Aus Gov't study: No link between games and behaviour.

[weemadando]

Minister of Home Affairs Press Release as a part of the ongoing review of game classifications. This is a meta-analysis of all available literature apparently.

Here's the highlights:

• *there is no conclusive evidence that violent computer games have a greater impact on players than other violent media, such as movies or music videos
  
  *there is stronger evidence of short-term effects from violent computer games, than long-term effects
  
  *some research finds that violent computer games are a small risk factor in aggressive behaviour over the short term, but these studies do not thoroughly explore other factors such as aggressive personality, family and peer influence and socio-economic status.

However, as always, the idiots poke their heads up:

A federal government review of research into the effects of violent video games has been too hasty to dismiss studies showing links to aggression, the Australian Christian Lobby says...

What, like those bits of literature from Craig A Anderson you are so fond of, that have been thoroughly shouted down by his peers for the inherent bias in his methodology?

I'm positively brimming over with excitement to see how fast this goes nowhere as it's written off by all the naysayers.

[Chardok]

You're brimming with excitement about an outpouring of apathy?

You aussies are a curious lot! I love your love of irony.

[Carinthium]

Don't stereotype too much from one example- I'm not particularly excited over it and I'm an Australian.

[Stark]

But you're a fake internet person.

It is pretty hilarious to see how this is clearly wrong because it disagrees with family fascists.

[Tanasinn]

*there is no conclusive evidence that violent computer games have a greater impact on players than other violent media, such as movies or music videos

This is interesting, since I know there's some belief that video games might be worse due to the added factor of operant conditioning.

*there is stronger evidence of short-term effects from violent computer games, than long-term effects

IIRC, this is also true of other violent media studies, especially with older subjects.

*some research finds that violent computer games are a small risk factor in aggressive behaviour over the short term, but these studies do not thoroughly explore other factors such as aggressive personality, family and peer influence and socio-economic status.

Other studies - longitudinal studies - have been suggestive of a long term effect where personality, SES, and family were examined and did not account for the effect on their own (Huesmann et al.'s Oak Park Longitudinal Study, though that was TV). Not that those things have no effect - quite the contrary.

[xt828]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the only thing standing in the way of the adoption of an R18+ rating for games was the SA A-G (Atkinson?) who was opposed to it on moral grounds or something equally unswayed by evidence or logic.

[Lusankya]

It was, until he got demoted last election due to his dickishness making him lose half his majority. The new A-G has no issue with R rated games, which means the ball's in the Federal Government's court. Which basically means that they're going to put it to a committee, because that's all Federal Labor are good for at the moment.

[Stark]

I'm not certain they'll even do that; not enough of people give a shit and they've got more important things to do, like massively mismanage their image.

[weemadando]

I'm not certain they'll even do that; not enough of people give a shit and they've got more important things to do, like massively mismanage their image.

Quick, get our pet lesbian to come out against gay marriage.

WAIT! NO! I've got a better idea!

Tell her to support gay marriage, but say that she supports the party position.

WE'RE GODDAMN GENIUSES.

[adam_grif]

I attended an open lecture at my Uni delivered by our games-degree coordinator a couple of months back. He came to largely the same conclusion. Watching the old people in the audience squirm as he told them all of this was delicious.

Quick, get our pet lesbian to come out against gay marriage.

WAIT! NO! I've got a better idea!

Tell her to support gay marriage, but say that she supports the party position.

WE'RE GODDAMN GENIUSES.

I admit, I took a bit more pleasure watching Penny Wong have a giant shit sandwhich shoved down her throat by her party than I probably should have.

[Stofsk]

Labor to back adults-only games classification

Updated 3 hours 0 minutes ago
Left 4 Dead (Valve Corporation)

The game Left 4 Dead was toned down so it would receive MA15+ classification (Valve Corporation)

* Video: Government supports R18+ games classification (ABC News)
* Related Story: Ministers delay decision on R-rated games
* Related Story: Modern Warfare 2 sparks ratings controversy
* Related Story: Gory zombie game toned down
* Related Story: Outrage over 'gory' Zombie game ban

The Federal Government has announced it will support a push for an adults-only classification for video games.

A decision on the matter is expected on Friday at a meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General.

A recent Galaxy survey has found strong support for an R18+ classification, with 80 per cent of people surveyed saying they believed an adult classification was needed, while a government public consultation on the matter received close to 60,000 responses - with 98 per cent in favour of an adult rating.

Currently in Australia, games classed above MA15+ are refused classification and cannot be brought into the country.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor says an adults-only classification would include games with excessive violence or adult themes.

"We need a better classification system to protect our teenagers from accessing certain information, and we need a similar arrangement like film because both forms of entertainment are converging," he said.

"We want to provide guidance for parents and remove unsuitable material from children and teenagers."

The decision has been welcomed by online freedom advocates.

Colin Jacobs from online advocacy group Electronic Frontiers Australia says an R18+ rating would be a huge improvement.

"Right now games that are borderline at best are often pushed into the lower category so that they can be sold in this country," he said.

We'll see what comes of this.