The Australian Government has announced changes to the way video games are classified in Australia. Starting from September 22nd, 2024, two new rules will apply to games that include “in-game purchases with an element of chance,” such as loot boxes [now M], and games that feature “simulated gambling,” like casino games [now R18+].

all 20 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] Strayce@lemmy.sdf.org 17 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Be cool if they could do something about the amount of gambling ads attached to sports. But no, it must be video games that are bad.

Tbh I'm glad they're recognizing loot boxes as a problem, but this feels backwards. Like, a single, completely optional slot machine in an RPG that only takes and pays out in in-game currency gets you an R rating, but a predatory real-money gatcha mechanic is only worth an M.

[–] eureka@aussie.zone 1 points 10 months ago

Be cool if they could do something about the amount of gambling ads attached to sports. But no, it must be video games that are bad.

Yes. And on the other hand, the video game loot boxes are gambling itself, ads are bad enough.

[–] brisk@aussie.zone 13 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Simulated gambling in video games: R18+

Actual gambling in video games: M

...what?

[–] PetulantBandicoot@aussie.zone 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Pokemon Red and Blue being R18+ if they ever re-released would be funny as hell.

[–] lkdm@programming.dev 6 points 10 months ago

Waiting for them to ban pokies any day now

[–] TassieTosser@aussie.zone 5 points 10 months ago

Good. The next step would be taxing and regulating loot box rubbish like casinos. Published and audited odds, fixed payout ratios, etc.

[–] Zagorath@aussie.zone 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

and games that feature “simulated gambling,” like casino games [now R18+]

So Pokémon Sapphire would be an R18+ game if released in 2025, then? That's fucking absurd. Gambling with in-game currency to win in-game currency or items in a single-player game should not have any impact on its rating. It gets more complicated if there are inter-personal dynamics, and obviously if real money is involved that completely changes the equation. But as that quote explains it, it's absurd.