Current Events > Why is the US the ONLY country where an 18 rating to taboo for media?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Every other country has a usable 18 rating for movies, games and even music or books, it can be sold in stores and bought by anyone with ID, but in the US there are no movies or games rated 18 sold in any stores minus porn shops, a game can in Europe can get released with a PEGI 18 rating but in the US the game will have to be heavily censored to get an M rating which is for 17 and up. A few examples are Indigo Prophesy, which was given an AO rating and heavily censored in the US, while released with a PEGI 16 and BBFC 15 totally uncut. Leisure Suit Larry MCL, censored for an M rating in the US till the uncut PC release, yet uncut and 18 rated on consoles uncut showing everything.

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America

Sex is bad, violence is good
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Most American adults can't handle adult content.

If we're talking video games, the console companies are in a Mexican standoff and none of the three want to be the one to pull the trigger and allow AO games on their devices, because that will bring negative press.

EDIT: Also the US is not remotely the only country in this boat. Germany, Japan, and many others have far more strict rules with regards to content.

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Aki_Sora posted...

America

Sex is bad, violence is good

*Zardoz intensifies*

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CyricZ posted...

If we're talking video games, the console companies are in a Mexican standoff and none of the three want to be the one to pull the trigger and allow AO games on their devices, because that will bring negative press.

EDIT: Also the US is not remotely the only country in this boat. Germany, Japan, and many others have far more strict rules with regards to content.

yeah but tc is asking why the 18+ rating is being avoided. plenty of games are 18+ in germany

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I hVe litterally seen american adults saying age of consent should be 25 and call people who are 30 who date 21 years old very insulting words. American is just one of the most hypocritical puritarian country while simultaneously being one of those that lecture people the most

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Choco posted...

yeah but tc is asking why the 18+ rating is being avoided. plenty of games are 18+ in germany

But just like the AO rating in the US, getting an 18+ under the German USK is a kiss of death, and no store will carry such a game, as I understand it. The fact that plenty of games get the 18+ rating shows that they're even more strict than the US.

So it contradicts TC's claim that the US is "the only country where an 18 rating to taboo for media", whatever that means.

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CyricZ posted...

But just like the AO rating in the US, getting an 18+ under the German USK is a kiss of death, and no store will carry such a game, as I understand it. The fact that plenty of games get the 18+ rating shows that they're even more strict than the US.

So it contradicts TC's claim that the US is "the only country where an 18 rating to taboo for media", whatever that means.

idk if things changed for the worse in the last few years but GTAV did pretty well in germany (and obviously had an 18+ rating)

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CyricZ posted...

But just like the AO rating in the US, getting an 18+ under the German USK is a kiss of death, and no store will carry such a game, as I understand it. The fact that plenty of games get the 18+ rating shows that they're even more strict than the US.

So it contradicts TC's claim that the US is "the only country where an 18 rating to taboo for media", whatever that means.

Unrated games are not stocked on shelves you need to ask for them under the desk, 18+ games are.

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I think the big issue for games is how close the M and AO ages are. M is 17+ while AO is 18+, how much of a difference is there between a 17 year old and an 18 year old?

Because our de facto 18 rating is R/M/TV-MA

those say 17+ But functionally are the same content you see in the 18+ ratings in other countries

the things that would make games/movies AO/NC-17/etc would just get the games flat out banned in other countries

and the examples you give in the OP are all old ass games so not really relevant. indigo prophecy for example was re released uncensored recently

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The United States is the only nation in the world to appropriately recognize the ongoing procreation of our species as a sinful act.

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Cheater87 posted...

Unrated games are not stocked on shelves you need to ask for them under the desk, 18+ games are.

This is confirmed for Germany? Okay, I wasn't aware. I searched for some info but a lot of it is pretty old.

JE19426 posted...

I think the big issue for games is how close the M and AO ages are. M is 17+ while AO is 18+, how much of a difference is there between a 17 year old and an 18 year old?

Everything all the way up to M is a soft "suggestion", while once you hit AO you're actually brushing up against actual laws, such as pornography laws, gambling laws, and so on.

I feel pretty confident T and M were meant to coincide with MPAA ratings. AO would be the "NC-17" equivalent.

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CyricZ posted...

If we're talking video games, the console companies are in a Mexican standoff and none of the three want to be the one to pull the trigger and allow AO games on their devices, because that will bring negative press.

The great irony is that Nintendo will probably be first.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHqh1EIwpCo&vl=en-US

Questionmarktarius posted...

The great irony is that Nintendo will probably be first.

Yeah I have no clue what that's all about. That YT video is not an official Nintendo video, by the way. It's a fan channel. It uses the ESRB rating for the PC version, and there's no official Switch rating.

Could be an elaborate prank by the devs. Or perhaps it's being changed for when it comes to the Switch.

In short, I don't take this at complete face value.

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CyricZ posted...

In short, I don't take this at complete face value.

https://twitter.com/DestCreat_Team/status/1248932616973189120

M in the US is equivalent to both PEGI 16 and 18. It's a different system.

Doesn't Australia have essentially a soft ban on games with too much violence, drug use, or adult content by just not considering certain games for certification?

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Questionmarktarius posted...

CyricZ posted...

Could be an elaborate prank by the devs

Which could certainly include a photo of their game running on a Switch.

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Aki_Sora posted...

America

Sex is bad, violence is good

Aki_Sora posted...

America

Sex is bad, violence is good

The Punisher was threatened with an AO rating for violence and was censored.

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Aki_Sora posted...

America

Sex is bad, violence is good

Your effeminate squeamishness and constant whining is probably why we rule over you.

Background_Guy posted...

Your effeminate squeamishness and constant whining is probably why we rule over you.

this is a neckbeard post

Background_Guy posted...

Your effeminate squeamishness and constant whining is probably why we rule over you.

?

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Odoylerules posted...

this is a neckbeard post

It's true tho