GameSpot AU Interview With Michael Atkinson

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  • Posted Apr 23, 2009

GameSpot AU's exclusive interview with South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson.

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42 Comments

  • Potat0e_Masher

    Posted Dec 23, 2009 3:57 am PT

    what a boring office
    and also.. if you replaced those books with video games then i'd believe him
    but otherwise no..... i don't believe him one bit.

  • redbeef88

    Posted Dec 3, 2009 6:30 am PT

    I have written an open letter to Mr Atkinson, you can read it here: http://www.escapetheory.com.au/blog/?p=445

  • Richkat

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 3:16 pm PT

    Did Michael Atkinson just compare people who wish to play R18 games to pedophiles? How can you expect people who are indifferent to a problem to have a realistic opinion? If I gave an opinion on some minority that had very little to do with I’d either be compared to some German back in 1940’s or White Africa 20 year ago. I’m referring to Indifferent Australians not Michael Atkinson on that last comment.

    Wouldn't be more appropriate in force by law a special section in a Computer Game Store and educate families on possible harmful effects and how to use Content Restriction on consoles rather than treating people like they either can’t be trusted to parent themselves or their own children.

  • gangster59

    Posted Nov 2, 2009 3:08 pm PT

    You know, he has a point. If people were more mature with their responses, not just here but elsewhere, it would reflect more positively on us as a part of society. Instead, people venting their anger at M. Atkinson in the form of abuse is doing more to hinder then help. Take a breath, and write a sensible response/letter that shows you have at least listened to his point of view, are mature enough to respond appropriately and composed enough to not let things, like his comments, effect you so deeply. People saying he doesn't no what games are to us makes you sound more like a sad crack addict then a mature member of society. I'm not saying what you are doing isn't allowed, you can act/think/say whatever you want. But do it elsewhere or at another time, because for change to happen in this case, you have to play the Politicians game.

  • inertial_rage

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 6:38 pm PT

    Guys, you've gotta see issues like this from a mature standpoint. The issue is "Does games like GTA have an effect on the player". While I'm a major GTA fan myself (the reason why i'm even in ths forum), you've got to admit that YES, it does! Does it have any more of an effect on players than say....watching 'Saw 2', no, eff no! The gaming industry is under attack on a constant basis when the film industry is allowed to literally 'get away with murder'! As a parent, I can understand some of the points brought up in this interview (namely the fact that most gamers approached the topic Atkinson brought to the table with overwhelming hostility rather than a mature well thought out opinions), but as a gamer, I can see that his approach is designed for little more than a desperate attempt to protect conservative ways of life during the transition from one generation to the next. I love GTA, and have since GTA2. But if we want to make our point in issues like this, we HAVE to rise above the traditional HOSTILE response and bring more to the table to make our ideas valid!

  • assanisskil23

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 10:51 pm PT

    he does not have any idea of what games are to us

  • Bruce_the_Ugga

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 10:31 pm PT

    This man is completely ignorant, he doesn't even play games so how could he possibly have an opinion on the matter. There is only one way to research video games, and it's not by observing certain children playing them or asking the parents of mentally unstable ones. I've played games for over a decade and if anything, it enables me to relax have fun, never have I been influenced to break the law. Oh and for the record, you have never been able to "earn points" for running people down or killing prostitutes in a GTA game, or any game I can think of.

  • cru3

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 8:00 pm PT

    If you're "not bothered" by censorship, then you're part of the problem.

  • Phantsy16

    Posted Aug 9, 2009 2:57 am PT

    The problem with all these attorneys, is they have no friggin clue about games. To be honest, they are just to old to even get what games are all about. I'm not gonna out and say why they should stop attacking games, because we all share the same views on that so i won't my waste my time.

  • Biorges

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 3:13 pm PT

    About "vulnerability" as an argument according to his own words to support censorship: I m vulnerable to the stupidity of this fool, therefore to protect me as a vulnerable minority he should shut up
    2. Gamers are that part of society that buy games so its them to decide whether or not to approve something concerning videogames, parasite politicians like you, are just eager to get a slight piece of the pie, to have the power to decide and to earn something from it.
    3. If some madman decides to kill a whole set of pedestrians, is it because he is probably some poor schmuck (low wage chum) with many problems? or because he just played a violent game? the good parasite politician instead of addressing the real problem (education, economics, etc.,) will just say "videogames" 4. Child porn? even in censorship there are degrees and he is just backing his argument with the extreme situation. When its about freedom every single inch is worth the effort.

