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Source: Games Digest
The UKs Conservative party might be set to restrict (i.e. ban) violent video games as part of strategy for tackling youth crime. Policies to limit violent games and encourage responsible parenting are now being considered by the Tories as part of their mini-manifesto on law and order.
Party leader David Cameron struck out at Labour, accusing Browns party of a one-dimensional approach to crime. The Conservative solution aims to look at the wider context of crime, particularly the role of society. Cameron explains: "That includes, I think, video games and things like that where we do need to think of the context in which people are growing up."
The rest of his statement made little further reference to the role of video gaming in the broader scope for his plans, which include encouraging marriage, giving head teachers the power to expel unruly pupils, and changes to prison accommodation, such as increasing the number of prisoners in cells.
Ironically, Cameron accuses Labour of using knee-jerk reactions when tackling crime, where as these proposed changes to law and order policies, particularly those related to youth crime, are of course in no way related to the tragic shooting of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones.
The specific reference to violent video games is particularly hard to understand too. In none of the cases of the violent youth crime, which have been filling newspaper headlines over the past six months, has there been any connection made with violent video games. In fact, the most important piece of violent game related news in recent months has been the successful banning of one prime example of violent gaming media. This proves that we do already have a system in place that is prepared to regulate the level of violent content in games and stand firm when a developer has crossed the line.
Hopefully, Camerons choice of scapegoat in this instance wont serve to undermine the good work that the BBFC has done for the games industry recently. It is also strange that he talks of encouraging parental responsibility at the same time as wanting to simply restrict material so that it cant fall into the wrong hands.
In the end, the UK already has a clear age-rating system in place; it should be down to parental responsibilities alone to ensure that their 13 year old offspring is not getting his jollies playing an 18 rated game. Further restrictions on those games only serves to censor it from those who are old enough and responsible enough to enjoy it for what it is, and would unfairly single out gaming as the source of societal grievances. Last time I checked there were plenty of movies showing people getting murdered and plenty of music advocating the use of hand guns as a means of settling gang disputes...
The UKs Conservative party might be set to restrict (i.e. ban) violent video games as part of strategy for tackling youth crime. Policies to limit violent games and encourage responsible parenting are now being considered by the Tories as part of their mini-manifesto on law and order.
Party leader David Cameron struck out at Labour, accusing Browns party of a one-dimensional approach to crime. The Conservative solution aims to look at the wider context of crime, particularly the role of society. Cameron explains: "That includes, I think, video games and things like that where we do need to think of the context in which people are growing up."
The rest of his statement made little further reference to the role of video gaming in the broader scope for his plans, which include encouraging marriage, giving head teachers the power to expel unruly pupils, and changes to prison accommodation, such as increasing the number of prisoners in cells.
Ironically, Cameron accuses Labour of using knee-jerk reactions when tackling crime, where as these proposed changes to law and order policies, particularly those related to youth crime, are of course in no way related to the tragic shooting of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones.
The specific reference to violent video games is particularly hard to understand too. In none of the cases of the violent youth crime, which have been filling newspaper headlines over the past six months, has there been any connection made with violent video games. In fact, the most important piece of violent game related news in recent months has been the successful banning of one prime example of violent gaming media. This proves that we do already have a system in place that is prepared to regulate the level of violent content in games and stand firm when a developer has crossed the line.
Hopefully, Camerons choice of scapegoat in this instance wont serve to undermine the good work that the BBFC has done for the games industry recently. It is also strange that he talks of encouraging parental responsibility at the same time as wanting to simply restrict material so that it cant fall into the wrong hands.
In the end, the UK already has a clear age-rating system in place; it should be down to parental responsibilities alone to ensure that their 13 year old offspring is not getting his jollies playing an 18 rated game. Further restrictions on those games only serves to censor it from those who are old enough and responsible enough to enjoy it for what it is, and would unfairly single out gaming as the source of societal grievances. Last time I checked there were plenty of movies showing people getting murdered and plenty of music advocating the use of hand guns as a means of settling gang disputes...
