The ABC today reports that the Australian Classification Board has banned 220 games in Australia in just four months, a stark contrast to only 50 games banned between 1994-2014.
The dramatic increase appears to be a result of preparation for a new trial classification tool that begins on 1 July.
“In preparation for the pilot, a large ‘back catalogue’ of games has been classified — more than 150,000 to date,” an Australian Classification Board spokesperson advised.
The International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) tool, already in use by the UK, the USA, Canada, Brazil, and portions of Europe, asks game developers to categorise their own content using questions like, “Does the game contain any bodily functions such as belching, flatulence, or vomiting when used for humorous purposes?”
The tool will be used in Australia for a trial period of one year.
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