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For a while now, Australia's ratings system has been causing a few headaches for some video game publishers. For years, the highest rating, MA15+, has been making it hard for games that surpass that in adult content (like, say, EA's Syndicate reboot) to even be sold in the country.

But now that has changed, as it was confirmed tomorrow (Australia time, that is) that the Australian Parliament has passed a new R18+ rating for games, something that they've been up and down about for a long time.

"These are important reforms over 10 years in the making," said Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare. "The R18+ category will inform consumers, parents and retailers about which games are not suitable for minors to play and will prevent minors from purchasing unsuitable material. The reforms also mean that adults are able to choose what games they play within the bounds of the law."

Not only will this allow games like Syndicate to be sold in the country without much hassle, by bringing in the R18+ rating, classification for video games will be in line with the rest of the classification system currently used for films and such, not to mention it makes Australia more in line with international standards.

According to Senator George Brandis, it makes sense for the system to be uniform, "classifying all media according to a single set of criteria".

"The passage of this bill will no doubt be welcomed by adult gamers all across Australia," Brandis told the Senate. "The industry has been waiting for this change for some time."

The introduction of the R18+ rating is set to begin on January 1, 2013. Until then, feel free to speculate on the matter in the comment section below.

Source: News.com

Link: "EA and Starbreeze Studios’ Syndicate refused classification in Australia"

Peter Grimm A writer, journalist, and aspiring storyteller, Peter Grimm has been gaming since the days of the Nintendo 64, and reporting on the goings-on in the World of Gaming since late 2011. His base of writing operations is located within the void between Here and There, or so he would have you think.

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