Joystiq

Proposal in Swiss government could ban violent games

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:00:00 EST

According to a report out of consonant-heavy Swiss gaming site GamesMarkt, Switzerland's parliament recently passed a law that could lead to an across the board ban on "violent" games being sold in the country. Apparently a proposal was inked last month that aimed to remove games which require "cruel acts of violence against humans and human-like creatures for in-game success" -- a proposal that has apparently been passed by the Swiss National Council.

Since the initial proposal has passed, it's said to now be up to the Swiss parliament exactly how the law is enacted. If you're a Swiss gamer interested in challenging the new law, we encourage you to contact local politicians, as GamesIndustry.biz points out that "citizens are able to challenge any new law passed by parliament if they can show sufficient opposition to it." Given the petitions we've seen some of you get into, we're hoping this one will be a no brainer.

[Via GamesIndustry.biz]

Proposal in Swiss government could ban violent games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Violent game-opposing UK politician ditches gaming debate

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:02:00 EST

[Image: Flickr user Steve Punter]

Keith Vaz, a member of British parliament whose anti-mature game stance is well-known by his fellow politicians, recently backed out of a debate on violence in video games during the Westminster eForum without any explanation for his absence. According to MCVUK, Vaz was scheduled to square off against Ed Vaizey and Gamers' Voice founder Tom Watson, along with Electronic Arts' Keith Ramsdale, TIGA CEO Richard Wilson, and Eidos' Ian Livingstone.

With no antagonist to debate with, the other parties turned to mocking the no-show politician. "Tell him that the Parliament website has a videogame on its front page," Vaizey remarked, "and no one has been killed yet." We're sure wherever Mr. Vaz might have been at the time of the debate, he felt that burn remotely.

[Via GamePolitics]

Violent game-opposing UK politician ditches gaming debate originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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British MP hopes to expand Gamers' Voice advocacy group

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST

[Facebook: Gamers' Voice]

Last month, we wrote about Facebook-based advocacy group Gamers' Voice, British Labor MP Tom Watson's initiative to combat the wave of negative press garnered by violent video games and gaming culture as a whole. At the time that story was published, the group had a few hundred members. Just two weeks after the story was published, the group had over 15,000 members.

According to a recent interview with IndustryGamers, Watson is inviting the group's ranks to join him at the British House of Commons tomorrow to discuss the future of the group. However, he's already seen results in Parliament, where his fellow politicians have shown interest in learning about the issues that pertain to games and have asked about connecting with gamers. Watson's personal goals are fairly reasonable: To stop the media's attacks on the entire industry "because one scene in one game is unpleasant to one journalist," and to "get a balanced view about what games really are."

British MP hopes to expand Gamers' Voice advocacy group originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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British MP Watson leading charge against Modern Warfare 2 media controversy

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Tom Watson, a member of British Parliament, has developed a sort of folk hero status among European gamers this morning. After his fellow MP, Keith Vaz, promised to decry the violence depicted in Modern Warfare 2 (specifically in that one scene) in the next session of Parliament, Watson publicly defended the game on Facebook and Twitter. He then kicked it up a notch and started a pressure group called Gamers' Voice on Facebook. The group's mission statement explains that its members will discuss "how UK video gamers can find their voice in newspapers and government."

It was a wise, pre-emptive move on Watson's part -- as promised, Vaz brought up the game during today's Parliament session, explaining that it's so violent that "even the manufacturers have put in warnings within the game telling people how they can skip particular scenes." He inquired how the government was planning on "protecting our children." Watson stepped in and dropped the timeless observation that the UK already has a game rating system which restricts the game's sale to minors, and that it's more important to protect the gaming industry than it is to "create moral panic" in the media.

If you want to stay informed of Watson's other heroic, industry-defending activities, you might want to join the Gamers' Voice group. (We hear that shortly after that Parliament session, he doused a burning orphanage, then ate an entire maple tree for breakfast. Seriously!)

British MP Watson leading charge against Modern Warfare 2 media controversy originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Venezuela could completely ban the sale of violent video games

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:00:00 EST

If a bill currently being reviewed by Venezuela's parliament is formally approved by the nation's president, then gamers living in the country may have (legally) purchased their last M-rated title. The "Bill for the Prohibition of Video Games and Toy Weapons" aims to completely ban the sale of violent video games (and, as you may have guessed, toy weapons) in the country. It was approved by the National Assembly yesterday, and now must be approved in one more debate and signed by the president to become a law.

