R18+ Rally in Adelaide
Gametraders is organising a rally to support an R18+ rating for video games in South Australia. The rally will take place at 1pm on the 4th of March, on the steps of the Adelaide Parliament House. As you all know, Adelaide is the home of the South Australian Attorney-General, Michael Atkinson, chief opponent of an R18+ rating for games in Australia.
This is an important chance to show your support for this long-overdue change to the Australian ratings system. Please make time to show up if you can and help campaign for a fairer, safer system for all Australians.
UPDATE (19th Feb): It’s clear from the feedback below and across the internet that a lot of people have some concerns about the cosplay nature of the rally. Gametraders has contacted me to say they will be issuing a further statement shortly. I’ll post it up as soon as I receive it.
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crotchdot says:
One of the main reasons we currently don’t have an R rating for video games is the misconception that games are for children. While I personally have nothing against cosplay, I believe this sort of event (playing dress-ups) will potentially do more harm than good.
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Stephen Schulze says:
I’ve passed the word on to the PCPowerplay community, who have raised some concerns. While getting out and taking it to the streets rather than sitting around and letting things happen is applaudable, we think the method may be counter-productive.
While large groups of people dressed in colourful costumes marching on the houses or parliament will attract the attention of the media which will likely help our cause if the message can get across clearly, we don’t believe that playing dress-ups is really a good indication that gamers are regular, mature adults deserving of an R rating. We really need to show that we’re normal people from all walks of life. People with jobs. People with families. People who pay taxes and vote. Maybe some of us are people who like to dress up too and that’s fine, but it’s perhaps not the image we need when confronting Atkinson and his affiliates.
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clint says:
stupidheads.
we wont get far saying ‘we want adult games’ and dressup as characters.
The biggest argument that seems to be overlooked’ is that we do get adult level games, (games sold at adult rating overseas), maybe a small tweak and they are sold to little kiddies here. The big push should be for a R rating, and all the games that just make it under the M rating now become adult only. That would be a better selling point, ie, getting violent games out of kiddies hands! The current system allows it!
have a look aound at forums, blogs, comments, etc and see just how many people think this is a bad idea.!!
http://www.kotaku.com.au/games/2009/02/cosplay_for_a_cause_r18_rally_against_atkinson.html#more
http://www.pcpowerplay.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=114400
I really really want a R rating, Please dont stuff it up like this!!!
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Terrence says:
There’s not much I can say to this, but please, PLEASE don’t do it. Yes, something needs to be done, but this is not the way to go about it. I guarantee you, there is no better way to cement games as the domain of children in the minds of those holding the R18+ rating back, than turning up to a protest dressed as fictional characters.
If I thought it would genuinely help, I’d walk there from Melbourne dressed as Pacman, but this is only going to hurt the image of gamers in Australia.
By all means protest, just for the love of Helios don’t do it in cosplay.
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Vance says:
Please, for the love of all gamers, DO NOT dress in cosplay whilst rallying for an R18 rating. I am in full supprt of the cause, but no-one is going to take you seriously when you are dressed up as Mario.
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Mike T says:
PLEASE BY THE GODS OF GAMING AND ALL THAT IS HOLY! DON’T DO THIS!!!
Mature gamers don’t cosplay and mature gamers are the only way we can get R18+ games
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Bob says:
awesome idea
do you have to cosplay in order to attend?
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Kingsley.W says:
Please don’t do this. I understand the sincerity of your intentions, but it will throw the cause in the wrong direction should you go through with it. It’s not the kind of media attention this issue requires.
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Adam says:
I love the idea of the march, hate the idea of dressing up for it.
We’re trying to prove that we are normal, regular, adult people. We are trying to prove that we are not in any way different from anyone who doesn’t play games. To hammer our message home properly, going dressed in normal, presentable clothes would provide a much more compelling argument.
I’ll go to this if there isn’t any dressing up. If there is, I really don’t see the point.
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Evan says:
Seems an odd way too defend the rights of ADULT gamers, dressing up in costumes which will be seen (with Atkinson’s help no doubt) as juvenile behaviour and pretty much laughed off by the media, the general (non-gaming) public, and quite a few of the gaming public. IMO this would have far more credibility without the cosplay aspect.
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Hugh says:
Because, of course, the way to show the SA government that we’re mature adults is to dress up like characters and look stupid. Please, for the love of the Vault Dweller, don’t dress up. Go all you want, bring some friends, make signs. Just don’t dress up.
It’s for your own good.
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Richard says:
This is *not* a way to win this debate.
Do we all think it’s wildly immature when people get violent in response to accusations that video games make people agressive? It doesn’t help the argument, and in fact strengthens the opposition.
This is the same. You guys might see cosplay as a mature, inter-cultural social activity, but people who don’t understand that culture only see it as adults playing dressups. In particular, it’s adults participating in something seen as a children’s activity in an attempt to show their maturity.
This *directly* supports Atkinson’s view of gamers as “older children”. We see it one way, but the conservative non-gamer crowd this event is aimed at will see it quite differently and their interpretation will *not* be one that helps our side of the argument.
