Gamasutra – News – Report: Australia To Block Web Access To ‘Mature’ Games

Report: Australia To Block Web Access To ‘Mature’ Games

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The Australian federal government plans to block internet access to sites pertaining to video games not rated MA15+ or below, according to a report by Melbourne’s The Age.

The country’s lack of a video game rating that applies to games with content aimed at those 18 years of age or older — which does exist in Australian film ratings as R18+ — has long been a frustration for video game publishers. Games that would fall into that hypothetical category are currently denied classification and barred from sale at retail, effectively banning them.

Under the new internet filtering, detailed by communications minister Stephen Conroy (pictured right) it could also become impossible to obtain such games — labeled “RC,” for “refused classification” — through online means. According The Age, the filtering could apply to sites that have unclassified games for sale, for download, or playable in a browser.

via Gamasutra – News – Report: Australia To Block Web Access To ‘Mature’ Games.

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