  • bcroger2

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 10:12 am PT

    nice

  • Wazzu101

    Posted Jul 29, 2009 3:12 pm PT

    Yeah, more insults are gonna convert him. More threats are going to stop the community and parents from supporting him. Games are not like movies simply because of their interactivity like he said. Some of you guys need to pay more attention to what's being said and stop giving him more ammunition to keep these games from entering the country. Yes, I have played GTA and know how it works. I do play these kinds of games but I'm not bothered by the censorships. You need to stop with the personal attacks or you are just confirming what he's saying.

  • assnacho

    Posted Jul 25, 2009 5:00 pm PT

    australias jack thompson

  • JimmeCata

    Posted Jul 24, 2009 8:54 am PT

    What the hell? You don't score points for running killing people in GTA! There aren't even POINTS! No one has a problem with this stuff in movies anyway. ****heads.

  • aftabrahimoon

    Posted Jul 22, 2009 6:47 am PT

    actually problem is that this man has nt played the games in his teen age,

    thats the reason that he hates games......

  • fazedjb

    Posted Jun 19, 2009 7:06 am PT

    the ONLY reasons i don't let my 10yr old son play gta4 is not coz of the voilence, you see enuff of that in most cartoons & tv shows. its the mission sequences that involve blatant drug taking, sexual content and excessive bad language.

  • SauhlGood

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 4:33 pm PT

    first off you dont gain points for killing pedestrians in GTA3...
    The WHOLE of society is alright with pornography and horrible gangbangin slasher flicks...
    but interactive polygons shooting and having sex...is crossing the line..?
    why because somehow its a parody on life? that it COULD happen?

    Do movie makers censor their movies because some idiot out there is gonna get on top of his car on the highway trying to jump from car to car like Neo from the matrix?
    There is a rotten apple in every bunch...dont cherry pick the idiots pls.... then base your points on that morons actions and affiliations...

    its remarkable how many times he mentions the WHOLE of society as if it were in opposition to gamers, who somehow are not part of it...

    btw Madworld is released in australia with a MA 15+ most of the stuff there puts the worst violence in GTA to shame...

  • smicko77

    Posted May 26, 2009 8:01 pm PT

    I dont 100% agree with this guy but his view is good in the way that it causes a balance in this country which is what we need.

    ps the interviewer seems to be a little one sided.

  • red-cobra130

    Posted May 19, 2009 6:51 am PT

    dont worry the cab driver will respawn in about 5 seconds

  • rodsavoie

    Posted May 18, 2009 10:17 pm PT

    This guy is just a wacko commie, & I am tired of people like this. This is just history repeating it self. When will they learn. It's just a video game, & it does not make people do bad thing's, people do bad thing's on their own. There was a time were Elvis Presley was consider to be Satan & people listening to his music will do bad thing's. Like I said, history repeating it self. DIE FOR FREEDOM!!! LOL.

  • TileToad

    Posted May 4, 2009 7:21 am PT

    It's a sad thing when our lives are determined by the lowest common denominator. Hey, perhaps people shouldn't be allowed out into the general public at all, just to be safe!

  • hamadatoon

    Posted May 1, 2009 5:05 pm PT

    He is right at all

  • DotjeKonijn

    Posted Apr 28, 2009 12:40 pm PT

    This man is old and wise! Not only children but also 18+ people don't use their brains. Even 18+ people get bad habits when playing games, they get rude, foul mouthed and reckless. But not only games, a lot of movies are a medium that makes people like this. Go to youtube, type in something random and you see tons of comments full with hatred, all are a response to the things we see in games, movies and tv.

  • choas_theory

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 10:21 pm PT

    way to put pressure on him laura

  • CyanideV

    Posted Apr 26, 2009 2:40 am PT

    im in Australia, i played gta an Andreas, i hired a prostitute, i killed her, i got my money back....

  • Cleaver426

    Posted Apr 25, 2009 3:40 am PT

    shame games that come to australia will be censored alot in the future probaly. Not gonna hapen in USA though lol like 58 percent of population play games yay!!!

  • Cleaver426

    Posted Apr 25, 2009 3:29 am PT

    I dont care I just dont want video games banned. But yeah imature kids should not be playing GTA 4!!!

  • BDL91

    Posted Apr 25, 2009 12:52 am PT

    This guy obviously has never played a video game....lol luckily the loser is old and will die soon

  • Mars_Cleric

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 8:26 pm PT

    Well, I played a bunch of GTA. I better go kill some people now.
    Right after I watch all the Saw movies and torture a bunch of people.

  • Mars_Cleric

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 8:18 pm PT

    I have to say thanks to all those Kotaku commenters that have ruined the credibility of the Australian gamer with their intellectual discussion, way to go guys.
    However I don't know what he was expecting. The internet is full of jerks.
    Maybe he wanted that so he could use this as a way to say how irresponsible and immature we are.