Furthermore, the media at large will capitalise on the event with sensationalisation, not rationalisation. Again, while we may see it as a social activity, the majority of Australia’s population will not, and the media is going to give the majority whatever is most entertaining to hear. In this case, that means they’ll make fools of anyone who shows up. Look at the way Star Wars fans at cinemas get treated when they dress as their favorite characters if you want an idea of how it’ll go down. The difference is that onlookers know that Star Wars fans are just doing it for fun, so it doesn’t bother anyone – you, on the other hand, want to be taken seriously, and in order to do it you’re behaving in a way that almost everyone else will associate with a child.
Making lots of noise won’t win this debate for the R18+ issue, and unfortunately I think this particular noise will just strengthen Australian conservatives in their opinions. I realise that the hope isn’t to prove our maturity but to draw attention to Atkinson’s single mindedness, but I honestly do not believe this is the way to do it.
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kevin says:
“My god” as a male gamer for the past 26 years I must say this is not the way to get the attention of parliament. Cosplay is cool and all, But it will put us at a disadvantage with the media and some higher house party officials. Now that computer games are accepted in our society and culture as main stream entertainment, I also know that a lot of gamers out there on forums are shacking there heads in disbelief, cos if we want 18+ rating on games sold in our county we must stand as adults, and show that we are mature in our direction that we take to obtain it, Cosplay as Mario will not get the rating, If we all were business suits or dress as normal public, and show a level headed approach and show the party members we can act as adults, I think we have a god chance, Some games have been getting classification even tho they should have been 18+, so if we do not do this right we could even loose this bit of leniency.
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Andy says:
Please don’t go through with this. It could only have an adverse affect on the argument that gaming is a mature medium that deserves an R rating.
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Carol says:
As the mother of three gameplaying children under the age of 18 I’ve become aware over the last Christmas period of this issue, and as parents, we don’t have enough information and need a standard government regulation to help us out. This dressing up idea might seem a bit silly, but I think it will generate the media coverage we need to make it happen. Besides, you don’t all have to dress up. Having enough people dressed up to get attention is sufficient. The rest need to have their points ready and their credibility solid.
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bazuden says:
Worst. Idea. Ever.
All this will do is strengthen the archaic stigma that ‘video games are for kids’ and just make people think we haven’t grown up.
The main demographic for games was probably kids 10, 15 or 20 years ago, but those generations are older now. Just like our taste in games that we play, comics we read, and movies we watch.
Thats not to say that I don’t still enjoy cartoons or Mario anymore, but these days I’m after more substance than rescuing the princess. Something more mature, I guess.
We won’t have a problem once people realize that games with mature content aren’t meant to be played by kids, just like how R18 movies aren’t meant to be watched by kids.
There’s plenty of R18 comics and cartoons out there, and the same people who are offended by the existence of these are the ones that can’t comprehend that comics, cartoons & video games are relatively new forms of media, which will inevitably grow up, just like the people who enjoy them.
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Sam says:
You’ve got the right intention, but as others have said, dressing up is absolutely the wrong way to achieve your goals. The main argument against Atkinson is that he treats adult gamers like children – SO DON’T PLAY DRESSUPS LIKE LITTLE KIDS. All the media will do is go “Today a group of adult gamers dressed up as pikachu and mario and demanded to be taken seriously for a change” and make people far more inclined to agree with Atkinson.
I feel very strongly that we should get an R18+ rating for video games and I’m very concerned that you’re going to be putting our chances in jeopardy by acting like fools.
By all means protest and rally your hearts out, but:
NOT
IN
COSPLAY
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Adam says:
Everyone else has pretty much made the points i’d have brought up, please dont do this guys it isnt the way to get things done..
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Evan says:
I said as much earlier (moderator deleted it for some reason) but I don’t feel cosplay will engender the support of the media and general public – in fact I expect it’ll be used as excuse to laugh off the serious purpose of the rally and will ultimately harm the credibility of the R18+ argument.
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Andrew says:
I’m going to go ahead and say that this is not a good idea. You want the cosplayers, who in my personal experience are not balanced or sane as the people petitioning for this rating, to dress up in colourful, eye catching uniforms to demand a more mature ratings system?
I have nothing personal against cosplayers, but they’re not exactly the most competent nor mature people around, and I don’t think using them to try and promote a message to score an R18 gaming rating is going to achieve anything.
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AK says:
The media and conservative politicians will just have a laugh about this. This hardly seems to be the best way to convince Atkinson et al that gamers should be taken seriously.
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Evan says:
The general consensus here seems to be in agreement… by all means have a rally, but making it cosplay is not the best method of raising support or portraying the right impression.
(Apologies to moderator for earlier comment – it just took longer for for first comment to appear than my second for some reason which I took as the first was deleted.)
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Dee says:
This is a terrible, terrible idea and as an adult gamer the people turning up in costume will certainly not be representing me. This will, in fact, set the cause back quite a bit.
