Comments on: R18+ Rally in Adelaide

By: R18+ Games Australia » Blog Archive » R18+ Rally Cancelled

R18+ Games Australia » Blog Archive » R18+ Rally Cancelled — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:56:20 +0000

[...] 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 [...]

By: Love Town Omama » I’m a just whale killer.

Love Town Omama » I’m a just whale killer. — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:44:50 +0000

[...] 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 [...]

By: Glenn

Glenn — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:56:01 +0000

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?

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:01:43 +0000

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.

By: James

James — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:11:29 +0000

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.

By: Zak

Zak — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:18:43 +0000

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.

By: trev

trev — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:33:50 +0000

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.

By: Lockie

Lockie — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:55:20 +0000

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.

By: Geoff Albertson

Geoff Albertson — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:41:55 +0000

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?

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:17:23 +0000

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.