If you do not know who South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson is, allow me: He’s a displaced puritan who is single-handedly responsible for implimenting a ratings system that caters to fifteen year-olds.

And only fifteen year-olds.

In Australia there have been several attempts to create an additional rating for the 18+ age bracket, but Atkinson has been there to smack those attempts down each and every time — even though 83% of people in a recent Aussie poll said they would welcome a new 18+ rating. So how will Atkinson keep the masses in line and squash any discussion of a 18+ rating?

By sparking fears of rape, torture and suicide bombings, of course:

The voters of Croydon will now be asked directly whether they want interactive games in which gamers score points by raping a mother and daughter, blowing themselves up, torturing human figures . . . killing people and taking drugs to improve their sporting prowess

Atkinson may face competition from David Doe, a 30-year-old games tester whose primary goal is to oust Atkinson and introduce a R18+ game classification. Doe requires 150 signatures so that his party, Gamers4Croydon, is officially recognized on the ballot. So far, he is more than halfway to that goal.

I don’t live in Australia (nor would I want to — no offense), but best of luck to this guy and may he hopefully bring the great outback into the 21st century. Or at least the 1980s.

Popularity: 1% [?]