bob269

Cameron hints at ban on violent video games | Special Reports | Guardian Unlimited Politics

I think not....What an idiot

Oh, and lets not turn this in to a political debate, all parties have done stupid things in the past.

StickyMicky

will this mean i cant play gears of war

messiah

So basically to ban just about every first person shooter?

Don't think it'll happen, British game development is one of the world leaders and not even the Tories are dumb enough scupper a success story.

The industry seems pretty self regulating for the most part - Manhunt 2 being an example - but spare a thought for Singapore, they've had BioShock banned...

Iain Young

The thing I don't get is that there is just as much (or even more) violence in films, tv drama, and even the news as there is in computer games, but nobody ever talks about banning them...

messiah

yeah - look at poor old Patrick in Eastenders* - and thats on at primetime...


(*not that I watch eastenders...)

PeteBrant

eh?

Did you read the first post?

David Cameron said today that companies which make music videos, films and computer games

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In any event, the industry is already regulated by the BBFC. I see no need to regulate it further.

This is just one more in a never ending list of soundbites and bandwagon jumping by that complete moron Cameron. Nothing will come of it.

Iain Young

D'oh, it's still early (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it )

PeteBrant

Sorry mate, I had to pick up on it.


In other news, did you see Manhunt 2 has got a rating in the states?

Importing will always be an option if the UK/Europe decide to become arseholes - And in an ever increasingly global market, you can't stop it.

As I said though, I think this is just political posturing, nothing will come of it.

bob269

he mentions movies and music videos aswell, however i guess games are worse because its you pulling the trigger etc.

Without games to vent anger on maybe more psycho's/unstable folk will turn to real life to express their violent urges.

As stated tho i doubt anything will happen and he's just making himself more unpopular with such comments.

PeteBrant

Depends on your standpoint. I can imagine the average Daily Mail reader being delighted with his new stance.

bob269

Well this is true, it's often said old people vote in mass numbers

VoteConservative!

I think what hes saying is that violent games etc should all be listed as 18, such as shooters that are 12's and 15's. Quite a few games out there were you can stab and shoot people yet are only rated at 15 and possibly 11/12

16vmarc

They'll have to prise Resident Evil from my cold, dead, headless, blood covered body.

PeteBrant

Well, it's not actually "you" doing it - It's like, a collection of pixels. By 12 or15 people realise that, long before that actually.

But then I have never agreed with some arbitary panel setting age limits for media - and I certainly don' agree with idiot politicians setting it.

messiah

It's all very well setting age limits on games, but I have only witnessed once a shop refusing to sell a game to a minor - that was Game in Carlisle not selling one of the GTA series to someone who looked about 8, but then his dad just said, "don't worry, we'll go get it from Virgin..."

Some responsibilty should lie with the parents, most of the time it'll be them shelling out £40 for a game and not the kid.

Got a bloke on my friends list who's wife banned him getting Gears Of War & BioShock in case their 11 yr old son got hold of it...poor sod.

bob269

Just out of interest does the 360 age settings thingy in the profile prevent 18 games from being played?

PeteBrant

Theres nothign that annoys me more than some spotty game assistant trying to tell me what I can and cannot buy for my kids.

THe warning on the box is an advisory, nothing more. If I as a parent decide to buy "Muirder death kill 23" for my child then that's that. The assistant can do nothing to stop me.

I mkae the decisions as to what my kids play, not some panel, and certainly not some game employee.

And as it stands, there has not been a commercial game released yet that I would feel uncomfortable with my kids playing.

DanPhillips

GTA ? Manhunt? Bioshock?

Anyone who doesn't understand the real world shouldn't be playing something where you get what you want by murdering/stealing...

I don't let my kids play some games...Anything that trys to realistically portray violence isn't really suitable.

Might as well let them watch 18+ movies as well.

Cheers

Dan

messiah

The trick is knowing when your kids realise its supposed to be a fantasy world and not something which they should try to recreate in the playground.

bob269

Its also down to parenting to let the kids know that it's just a video game and not acceptable in real life. I've played video games since around 13 and never once felt compelled to kill/stab/hit people because of it.