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Ben says:
I am in agreement with most of the above posters, the rally itself isn’t a bad idea, dressing up in costumes is. It’s hard to take someone dressed up as “insert game character here” seriously
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Cody says:
Once again I’m in agreeing with what’s been said before me, this will do nothing but tarnish the image of gamers and brand us as children. This is not the right way to go about things, I’m all for a rally but this isn’t helping our cause
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blackwell says:
Hello there Tim, I also tried to raise awareness about Gametraders and the Cosplay for a Cause initiative today on Jason Hill’s blog Screen Play:
http://blogs.theage.com.au/screenplay/archives//011576.html
While some of the commenters seemed to react to it positively however i’m afraid there were a couple of people who didn’t think that it was a very good idea either.
I responded by telling them that I was merely trying to raise awareness about Gametrader’s planned protest and if they had a problem with that then they should take it up with Gametraders and not shoot the messenger. After that comment one of them was kind enough to apologise to me over what they’d said.
Anyhow I have a freind who is currently attending Adelaide Uni at the moment and is a member of the gaming club there. I’ll probably try to get in contact with him and pass on information about the planned rally because, just like me he isn’t a Cosplayer, he’s as passionate about an R18 classification for games as I am.
Obviously I won’t try and force him to attend, just pass on the information so he (and any members of his gaming club who might join him) can decide for themselves. After all it can’t hurt to pass the word on can it?
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aussie in tokyo says:
Add my name to the voices against cosplay.
The only way you will convince the doubters is by (correctly) portraying gaming as something that mature, responsible, _normal_ adults do – not fringe peter-pan elements of society, no matter how well intentioned. Cosplay will only weaken your cause, and may in fact harden the resolve of people like Mr. Atkinson.
Good luck guys. Keep it civil and above all mature and you may just have a chance.
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Nick says:
I completely agree that this is this dumbest idea ever. I will be the first to speak to Michael Atkinson in a reasonable and open debate regarding the pros and cons of a R18+ rating for computer games. I’m from SA myself and I apologize to other Australians in the other states for our backwardness in this issue. It shames me to say that he represents our state amongst the other Attorney Generals.
Do people not realise that dressing up in cosplay as a demonstration that we are mature adults is absolutely ridiculous? Cosplay is fine, but when we are trying to make a public statement as a representation of this nation’s adult gamers, we should do so in a mature manner. Dressing up will only add fuel to this man’s case and increase the public notion that gamers are children or adults who have not grown up.
Anyone who turns up to the rally in cosplay might as well bring a baseball bat and some knives to show that we non-violent too. Even if one of two dress up, guess what image will be displayed as a representation of all mature aged gamers in Australia.
Thank you to Gametraders for causing this confusion and for possibly taking our R18+ game rating backwards a few steps.
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Geoff Albertson says:
Please, for the love of god, DONT dress up and protest. I suggest thinking about what affect you will have, what does cosplay have to do with getting an R18 rating anyway?
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Lockie says:
Guys I am sorry but I dont support what you are doing, your hearts are definatly in the right place but I am media will not protray you guys in a positive light. Please dont give the media any more ammunition agaist us. A much more sensible way would just simply have a march as normal people. The public might listen to our plight then.
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trev says:
I’d also like to see the use of aggressive words such as STORM and DEMANDING to be taken out of the protests flyer. Games have enough of a reputation of being violent and to try and protest this and the R18+ rating by using such aggressive words – would not be the best way to do it.
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Zak says:
Wow, ok so somebody try’s to take a stand for you guys. They are paying in money to do things, trying to fight for something you all want… what do you do… not back them.. good idea I am sure the world understands your point. I mean hey going to a party normally means wearing a tux or some formal gear… these guys just want to have more fun. Get off yourselves and support them or don’t act like your helping the cause.
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James says:
As much as I support the cause, this is a terrible way of going about it. Cosplayers are not, and should never be the face of gaming.
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Lisa says:
I’m going to try to get there whether people wear costumes or not….it’s mainly the number of attendances and the adult way you display yourself that will count the most, even though a lot of you think the costume idea will downplay the seriousness of it…if you’re not interested in wareing a costume, you can make up a placard of the 18+ standard, type of game you play…use a poster of it or something that shows the type of game you want rated correctly.
Everything will help get the message across…and if a reporter asks you a question…give them a VERY adult answer and be mature about it, because it’s the media that will either make or break this rally and hopefully achieve the result we want.
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Glenn says:
People who want an R18+ rating for games need to write to the ministers in their state, not dress up and prance around in the city.
If writing to Mr. Atkinson, tell him about the importance of protecting children, but also tell him about your concerns. For a start, you could suggest a valid ID for anyone wishing to purchase R18+ games. Hey, if it works for movies, then why not for games?
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Love Town Omama » I’m a just whale killer. says:
[...] Monday but couldn’t figure out what I was going to write about. I was going to mention the ridiculous cosplay event protesting the lack of an R18+ rating for games in Australia but that story kind of fizzled out. I [...]
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R18+ Games Australia » Blog Archive » R18+ Rally Cancelled says:
[...] contacted me by email moments ago to inform me that the planned rally has now been cancelled. You can download their media statement PDF here, but I have reproduce the [...]