British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is uncomfortable with the number of knives in violent video games, and hopes developers will begin to reconsider content in response to fatal stabbings that occurred late last year, The Sun reports this week.
Brown is advocating a new zero-tolerance policy for individuals found carrying blades with an intent to do harm. This action comes in response to knife-related fatalities in the UK, specifically three tragedies that occurred over the last weeks in December. Along with this zero-tolerance message, Brown expressed concern over the number of video game characters who wield knives, and asks the industry to address its "responsibility to society."
It's worth noting that though Brown wishes for the industry to reconsider the level of violence in games, he does not wish to introduce censorship or interfere on a State level.
Reader Comments (76)
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 8:35AM baby sea tuna said
But without knives to fend off attacks, we'd probably all be speakin Rush'n right about now!
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 8:39AM Slaziman said
I was just about to complain about seeing that image yet again, hahaha well played Joystiq!
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 8:42AM (Unverified) said
They should ban guns, then people wouldn't be killing each other....oh, wait....
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 2:09PM Crono141 said
Except with fishing, the fish ends up dead (and eaten), or thrown back. Fish have no pain receptors in their mouths where the hook catches.
Taxidermy: The animal is already dead.
Declawing: Maiming your pets feet, leaving them permanently deformed, so you don't have to worry about a scratched up couch.
yeah, those are all totally equivalent.
Reply
Taxidermy: The animal is already dead.
Declawing: Maiming your pets feet, leaving them permanently deformed, so you don't have to worry about a scratched up couch.
yeah, those are all totally equivalent.
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 8:46AM (Unverified) said
Swords! They'll cut you wide open!
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 8:53AM (Unverified) said
I remember when my school adopted a zero tolerence policy... and I had to spend a couple days in detention from having one of these ( http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41BN0A3KYAL._AA280_.jpg ) deadly objects in my lunchbox. Thanks god they caught me before I could hurt others
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 9:24AM baby sea tuna said
Well, obviously. I mean, it looks like something out of one of those "Saw" movies!
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Posted: Jan 15th 2008 11:43AM (Unverified) said
knowing the saw movies... I wouldn't be surprised if one was actually in there
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Posted: Jan 15th 2008 8:57AM (Unverified) said
I knifed some peeps last night in some CS:Source Gungame... good times.
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 9:13AM tcc3 said
Did you know that paranormal activity increased sharply in the 80's just when Pacman's popularity was at its peak? Its true!
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 9:17AM proxifuel said
Yeah it has helped alot actually, the murder rate per 1000 citizens is just a fraction in the UK of that in the USA.
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 9:17AM (Unverified) said
As much as I love my country, It ain't half run by an idiot. Games probably have very little to do with knife crime. Alot less than TV and Film. It's the chav/gang culture thats the problem.
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 5:41PM (Unverified) said
Per capita, England tops the US in violent crime.
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Posted: Jan 15th 2008 9:19AM (Unverified) said
At least we dont have the annual school shootings that seem so prevalent in your country...
Anyway, Brown's got the right ideas, but he's going about them in the wrong way. Most people carry knives these days because they're worried about getting knifed themselves. Video games have nothing to do with this at all. Though at least he says the state getting involved would not be the right way to go.
Anyway, Brown's got the right ideas, but he's going about them in the wrong way. Most people carry knives these days because they're worried about getting knifed themselves. Video games have nothing to do with this at all. Though at least he says the state getting involved would not be the right way to go.
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 9:28AM SSUK said
You see, to every Briton over 30 years old, "Video game" translates to "Whatever Rockstar Games produces". Thus, we should ignore them on whatever they think on video games.
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 9:32AM (Unverified) said
He keeps them coming his rediculous and pointless statements. To give our American or generally non British friends on here some context. Brown's party is seriously down in the polls and getting their behind kicked by the Conservative party. He's getting a tad desperate as this "knife speech" is part of his 3rd relaunch since november. The nannying, interfereing Id card weilding (bloody high taxing) closet socialists are going down big time.
Video games are a soft easy topic for a beaten man.
Video games are a soft easy topic for a beaten man.
Posted: Jan 16th 2008 2:01AM ThornedVenom said
Their legal loophole is having a queen and lords in a democracy.
Reply
Posted: Jan 16th 2008 8:47AM Spakkenkhrist said
In the UK we vote for a party represented by the party leader, therefore if the party leader steps down/is fired/dies etc. another leader is elected by the party.
Reply
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 9:36AM R0ck said
Remember, knives don't kill people, ah--never mind...!
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 9:41AM (Unverified) said
This is possibly the most sensible politicians statement on violence in videogames. He does not blame them, he does not threaten censorship. He simply asks to reconsider. Although there aren't many games focused on knifes, guns are all the rage.
This is a videogames blogs so stop using it to air your political beliefs. Noone cares about your position on the Labour party. This is aimed at commenters and not Joystiq.
