The UK's ESA equivalent, Elspa (The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association), has announced a website aimed at informing parents about game ratings. The move can be seen as a preemptive strike, perhaps in response to recent government involvement here in the States. Elspa's director general said, "We believe that through the askaboutgames website parents will see that the games industry is as well regulated as all other entertainment mediums." The catalyst in the UK was when the death of a 14 year-old was blamed on Rockstar's controversial title Manhunt, which was rated 18 by Elspa.
Educating parents is a much better solution than having the government decide what games you and/or your children should play; however, it still begs the question of why parents can't read (or don't care about) the ratings on the box. You bought the title for your child, ipso facto you should have been aware of its content. You wouldn't buy your kid arsenic for his lunchbox then cry foul. And it's not just because it has a skull and crossbones on it.
[Thanks Chris]
