EA hits back over R18+ for games

As federal, state, and territory attorneys-general gather in Melbourne today to discuss the introduction of an adult classification for video games in Australia, mounting support for R18+ in the local games industry is driving some publishers to take a stance.

Electronic Arts has picked a timely day to weigh in on the debate, releasing a statement to the media this morning from president Frank Gibeau damning Australian government policy makers for "...showing a poor understanding of today's video gaming audience."

In the statement e-mailed to media overnight--which closely mirrors one that EA sent to GameSpot AU in March this year for a similar story on R18+--Gibeau criticizes the Australian government for limiting video game ratings to MA15+, saying this policy censors adult entertainment choices, forces developers to rewrite code, and results in lesser quality games in the local marketplace.

"At EA, we are committed to the belief that adult consumers can have responsibility for their entertainment choices," Gibeau said. "Just as grown-ups can decide to see a film or read a book with mature themes, so should he or she be entitled to choose the same in interactive entertainment.

"The spectrum of gamers is as wide as the viewership of television, movies, theatre, and the readers of books. Governments don’t insist that all books be written for children, or that all television shows be cartoons. Adult gamers want their governments to treat them with the same respect they get as moviegoers and book readers. Adult Australians should be allowed to choose the games they play, including those with mature themes."

Gibeau goes on to say that the lack of an R18+ rating creates a hostile environment for game developers in Australia, impeding growth and revenue.

"As the Australian government moves to participate in the economy of the global gaming market, policy makers should consider the environment they create for game makers. Governments that design policies hostile to game developers and their creative medium will struggle to attract investment from the global industry. The global gaming industry is robust and growing faster than any other entertainment medium. If Australia seeks to benefit from this tremendous creative and economic opportunity, its policies should reflect an understanding of the marketplace and a willingness to participate," he said.

"What will be next? Will adults be forced to see edited versions of mature films? Read books with certain chapters removed? As policy measures increase restrictions on available content, so too will consumers increase the practice of parallel imports from neighboring or same-language markets, depriving their home country economy of the associated industry revenue."

Gibeau closes the statement by calling on the federal, state, and territory attorneys-general to vote unanimously for an R18+ for games.

The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) meeting is currently taking place in Melbourne. Last month the Federal Attorney-General's department confirmed to GameSpot AU that R18+ would be discussed at the meeting; it also confirmed that a report on the results of the recent public consultation into R18+ for games will be presented to the ministers in attendance.

A decision on whether Australia will receive an R18+ classification for games will require the unanimous agreement of all state, territory, and federal attorneys-general.

Stay tuned to GameSpot AU for more information on the R18+ debate as it comes to hand.

For more on video game classification in Australia, check out GameSpot AU's Aussie Games Classification FAQ feature.