This is a videogames blogs so stop using it to air your political beliefs. Noone cares about your position on the Labour party. This is aimed at commenters and not Joystiq.
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 10:07AM (Unverified) said
"Reconsider" is political speak for "do it or we will do it for you". This is the first shot so he can later claim he tried "raising his concerns but talks failed so regretfully he needs to step things up. Oh, and think of the children."
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Posted: Jan 15th 2008 10:03AM Crono141 said
You don't have annual school shootings because your countries population is a small fraction of ours. Add more people, add more crazies. Its the law of averages.
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 10:04AM (Unverified) said
The British government has talked about banning knives before. They even got Jamie Oliver to publicly state chefs can do perfectly well with normal size knives and don't need cleavers.
@Daniel D
The deaths per capita in the UK has been higher than the US for many years. It exploded after the UK gun bans became more draconian.
@Daniel D
The deaths per capita in the UK has been higher than the US for many years. It exploded after the UK gun bans became more draconian.
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 10:09AM Sir SpankalotUK said
We need a modern day Guy Fawkes, the crap our beloved politicians keep coming out with it just pathetic.
All we need now is the handbook on how to be the model citizen.
All we need now is the handbook on how to be the model citizen.
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 10:41AM (Unverified) said
The world needs main modern day Guy Fawkes.
The problem is that any modern day Guy Fawkes, would be branded as a terrorist, there would have to be a change in the world before a modern day Guy Fawkes would be seen as a revolutionary.
Reply
The problem is that any modern day Guy Fawkes, would be branded as a terrorist, there would have to be a change in the world before a modern day Guy Fawkes would be seen as a revolutionary.
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 10:15AM (Unverified) said
FACT: The UK is a police state.
FACT: Everything you see in V for Vendetta, Children of Men, etc. is the future of England.
FACT: This is why the USA became a country. This and taxes. Well, also some other reasons that are too complicated to list in a 3-point "FACT" sheet.
FACT: Everything you see in V for Vendetta, Children of Men, etc. is the future of England.
FACT: This is why the USA became a country. This and taxes. Well, also some other reasons that are too complicated to list in a 3-point "FACT" sheet.
Posted: Jan 16th 2008 1:58AM ThornedVenom said
FACT: Everything you see in V for Vendetta, Children of Men, etc. is the future of England
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!
Reply
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 10:37AM Nigeria said
The Sun newspaper is the journalistic equivalent of paying for re-spawaning haemorrhoids attached to your eyes which bleed without remorse.
Basically, The Sun sucks.
And speaking as a Londoner, there is no knife problem, it's just an exaggeration to distract the public from important things. Like boredom.
Basically, The Sun sucks.
And speaking as a Londoner, there is no knife problem, it's just an exaggeration to distract the public from important things. Like boredom.
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 10:57AM Nigeria said
I'm not superman, but I genuinely have no feeling of unease when walking past groups of "chavs".
There is no hostility on the streets on London, it really is a myth. I know of nobody personally who has been attacked in the last couple of years.
London is one of the safest cities in the world. Why are we always complaining?
Reply
There is no hostility on the streets on London, it really is a myth. I know of nobody personally who has been attacked in the last couple of years.
London is one of the safest cities in the world. Why are we always complaining?
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 10:57AM Nigeria said
I'm not superman, but I genuinely have no feeling of unease when walking past groups of "chavs".
There is no hostility on the streets on London, it really is a myth. I know of nobody personally who has been attacked in the last couple of years.
London is one of the safest cities in the world. Why are we always complaining?
Reply
There is no hostility on the streets on London, it really is a myth. I know of nobody personally who has been attacked in the last couple of years.
London is one of the safest cities in the world. Why are we always complaining?
Posted: Jan 16th 2008 2:03AM ThornedVenom said
You are always complaining because France is across the Channel.
And because your weather sucks.
Reply
And because your weather sucks.
Posted: Jan 16th 2008 6:41AM (Unverified) said
Nope. They just use a crow bar, break your legs at 4pm and steal all your shit while they kick and spit on your. Fellow friend of mine, 2 years ago, London.
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Posted: Jan 16th 2008 11:51AM Nigeria said
Yeah that's really sad.
But for every horror story like that another couple million people live in peace.
I don't mean to diminish your friends pain but that really is just an anomaly in what is a rather safe city (considering the amount of people living here).
Reply
But for every horror story like that another couple million people live in peace.
I don't mean to diminish your friends pain but that really is just an anomaly in what is a rather safe city (considering the amount of people living here).
Posted: Jan 15th 2008 11:06AM wirikidor said
Just goes to show you that no matter if you take away peoples guns or knives, people will still find ways to kill other people.
After this let's see how many death by vehicle or being pushed out of a tall building goes up.
Oh yeah, and ban all forms of martial arts from video games also.
After this let's see how many death by vehicle or being pushed out of a tall building goes up.
Oh yeah, and ban all forms of martial arts from video games also.
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