Australia agreed that violent video games with adult subject matter should be labeled accordingly.
What is puzzling is that Australian researchers have recently conducted a study that shows that playing violent video games does not make gamers more prone to exhibiting violent behavior. While many people may be uncomfortable with the idea of children playing first person shooters, the fact is that they will not grow up to become criminals. Lawmakers in the state of California are also trying to pass a bill that would prevent video game stores from offering violent video games to consumers under the age of 18.
School age children are exhibiting more violent behavior as a whole, but research shows that the rising popularity of ultra violent video game titles has nothing to do with it. Some feel that attorney generals in Australia will have a hard time passing a vote since there is very little conclusive evidence to support the effort. The next vote is scheduled to take place on July 21st and 22nd, which will give members of the gaming industry ample time to protest.