Former ELSPA boss slams BBFC's "flawed assumption"

10:12 AM on 06.29.2007   |   David Houghton

15 comments

Now this is very interesting. While British games industry guardian ELSPA has so far disappointingly backed the BBFC's actions pertaining to Manhunt 2, it seems things would have been very different indeed under a previous watch.

Former ELSPA boss Roger Bennet has today struck out against the BBFC's decision, stating that the action was not only hypocritical, but potentially dangerous for the future health of the games industry. His reasons? You may well find them somewhat familiar if you've been reading Destructoid for the last week.  

I hope that ELSPA’s response to the BBFC’s decision not to grant a rating to Manhunt 2 was not made without recognising the long term possible effects of such an action.

It is most interesting to note that the guidelines used in reaching this decision by the BBFC includes the assumed criteria that because games are interactive, they are different to other forms of screen entertainment and should be rated accordingly. There is no evidence for it to make such a flawed assumption.

It seems to me that the Government and thus the BBFC have become heavily influenced by previous events which in no way have any link to our industry.

So there you have it. While it's frustrating to think that a previous ELSPA would have been gunning for the BBFC in the same way that myself and Jim have been recently, it is very heartening indeed to know that there are industry figures out there who are not only fully aware of the issues at stake here, but who are willing to speak out about them. As Bennett states, the current treatment of adult-oriented gaming by the powers that be has been woefully out of touch and thoroughly detrimental to the future development of gaming as a mature medium. Hopefully Bennett's statements will incite a more outspoken voice on the side of the games industry over this issue, because we really need one right now.

[Via Next Generation]