Video Games

Timeline

1976: ‘Deathrace’ encouraged players to run over gremlins

1983: ‘Cluster’s Revenge’ player required to avoid arrows and rape a Native American woman tied to a cactus

1993: ‘Mortal Kombat’ caused a media storm2004: ‘Manhunt’ was wrongly implicated in the murder

of Stefan Pakeerah2007: ‘Manhunt 2’ is rejected by BBFC for constantly

encouraging visceral killing with little distancing.2011: ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’ is biggest video

game of all time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xjCdN_rWCE

BBFC: Video Game Classification

Others include: ‘Harvester’ was first game to be cut by BBFC‘The Punisher’ had changes made to minimise

effects of brutal and sadistic interrogations

BBFC: Video Game Classification

These controversial games resulted in tabloid newspapers calling for all games to come under the VRA

Following this, the industry set up a voluntary rating system administered by the Video Standards Council

Today, the pan-European PEGI system is in place

Now games that do no require a mandatory BBFC rating receive the voluntary PEGI one instead

How The Games Are Classified

Games submitted then tested by specialists in the IT department

The titles of the games are examinedThe actual game is played for up to five hoursOnce finished playing, the team discuss any

issues that have arisen The decision is then made in line with the

BBFC’s guidelines

The Byron Report

Recognise the popularity of games in young people and children but are concerned over potentially inappropriate material e.g. Violence

See a generational divide amongst parents and their children

Propose that there should be a national strategy for child Internet safety which involves better self-regulation and provision of information and education for children and families

Propose a reformation of the classification system for video games stating that gaming providers should raise awareness of what is in games

Parents Want Independent Regulation

Parents concerned about content of video games

Parents think video games may affect behaviour of some children

Parents think video games should be regulated by an independent regulator

Parents think video game ratings should reflect the concerns of UK parents

Parents think it would help them if video games used same ratings as films and DVD’s

Games Classification-For or Against

For Against

There are examples of young people’s behaviour being affected by playing video games. Shouldn’t we prevent that from happening?

Shouldn’t we just leave the decision for parents to choose what they want to buy for their child rather than have a national decision forced upon them?

75% of parents want video games to be classified so shouldn’t we respect their concerns?

The extreme cases in which the young person has taken the game far too seriously and killed someone have not been proven enough. No strong evidence.

The cost of regulating the way the Byron report wants will be costly for the BBFC

Other factors contribute too, such as watching violence on T.V. (WWE etc.)