EA Games boss Frank Gibeau throws in his two cents towards Australia’s Attorneys General about their longtime unwillingness to allow classification for games aimed at those 18 and older.

Gibeau wrote an editorial piece for Games Industry where he said that “government policies that don’t allow for the rating of mature content in videogames effectively censor entertainment choices for adults.”

He goes on to say that the “policies show a poor understanding of today’s videogaming audience.”

“Existing legislation in Australia that limits age ratings of games to 16 demonstrates a distance between those policies and the reality of the videogame industry and the people that play interactive games in Australia today.

“The spectrum of gamers is as wide as the viewership of television, movies, theatre, and the readers of books. Governments don’t insist that all books be written for children, or that all television shows be cartoons. Adult gamers want their governments to treat them with the same respect they get as movie goers and book readers.

“Adult Australians should be allowed to choose the games they play, including those with mature themes.”

He went on to add: “We call on the Attorneys General in their next general session to vote unanimously in favour of the introduction of an 18+ rating for videogames to allow adults to make their own choices about the entertainment they choose to enjoy. The implementation of a new 18+ age rating classification is the right step for consumers, and for the industry, in Australia.”

What he’s really saying is, “Australia, time to join the rest of the world with video games. You’re being awfully Germany about this. Remember when they replaced human enemies with robots in Turok? What you’re doing is worse.”

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Why you ask?

Germany has recently suffered from several school shootings throughout their country, more recently a shooting in Winnenden on March 11.  But will banning violent video games help stop this kind of violence?

If this ban is passed, all German game developers would be forced to outsource the development of any game the law deems to be too violent. It’s either that or move your company outside the country.

So what would this kind of censorship mean for gaming in the future? How will the industry fair if Germans aren’t able to purchase their games retail? And can this be justified?

Will banning violent video games truly help any problems that the country is having with violence being exhibited in schools or elsewhere? This solution seems to be a lot like trying to put a band-aid on a bullet wound, it won’t heal the root of the problem.

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One politician in particular, it seems, has taken this to the extreme.

Google translation of Bavarian minister Joachim Herrmann’s own words:

“More and more children and young people are sinking every day for hours in this virtual world of violence. For school and training, they have no time and threatening, so for our society to get lost. Unfortunately, many parents have no idea of what permanent damage to their children here. Killerspiele contradict the consensus of our values on a society based on peaceful coexistence and are ostracized. In their harmful effects, they are on a par with drugs and child pornography, to ban them cope nobody in question.”

I’ll let you make the judgement call on that one yourselves.

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“We can confirm that Gears of War 2 will not be available in Germany or Japan indefinitely,” said the spokesperson.

This news may come as a shock to many, as the original was one of the first to crack Japan’s software charts when xbox 360 sales were at their lowest.

Gears had sold 33,212 copies in Japan in its first week and entered the software charts at number seven. The game has sold over 3m units worldwide and was the first title to overtake Halo 2 as the most popular game on Xbox Live.

The reasons why the game will not be released remain unclear. Though in May this year Germany’s ratings organisation declined to issue the game an age certificate.

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Publisher Sega and developer Platinum Games will regularly provide the ESRB with up-to-date code, making the board “part of the process” in the gorefest’s development.

Those worried about the gaming being censorced shouldn’t worry, as Madworld is still shooting for the highest M rating possible.

The game launches in March

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The Wii, when used well, is still unique amongst the current generation of consoles to immerse gamers in games in new and interesting ways. Video games, also, are powerful in the way that they can appeal to all… well, most of… our senses; sight, touch, sound, even taste back in the old days.

But of all the human senses, there’s one that games have long neglected to accommodate.

Smell.

Chinese hardware developers AreusTech have invented a rather original accessory for the Wii, the uniquely named “Smells like Wii Spirit”, which is capable of emitting unique scents depending on the games you’re playing.

Examples:
Super Mario Galaxy: Sweet, aromatic, flowery
Wii Sports / Wii Fit: The pleasant aroma of sweat
Tiger Woods: freshly mowed grass

No word yet on where in the world this product will be distributed to. Don’t worry though, you’ll know. You’ll smell it coming a mile off.

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