Lyla Lindsey
The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is the statutory classification body formed by the Australian Government to classify films, video games, and publications for exhibition, sale, or hire in Australia. The classification information provided by the ACB helps consumers make informed choices about what they read, view, and play. The classification system in Australia has been criticized for being too strict and expensive, with some arguing for self-regulation by the industry. Australia's guidelines have also been criticized for their stance on drug use in video games, which does not include smoking or alcohol consumption.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Regulating Body | Australian Classification Board (ACB) |
| Other Names | Office of Film & Literature Classification (OFLC) until 2006 |
| Type of Body | Statutory classification body formed by the Australian Government |
| Year of Formation | 1970 |
| Regulated Content | Films, video games, and publications |
| Classification Fee | Ranges from $430 to $2460 |
| Classification Time | Up to 20 business days |
| Express Classification Fee | $420 |
| Express Classification Time | Less than 5 days |
| Classification Categories | MA 15+, R 18+, X 18+ |
| Classification Criteria | Themes, violence, language, drug use, nudity, and sex |
| Self-Regulation | None, but advocated by some |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's history of censorship
Australia has a long history of censorship in books and films, which has carried over into the video game industry. The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is a statutory classification body formed by the Australian Government that classifies films, video games, and publications for exhibition, sale, or hire in Australia. The Board was established in 1970 and has undergone several changes since then.
In the early 1990s, the ACB began to rate video games, with Mortal Kombat being the first game to receive an MA 15+ rating in 1994 due to its high level of animated violence. At this time, the R18+ classification rating was only given to films, and a video game with content deemed fitting for this rating could be classified as "Refused Classification" (RC) due to the lack of an appropriate classification for the medium. This led to several games being banned in Australia, including the cyberpunk adventure game DreamWeb and the FMV thriller Voyeur in 1995.
Over the years, there have been numerous controversies and inconsistencies regarding the ACB's rating system for video games. For example, in 2013, the zombie survival game State of Decay received an RC rating for drug use related to incentives or rewards. However, drug use is allowed in R18+ games in Australia, and similar to Fallout 3 in 2008, a workaround was found by changing the drugs in the game to vitamins, allowing State of Decay to pass with an R rating.
The ACB's guidelines have been criticized as overly strict and confusing, with specific provisos that seem illogical to some. For instance, Mortal Kombat X allows players to impale a person and use their skull as an ashtray, but the use of morphine or marijuana for virtual pain relief is not allowed. Additionally, the rating system has been criticized for being expensive and time-consuming, with physical games requiring a significant fee for classification and a processing time of up to 20 business days.
Despite the controversies and criticisms, there have been some efforts to improve the rating system. In 2011, an R18+ rating for video games was instated, providing a more suitable classification for mature content and reducing the number of games refused classification. However, the system still faces challenges, and there are ongoing discussions about the viability of the current classification process and the potential for industry self-regulation.
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The Australian Classification Board
The ACB is now a branch of the Department of Communications and the Arts, which provides administrative support and is overseen by the Minister for Communications and the Arts. The Board's decisions can be reviewed by the Australian Classification Review Board.
The classification system in Australia has been criticised for being overly strict and confusing. There is no uniform ratings system across the country, and the nine states regulate content differently. The two main systems are PEGI, applied in Vienna, and Germany's USK system, applied in Salzburg. The introduction of an R18+ rating for video games in 2013 was a step towards making the system more suitable for mature audiences. However, the guidelines have been criticised for being overly specific and inconsistent, particularly regarding drug use in games.
The process of classifying games in Australia can also be expensive and time-consuming, with physical games requiring a significant fee and up to 20 business days for classification. Despite these challenges, the Australian Classification Board plays a crucial role in helping consumers navigate the suitability of video games and other media content.
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The R18+ rating
The R18+ category is the highest rating a game can receive in Australia. It signifies that the game is only suitable for adults aged 18 and above. Games that fall under this rating typically contain content that is considered to be of a high impact and not appropriate for minors. This includes explicit depictions of sexual activity, drug use, and/or violence.
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Self-regulation
Australia has a long history of censorship of books and films, which has carried over to video games. The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is a statutory body formed by the Australian Government that classifies films, video games, and publications for exhibition, sale, or hire in Australia. The Board's decisions may be reviewed by the Australian Classification Review Board.
The ACB has been criticized for its strict guidelines, which some consider to be overly pedantic and confusing. There is no uniform ratings system in Australia, and the nine states regulate content differently. The two main systems are PEGI (applied in Vienna) and Germany's USK system (applied in Salzburg). The ACB's guidelines have been described as inconsistent, with bizarre limitations on drug use in games, despite allowing extreme violence.
There have been calls for self-regulation in the industry, with some arguing that the industry itself could classify content, rather than a government department. The success of self-regulation in other countries, like PEGI in Europe, and the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) classification tool, which is free and automated, are cited as evidence that self-regulation can work.
However, the effectiveness of self-regulation in the Australian context remains to be seen, and there are concerns about the potential for conflicts of interest if the industry is solely responsible for content classification.
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The cost of classification
The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is the statutory classification body of Australia. It is responsible for classifying all films, computer games, and certain publications before they can be made available in the country. The classification ratings are advisory categories that help individuals make informed choices about what to watch, play, or read. While there are no legal restrictions on viewing or playing films and games with certain ratings, some categories are restricted to adults aged 18 and above and cannot be sold to minors.
The cost of classifying a game in Australia under the existing system can be significant, ranging from $430 to $2460, depending on the amount of work required or whether the game is demonstrated to the Board. Additionally, the process can take up to 20 business days, with an option to expedite the process to less than five days for an additional $420. This makes the classification process costly and time-consuming, especially for independent game developers.
To address this issue, the Australian government has introduced a free, automated tool, known as the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) tool, which replaces the traditional ACB process for digitally-distributed games. This tool allows game developers to answer questions about their game's content, and it assigns an appropriate rating based on the responses. The IARC tool has been tested by the ACB and it is designed to align with the familiar Australian classifications, ensuring that the assigned ratings reflect the Australian community's expectations and standards.
While the IARC tool currently only applies to games released on digital platforms, it marks a significant step towards reducing the cost and time burden associated with the traditional classification process. It also brings Australia's classification system closer to those of other countries, promoting consistency in the global video game industry.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian Classification Board (ACB) is the statutory body that classifies games for exhibition, sale or hire in Australia. The Board provides advice about the content of computer games, helping consumers make informed choices about what they read, view and play.
Ratings include MA 15+, R 18+ and X 18+. MA 15+ films and games can contain content such as sex scenes and drug use that may have a strong impact on the viewer. R 18+ and X 18+ are restricted to adults 18 years and over. X 18+ contains sexually explicit activity.
The Australian classification system is expensive. Physical games sold at retail in Australia must be classified by the Board for a significant fee, ranging from $430 to $2460, depending on the amount of work required or whether the game is demonstrated to the Board.