As for Bioshock, i'd doubt kids would be able to mimic it in real life, GTA altho tries to be realistic is still far fetched, and Manhunt was just crap

DanPhillips

That's because you are probably quite smart (able to reason, read and type anyway)

Bioshock has small children being beaten in it, it's very entertaining because as an adult I can see why but it's not something I'd let my kids play.

Cheers

Dan

PeteBrant

Yup

Although they werent really interested in Manhunt

Y'see if you don't understand this by, say, 9, you never will.


I do.

Didn't you watch over 18 movies when you were 13, 14?

Both my kids are well adjusted normal teenagers. Playing games rated 18+ has done them no harm whatsoever. In fact, by not making a taboo out of them, they now don't want something immediatly because it has an 18 rating, they want stuff based on the merits of the game/film - Not based on its age rating.

All 18 rating are, is a panel saying "in general" people should not be allowed to watch this if they are under 18.

And here is the utter ridiculousness of it all:

You are legally allowed to have sex and marry at 16. But you aren't allowed to watch it on the telly.

You are allowed to join the Army and go and defend your country at 16, but you aren't allowed to play GTA

Absolutely ****ing mental.

DanPhillips

I agree, unfortuneatly the law can't take into account that your kids are mature enough to be exposed to material that others might find disturbing or that it might have an adverse effect on them.

It has to be illegal to show some stuff to kids, it can't be advisory and it can't be fair AFAIK if you let your kids play/watch something that is rated 18 it is an offence, might be wrong...but I do seem to remember a case in Birmingham where an uncle was showing **** to a 7 year old, he didn't do anything else but was sent down for it.


Anyway, David Cameron what a ***

Cheers

Dan

PeteBrant

The BBFC ratings are advisories - The local council sets the actual ratings, but very rarely deviates from the BBFC advisory.

One the certificate is set, it is illegal for people under that age to rent, buy, or attend a public performance of that media. It is not iilegal for me to buy the item, and then allow my kids to play it. I become the "local council" in effect.

Of course, in the example you give, there are extreme cases, and these are dealt with under abuse laws - not specifically "showing an underage person naughty films"

DanPhillips

So showing something that's sexual, something that people/kids are probably going to experiment with/experience even before they are 18 is abuse but allowing them to see and even particpate in re-creations of acts of violence and murder isn't.

Interesting...


Cheers

Dan

PeteBrant

Well sex has always been the great taboo.

You dont see Restricted film certificates being given to ultra violent films - Only to hardcore pornography.

It's another example of how ridiculous the whole system is.

Have a film where people are being tortured horribly, like, in say, Hostel, and thats fine on an 18 on general release.

Show an erect ***** and you'll never get it past the censors and have to go to specialist cinemas with a restricted rating.

Like is said, absolutely ****ing mental, and why I place no credence whatsoever in BBFC ratings.

bob269

Well **** is (somewhat) real where as shooting/killing in movies is "just a movie", now snuff movies thats different.

GaryK

The problem is there is little difference between video games and real life. Teenager shoots someone in a game, nothing happens. Teenager shoots someone in real life, gets caught...nothing happens.

This country is becoming the toilet of the world.

16vmarc

I rented A Nightmare On Elm Street with my Mum when I was 10.

Of course ever since I've had nightmares with some blade fingered maniac trying to kill me and I've hacked up a few people over the years but apart from that it hasn't affected me.

I see nothing wrong in renting/buying 18 rated games and videos for your kids as long as you know they realise that it isn't real life and if these things were done in real life somebody is going to get hurt or even killed.

At the end of the day you probably can't stop kids getting their hands on this stuff so you might as well make sure they understand whats real and what isn't.

I remember when I was at school we'd all discuss the latest horror films etc, of course back then we didn't have gory video games though!

Before anyone says, I'm all for censorship in the correct context - Theres certain subjects that should be left alone. Killing zombies, gangsters etc is perfectly acceptable in my opinion.

VoteConservative!

they say violent games desensitizes the kids with supposed scientific proof to this going by brain activity scans. Some people also blames games such as gran turismo for the drastic rise in young males crashing their cars.

Your guys Opinions on this? Good thread by the way.