Australian Attorney General Pushing for Modern Warfare 2 Ban

Valigarmander · 11-25-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

We know Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a violent and controversial game; now it turns out that one Australian official is looking to ban it in his country. AU GameSpot reports that South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson has announced plans to appeal the game's MA15+ rating, which he calls "wrong." He accused the Classification Board of trying to "get games in under the radar." If the appeal is successful, the game will be effectively banned from sale in Australia. A higher age rating for the game is unavailable, partly due to Atkinson's own opposition to the formation of an R18+ rating. Yes, he thinks the MA15+ rating is too low, but has stopped the creation of a higher rating. Let that sink in, because it might help prepare you for the reasons he gave.

"I worry about any game that encourages gamers to perpetuate extreme violence and cruelty on screen, but this game allows players to be virtual terrorists and gain points by massacring civilians," he said in a statement. "Expecting game designers to be responsible by not glorifying terrorism will always lead to disappointment." He reportedly hasn't responded to GameSpot's request for clarification, given that the game doesn't award any kind of points in the controversial "No Russian" scene. Of course, it doesn't exactly glorify terrorism either, so it's probably safe to say he doesn't know what he's talking about.

Atkinson has been highly critical of the ratings board, saying he has "no trust" in their process. For their part, the classification board itself is staying out of the tussle publicly, with a spokesperson stating "The Board has no comment on Mr. Atkinson's statements."

dohoho australia

Soi · 11-25-2009, 03:53 PM

australia... again??

Black Belt Tazy · 11-25-2009, 04:44 PM

Well, I can understand the thought process.

Still, Banning Video Games are bad. Because I am Pro-Video Games

Throbbing Mob · 11-27-2009, 11:26 PM

Ah god shutup you douchebag, seriously. Video Games = not real. Not real = not horrible act of violence. It's less real than shooting a cardboard cutout with a dartgun, because it never even takes place.

Master of the Obvious · 11-28-2009, 03:25 AM

I read the australian attorney part and thought they were making an assuie version of phoenix wright.

Throbbing Mob · 12-03-2009, 07:18 AM

The title is misleading, btw. It's the South Australia Attorney General. He's only the AG of that particular state government, and he doesn't have enough clout to force it on the public. Essentially, its sales might be suspended pending the federal vote on the 18 and up rating group for video games.

11-25-2009, 03:53 PM	#2
Soi Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: That place... With the people... Gender: Posts: 2,339 Thanks: 647 Thanked 49 Times in 40 Posts Blog Entries: 9 Points: 6,964.45 Bank: 39,217.79 Total Points: 46,182.24 Donate	australia... again??

11-25-2009, 04:44 PM	#3
Black Belt Tazy I specialize in HORN DRILL! HRARGH! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Cianwood Gym Gender: Posts: 12,871 Thanks: 432 Thanked 993 Times in 709 Posts Blog Entries: 18 Points: 61,440.48 Bank: 5,486,434.01 Total Points: 5,547,874.49 Donate	Well, I can understand the thought process. Still, Banning Video Games are bad. Because I am Pro-Video Games

11-27-2009, 11:26 PM	#4
Throbbing Mob THE PRESIDENT OF FUN Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 22,155 Thanks: 1,139 Thanked 3,729 Times in 1,662 Posts Points: 59,830.67 Bank: 336,968,668.21 Total Points: 337,028,498.88 Donate	Ah god shutup you douchebag, seriously. Video Games = not real. Not real = not horrible act of violence. It's less real than shooting a cardboard cutout with a dartgun, because it never even takes place.

11-28-2009, 03:25 AM	#5
Master of the Obvious Anime mod? I think so... Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In my pants Gender: Posts: 3,982 Thanks: 2,109 Thanked 594 Times in 343 Posts Points: 77,254.69 Bank: 1,207,781.06 Total Points: 1,285,035.75 Donate	I read the australian attorney part and thought they were making an assuie version of phoenix wright.

12-03-2009, 07:18 AM	#6
Throbbing Mob THE PRESIDENT OF FUN Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 22,155 Thanks: 1,139 Thanked 3,729 Times in 1,662 Posts Points: 59,830.67 Bank: 336,968,668.21 Total Points: 337,028,498.88 Donate	The title is misleading, btw. It's the South Australia Attorney General. He's only the AG of that particular state government, and he doesn't have enough clout to force it on the public. Essentially, its sales might be suspended pending the federal vote on the 18 and up rating group for video games.