  • Pilch_R_eD

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 11:27 am PT

    I agree about all the abusive gamers. Sure you have rights, sure we all have rights. But he has rights too. You can't just run around screaming abuse at anyone. You think you know better? And that things should change? Well screaming obscenities only makes you look like an immature idiot, and chances are the people who say those things are. But! To Mr.Atkinson. Go out into the world and talk to people, just like you told us to do. Not only gamers are immature foul mouthed individuals. And I'm more than aware that this isn't up to gamers, and that the decision it up to the public, or at least, so you say. I don't ever see many decisions being made by the public, just a few who have manipulated their way to power, who make the choices no matter how much the public says "no". Still, some times that's necessary too, and there is no perfect system. Sadly, the majority, who don't play games, are uniformed and don't understand the situation. And I somehow doubt you will explain both angles to them. But respect to you if you do. If I truly believed an R18+ rating would do more damage than good, no matter how I personally feel about it. I would not support it. I agree, that compromises should be made to protect people if necessary. Even if it's only one person saved. Problem is, all the worst games are coming through, and are available to 15 year old's, and not people who are 18 or older. This country can still ban entertainment that is deemed entirely inappropriate. I find it interesting that San Andreas was mentioned but not GTA 4. Console version was edited. But the PC version is the fully uncut version, MA15+ slapped right on the box. I doubt you will be mentioning that though. People who use the internet to get games, will always get whatever they want, no matter what rating you have on it, and no matter whether it's banned or not. But when it comes down to retail, your position is allowing 15 year olds to access adult material, when with an R18+ rating in position, they wouldn't have access to them. If the people of the ratings commission are out of line, than it is no small matter, and someone should have, or should be dealing with it. And it's the governments job to make sure all systems of government are working properly. And a ratings board that decides what content comes into the country, and who it's available for, is a SERIOUS thing to be out of line. Either fix the system, then claim that bringing in an R18+ for games would cause problems. Or bring in the R18+ to do what you claim your doing. Protecting young, and sensitive minded adults.

  • tpfareavip

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 8:35 am PT

    One man's personal opinions should not be the norm, this is outrages, people have a right to decide what they want or do not want in there lives, it's no surprise that a country with some of the last slave trading to be extinct would be the same to put out this BS. what keeps some one from pushing a pedestrian in front of a subway train every day? this guy? should we ban subways? Dictatorship and censorship are not the way to resolve anything, controling who has acess to such games thats a good idea having parental controls and such thats a good idea, now you tell a tax paying suposidly free adult he can't buy this game because it might make him shoot his wife in the face!? wtf? people arent nut jobs, the nut jobs are going to shoot some one whatever the reason! they could be watching a freaking comercial with a bee bee gun and that could trigger them. So please lets use our heads, we can't all live in padded rooms because of one or two with some screws loose.

  • PStringa

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 5:50 am PT

    Some good points

  • kse15

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 3:56 am PT

    I hope we get an R18+ rating for our games

  • Pompous_Fool

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 2:14 am PT

    The man's right about the attourney gerneral's job.. whether we like it or not, its his job to prevent the 1 in a million nutjob who butchers a taxi driver from being encouraged.

  • pakhair

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 1:57 am PT


    OK................

  • raptor1906

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 12:30 am PT

    I guess hes earned my respect through this interview, however he does have a lot of flaws in his argument.

    Yes GTA San Andreas did have somethings cut out however what he mentioned (killing a prostitute after having intercourse and retrieving the money) was never cut out. Infact all the released GTAs have that feature inside. This is a perfect example of a flaw in his argument.

    I respect his opinion that their decisions favor the minor majority, Lets just say for example that theres 100 soldiers and 1 soldier was left behind, and if the 99 soldiers were to rescue the 1 soldier they would all die from a neculear attack. Would you rather lose them all in attempt of saving the 1 soldier's life?

    But overall his opinions are very well backed up and he does have a point so i guess its just up to us to wait and see what the public has to say......

  • infra500

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 12:16 am PT

    Okay

  • SerbWarrior

    Posted Apr 23, 2009 11:53 pm PT

    ummmm...okay...

  • -Malifor-

    Posted Apr 23, 2009 10:24 pm PT

    Thanks for the interview Laura. Have been looking forward to hearing it.

    He does make some good points on the failings of the board, however, if the board rated games 'correctly' there would be a good 50% or more of the games receiving MA15+ that should be banned under our current ratings scheme.

    If we had an 18+ rating, and I believe we should, then many of these MA15+ games could be rated correctly, and therefore consumers would be able to make a much more informed choice as to what they or their children play.

  • gameie1994

    Posted Apr 23, 2009 10:18 pm PT

    :O

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