The bill was written out of concern for the negative effect violent video games and toys are having on the nation's youth (sigh), but was also created to prevent the use of toy weapons in real crimes. We'd scoff at this, too -- but we just watched a harrowing cinematic example of this type of criminal activity. It must be stopped!

Venezuela could completely ban the sale of violent video games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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And the epilepsy debate continues, this time in Parliament

Candace Savino — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

Although some companies (like Ubisoft) have volunteered to do extra epilepsy-related tests for their games, the existing standard isn't enough for some people. Take, for example, famous and loathed mom Gaye Herford, who's responsible for bringing this fight to Parliament after her son suffered a fit while playing Rayman Raving Rabbids DS.

Sprong reports that the House of Commons debate was held yesterday, with members supporting different solution. Margaret Hodge, the Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, pushed for a voluntary testing system, which could be changed to mandatory in the future if the issue remained problematic.

John Penrose on the other hand led a more paranoid debate, stating, "The point is that some games manufacturers may decide to do that, but there is a huge number of games-makers and manufacturers throughout the world. Some are large and responsible, such as Ubisoft, but as in any industry, there is a large number of manufacturers who are relatively tiny, and although some may be responsible, we cannot be sure."

It doesn't seem as if a final decision was reached, but you know politics -- things take a while to get done.

[Via Game Politics]

And the epilepsy debate continues, this time in Parliament originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mother's campaign to bring video game seizure concerns to British Parliament a success

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo DS, Casual

By now, you've probably noticed the seizure warnings interjected into the start-up screens of many games, giving the .02 percent of the population that suffers from photosensitive epilepsy (PSE) a heads-up that the following game may not be entirely safe for them to play. However, Gaye Herford, a mother residing in England, has brought her concerns over game-related seizures to British Parliament after her 10-year-old son suffered a seizure following a round of Rayman: Raving Rabbids on the Nintendo DS.

Parliament has agreed to debate whether or not rigorous testing for seizure-inducing material in video games should be required by their developers on a heretofore undecided date. Television and films are already tested in this manner, but no countries require similar checks for games. Ubisoft has independently agreed to begin performing these tests on all their future titles, though we find it difficult to imagine how one makes a mini-game compilation featuring hyperactive, mutant rabbits without using some PSE-sensitive material.

Mother's campaign to bring video game seizure concerns to British Parliament a success originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mom wins her fight in Rayman Raving Rabbids epilepsy ordeal

David Hinkle — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

Over the last year, UK mom ("mum" is the word over there, we believe) Gaye Herford has been fighting to change the way games are tested before they are sent to retail. Her 10-year-old son, while playing Rayman Raving Rabbids, went into an epileptic fit. She had no idea that games could send players into photo sensitive epileptic (PSE) seizures. We guess she hasn't seen the intro splash screen Nintendo has had around since the Pokémon incident.

But, after a long year, she has won her battle. Ubisoft has volunteered to do the testing itself and will try to ensure such a thing does not happen again. Herford also managed to secure a debate in Parliament, for a future date that is yet to be determined. "As a parent myself, I was shocked that a single game could possibly trigger a sudden first-time seizure, with its life-long implications," says Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose, who helped Herford in her battle. "Right now, most electronic game publishers simply issue written warnings about PSE on or inside their products - and that's on a voluntary basis. But that's no good for the thousands of people with dormant PSE because they don't know the warnings - if they even read them - apply to them."

At the time of the article, no comment was made by Nintendo. Ubisoft did say, though, that testing of Rayman: Raving Rabbids on the DS "showed that no images posed a high risk for photosensitivity epilepsy. However, we made a corporate decision to pre-screen and pre-test all Ubisoft in-house developed games regardless of platform, prior to publication."

Mom wins her fight in Rayman Raving Rabbids epilepsy ordeal originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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British MP continues fight against Manhunt 2

Kyle Orland — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii, Action

You'd think the BBFC's official unbanning of an edited version of Manhunt 2 would officially end the battle over the game's release. You'd be wrong though, as Kent Online reports that Kent MP Julian Brazier is working to introduce a "public appeals process" to overturn BBFC decisions, like the one that paved the way for Manhunt 2's release.

Brazier's Private Members Bill to reform the BBFC was discussed and eventually stopped in Parliament late last month, but that hasn't stopped Brazier from trying to revive its political chances. Brazier insists that the eventual decision to release Manhunt 2 "shows once again that the BBFC and its appeals system do not meet the concerns of the public" and that "the public wants a significant tightening up in this vital area." Earlier this month, Brazier accompanied Gordon Brown in a meeting with Giselle Pakeerah, a mother who believes the original Manhunt contributed to her son's murder.

