Joystiq

EA: Byron regulations may delay games for UK

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:15:00 EST

Electronic Arts' UK general manager, Keith Ramsdale, tells GI.biz that the proposed game rating alterations asked for in the Byron Review will delay game releases in the country. Ramsdale believes the changes are an "unnecessary layer of administration" to the process. The main change requested in the Byron Review is that any game above a 12+ certification would need to be reviewed by the BBFC; currently the organization only takes on games flagged to have sex, violence or criminal activity.

Ramsdale asks that the government poll consumers on the matter. Meanwhile, publishers continue to back the continent-covering PEGI system. As it has stated before, the BBFC is financially compensated by publishers for its work, and so doesn't expect to encounter problems when hiring more staff to keep up with a greater influx of games. So, not only will the group hire more people to keep up with the work load, but the new rules would also be a cash boom for the organization.

EA: Byron regulations may delay games for UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

ELSPA comments on UK's Byron Review

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Business

After the Daily Mail's startlingly incompetent take on Dr. Tanya Byron's recently published review of games and internet media in the UK, we're more than happy to see less dubious discourse emanating from the Entertainment and Leisure Publishers Association. Speaking to MCV, ELSPA director general Paul Jackson cited several concerns with the report, chief among them being its recommendation of two, potentially confusing ratings systems.

"The way the proposals currently stand, there will be a BBFC standard on packaged goods - the number of which will presumably get smaller as gaming goes more online - and there will be the PEGI standard online when you're downloading," said Jackson. "We think it will be clearer if there was one standard." Jackson suggested that the report needed to be more "future-proof" and more considerate of the growing number of games being sold online. "It's incredibly important that we protect children and to do that we need to future-proof this process, but it's not quite there yet."

Also not quite there yet is the director general's belief that the industry alone should foot the bill for a consumer ratings education campaign. "I want to make it completely clear that a public marketing programme has been key all along in the educational process," he said. "We'll be talking to the Government about who pays for what. We're very keen to play our part, but all of the stakeholders needs to step up to the plate."

ELSPA comments on UK's Byron Review originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

UK TV presenter delivers 'chilling verdict' on violent games

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Hacks, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360

Call it a hunch, but we're not convinced that UK television presenter, Anne Diamond, is an ideal choice to "review" games which she says make her "hair stand on end." Though she brushes off several titles which are "so mindless it would be hard to see them as a destructive influence," the ones with "gratuitous use of violence and bloodthirsty imagery" really draw her ire. Honestly, we'd be bitter too if we had copies of Dead Rising LODGED IN OUR SHOULDERS.

In a response to Thursday's publication of a Dr. Tanya Byron-led review of video game violence, the UK's Daily Mail has delivered a one-two punch of sensationalist misinterpretation ("allowing children to play on computers unsupervised is as dangerous as letting them play outside on their own") and misguided scaremongering, offering the task of analyzing and rating already-rated violent video games to Diamond. Her "chilling" verdicts are all neatly assembled below a snap of kids playing the infinitely sinister Mario Kart 64.

After glossing over Dead or Alive 4 (she wasn't keen on playing as "a martial artist in the fantasy Ninja-style mode"), she becomes truly horrified by a game that "wallows in violence for violence's sake." This dubious honor goes to Resident Evil 4 which, in case you forgot, is about "a cataclysmic chemical attack" spawning legions of zombies which "don't stop until you shoot them in the face or slash their arms off."

"This game shouldn't be allowed to be sold, even adults," says a Diamond in the rush to pass judgment. After being "stabbed to death with pitchforks amid fountains of [her] own blood," she calls it quits and declares, "This kind of violence can only be bad for you." Well, that's what the healing herbs are for, Anne.

[Thanks, Duncan]

UK TV presenter delivers 'chilling verdict' on violent games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dr. Tanya Byron explains her report findings, stance on games

David Hinkle — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

Following her report (which follows all of the Manhunt 2 ruckus), UK psychologist Dr. Tanya Byron sat down to discuss some things with Next-Gen. While we don't know much about her, what with us living across the pond and all, she does come off as kind of grounded and level-headed about all of this.

It seems that she's very much for adult content in games, just that the adult content in question should only be accessible by, you know, adults. "There's a huge moral debate around content in videogames," she says, "I'm very clear, that wasn't the remit of my review to pass judgment on that and I do believe that content for adults is content for adults. It should be rated that way."

She goes on further to add: "I can understand that gamers fear that there will be a 'you can't play these games anymore.' I've not said that, I'd never say that, and certainly if I heard people beginning to use my review to try and imply that I will be very quick to say that that was not and will not be a recommendation of mine."

While we're not resident of the UK, we're incredibly interested in where this is all going. Ratings improvements can be made worldwide, we're sure, and we'd like to see a world where it doesn't take an incredibly-long time to release a game because a bunch of uninformed people are too busy arguing about how it's going to train your kid to kill.

Dr. Tanya Byron explains her report findings, stance on games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Byron calls for more BBFC action, ratings system overhaul

David Hinkle — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

As you all probably know, following the whole Manhunt 2 thing, noted psychologist in the country Dr. Tanya Byron was knee-deep in an investigation into the effects of games and internet media on children in the UK. Her verdict? The BBFC should have a bigger role in rating games (right now, they only intervene on games flagged with violent, sexual and criminal content).

Her solution involves a new 12+ classification, as well as the BBFC handling just about all duties involving rating games. But, as anticipated, she's also endorsed the PEGI system, as well. She hopes that the PEGI ratings can go on the back of the game's box, with the BBFC classification being displayed on the front.

This is all just the tip of the iceberg, however. Her report has lots more interesting information, so for the rest, head on over to Game Politics.

[Via Joystiq]

Byron calls for more BBFC action, ratings system overhaul originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

UK's Byron Review recommends expanded game ratings system

Ludwig Kietzmann — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Business

A report concerning the effects of games and internet media on children, led by one Dr. Tanya Byron, was released in the UK today. Among its recommendations are a change to the UK's video game ratings system, which would see the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) assuming a more prominent role in game releases, rating more titles and establishing a new 12+ classification. Currently, the BBFC only examines games flagged for violent, sexual and criminal content -- adopting the lower age limit would undoubtedly result in a dramatic increase in workload.

Though Byron hopes that more film-like ratings will ease confusion among befuddled parents, the report also suggests the incorporation of Europe's PEGI rating system, with its notice appearing on the back of a game's box and the BBFC's on the front. Any retailer ignoring these ratings and selling games to a child under the printed age limit will also find itself on the wrong side of the law, as the report would deem such an act illegal.

You can read a thorough layout of the report over at Game Politics.

UK's Byron Review recommends expanded game ratings system originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments