Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01424:schedule:1:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01424
Segment Type: schedule
Provision Reference: sch 1 (pt 2/8)
Character Range: 4307–7267

to take account of community concerns about:
       (i) depictions that condone or incite violence, particularly sexual violence; and
       (ii) the portrayal of persons in a demeaning manner.

Consumer advice

The Act requires the provision of consumer advice about the content of computer games that are classified by the Classification Board or in accordance with a different method authorised under the Act.  This information helps consumers make informed choices.

The Guidelines

Using the Guidelines: Essential principles

Three essential principles underlie the use of the Guidelines:
    * the importance of context
    * assessing impact
    * the six classifiable elements

Each classification category takes a similar form.  It begins with an "impact test" that determines the threshold for the category.  It then lists the six classifiable elements, with a statement limiting the content of each element.

Importance of context

Context is crucial in determining whether a classifiable element is justified by the story-line or themes.  In particular, the way in which important social issues are dealt with may require a mature or adult perspective.  This means that material that falls into a particular classification category in one context may fall outside it in another.

Assessing impact

The Guidelines use the following hierarchy of impact:
    * very mild   - G
    * mild    - PG
    * moderate   - M
    * strong  - MA 15+
    * high   - R 18+
    * very high   - RC

Assessing the impact of material requires considering not only the treatment of individual classifiable elements but also their cumulative effect.  It also requires considering the purpose and tone of a sequence.

Impact may be higher where a scene or game-play sequence
       * contains greater detail, including the use of close-ups and slow motion
       * uses accentuation techniques, such as lighting, perspective and resolution
       * uses special effects, such as lighting and sound, resolution, colour, size of image, characterisation and tone
       * is prolonged
       * is repeated frequently
       * is realistic, rather than stylised
       * is highly interactive
       * links incentives or rewards to high impact elements.

Impact may be lessened where reference to a classifiable element is verbal rather than visual.  Also, some visual impacts have less impact than others: for example, an incidental depiction may have less impact than a direct one.

Interactivity and computer games
Interactivity is an important consideration that must be taken into account when classifying computer games.  This is because there are differences in what some sections of the community condone in relation to passive viewing or the effects passive viewing may have on the viewer (as may occur in a film) compared to actively controlling outcomes by making choices to take or not take action.

Due to the interactive nature of computer games and the