British MP continues fight against Manhunt 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seizure brought on by DS game leads to banning crusade

Candace Savino — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

After a boy in the UK fell into an epileptic fit from playing Rayman Raving Rabbids on the DS, his mother, Gaye Herford, protested to Parliament that there should be more vigorous safety testing for video games. Should her campaign be successful, any games that could potentially cause seizures will be banned in the UK and game developers will have to adhere to stricter safety standards. Currently, thirty-five Members of Parliament stand behind the proposal.

Ubisoft (the makers of Rabbids) responded by saying that the company already pre-screened Rabbids DS for the potential to cause epileptic fits, and the testing showed that the game was unlikely to do so. Managing director of Ubisoft UK Robert Cooper added, however, that the company has made the decision to now test all in-house games prior to release.

[Via Pocket Gamer]

Seizure brought on by DS game leads to banning crusade originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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British Parliament member says we need to stop playing games

David Hinkle — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: News

Boris Johnson, a journalist and member of British Parliament, recently spoke out against video games in all shapes and forms, stating "as the strobing colours die away and the screen goes black, you listen to the wail of protest from the offspring and you know that you have just turned off their drug," later going so far as to call these kids "addicts." We wouldn't be so quick to label these kids as addicts, instead choosing to label said children as nothing other than "brats" and perhaps offering a solution in "beating some sense into their backsides." Perhaps we're horrible people or have no idea how to be proper parents, but we can honestly say, during our youth, that nothing of the sort occurred between us and our parental units.

Boris attempts to further strengthen his argument by reinforcing the addict stereotype of children who cry and crave video games, one which we would have to wholeheartedly disagree with. Anything, when looked at in a certain way, can be considered addicting, including the Tylenol we take for our head aches. Of course, he could just be incredibly out of touch with today's youth. Also, who's to say that these kids don't behave this way with everything else in their life, crying at a lack of chocolate or when they are denied purchase of a certain toy whilst shopping with their parents?

We cannot begin to assume what is going through this man's mind, but we know we do not agree with it. What say you, lovely Nintendo faithful, in response to his claims? Is he just a British version of our good friend Jack Thompson, choosing to attack gaming as a drug instead of violent games and their affect on youth?

British Parliament member says we need to stop playing games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Jan 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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British Parliament member says we need to stop playing games

David Hinkle — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: News

British Parliament member says we need to stop playing games originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Jan 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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British pols look to teach parents about game ratings

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Business

Website MCV reports that prominent members of British parliament will work with various groups in early 2007 to create a policy to ~~educate parents~~ "protect children" from violent video games. Looks like politicians and the game industry are learning to play nice and work through their issues. Following the "interesting" announcement two weeks ago that US Senator's Clinton and Lieberman would work with the games industry in support of an ad campaign to teach parents about the ESRB rating system, it looks like the British will follow their lead.

Labour party member Keith Vaz says the discussion will center on implementation of TV advertising to educate parents. The meetings will include politicians, industry reps., retailers and parents. Vaz says, "It's an opportunity to reach a consensus on what actions, including a potential television advertising campaign, should be implemented to protect the UK's children." Whatever gets these guys thinking it'll get them reelected and moves them along to bother another industry is fine by us.

British pols look to teach parents about game ratings originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bully discussion draw laughs in British parliament

Kyle Orland — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 2, Action

Amid discussion of issues such as the Iraq war and postal service reform on the British parliamentary floor, MP Keith Vaz (Leicester, East) found time yesterday to question prime minister Tony Blair about the the violence found in Bully (known in Britain as Canis Canem Edit). Vaz expressed concerns about scenes of "teachers being head-butted and the aggressive use of baseball bats" and asked the prime minister to convene a meeting with industry stakeholders to discuss the game.

In answering the concerns, Blair mentioned he had not yet seen the game, an admission that drew a sustained, ten-second bout of chuckling from the parliamentary audience (Oh those wacky Brits). Blair went on to say he appreciated Vaz's concerns and that "the video games industry, or at least a substantial section of it, has made significant advances over the past few years," in addressing such issues.

This is not the first time Vaz has raised concerns over Bully. Back in December 2005, the MP called for the game to be banned after reading a preview on Rockstar's web site. Vaz has also pushed for legislation requiring larger rating labels and direct government regulation of the industry.

(Via MCV)

Watch - Video of the exchange (jump to time index 46:38)
Read - Transcript of the exchange

Bully discussion draw laughs in British parliament originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Oct 2006 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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