Queensland was the last state to bring in the R18+ classification for video games. Dave Campbell, owner of Gametraders Toowoomba says it's a case of legislation catching up with media and technology.
"On face value, if you saw the headline 'R18+ games approved' you could be fairly safe thinking that this is a terrible thing. But if you look further into it, it's only been a handful of games that have been banned. And a lot of games that maybe should have been R18+ have been given a MA15 classification until now. So it's better for everyone."
Campbell says the rating will help parents understand the type of games they are purchasing.
"I think the OFLC [Office of Film and Literature Classification] has done the responsible thing. They've given parents that extra knowledge of knowing the content by simply looking at the rating. They can look at the rating and know it's more than a MA15 game. It's that little extra bit that will make them say, 'when you're 18'."
Until now, the highest rating for computer games was MA15. Campbell says game content had gotten to the point where a higher rating was needed. Games can now be treated in the same manner as movies and television series.
"There was a game where you were shooting civilians in an airport. How that was MA15, I couldn't understand that. I definitely think that game should have been a R18+ game."
The issue had divided interest groups, with some claiming the new classification would protect children but others feared it would expose them to more violent games.
"It's certainly not the end of moral civilisation as we know it," Dave Campbell says before laughing, "Hollywood will take care of that for us!"
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