It has today been reported that fears are arising over the possibility of aggressive anti-videogame movements from Downing Street, following the soon-to-be-published Byron Review. The report, written by TV psychologist Tanya Byron, studies the effects of videogame violence and should hopefully aim to be an unbiased look at what videogames are. Ominous words from Prime Minister Gordon Brown have now sent a shiver down the collective spine of the UK games industry:
"A Whitehall leak ... suggested that Brown was ready to introduce an aggressive ‘crackdown’ on violent video games in the wake of the Byron Review, which will recommend the introduction of BBFC ratings for all software titles when it is published next month.
Brown’s choice of rhetoric has got top publisher, retailer and development bosses concerned – not least because Byron has won industry-wide praise for her open-minded approach to her task."
An unnamed source within the games industry has confirmed to MVC the "definite fear," that Brown's terminology has injected. The worry is that Byron's report, as fair and even-handed as it could be, will be spun and used as a PR weapon to aid Brown's appearance at the expense of videogames.
Thus far, Gordon Brown has impressed me with his moderate approach and apparent sensible outlook on more than just games. Given what he's said thus far, I would hope that Brown isn't going to suddenly turn aggressive on the games industry. He once spoke of all parties involved working together on equal terms. Use of the words "aggressive crackdown," certainly seems a departure from his friendlier statements. It remains to be seen how Brown uses the Byron report, but we don't have a long wait to find out.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
9:27 AM on 02.07.2008
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I know in the US we tend to feel that self-regulation is the best solution -- but then again, we're in the middle of a fun little mortgage crisis brought on by that same thinking.
Any laws or regulations he can try to lay down on video-games will be thrown out by the courts like they always have, because no matter how many times he opens his mouth about them, they're still unconstitutional.
lol wut?
But you're right, "lol wut?" is a compelling counter-argument.
Do they still wear wigs and bathrobes to work?
I'm not up on my Parliament Funkadelic, so forgive my naivete.
If he wants to take on a worthy task why dont he sort out the UKs policies on letting terrorists and pedophiles into the country and a pointless war in Iraq..... or would that be too much hard work?
Then we'd cure the problems of game related obesity and crime in one fell swoop!
Also, tiny typo: it’s MCV, not MVC.
Contrast the PEGI (European) game rating system, the ESRB ratings, and the MPAA. True, a refusal to rate or an "Adult" rating may be the kiss of death at retail and the box office, but it's not against the law to sell unrated or adult entertainment unless it qualifies as pornography.
If all else fails, Jim, you could always rebel. It worked out fairly well for us over here. ;)
I agree that its possible that some retarded or mad individuals might get an idea from a videogame and accomplish it. But hey! That's not just happened with videogames! One time during the 1800's people did mass suicide worldwide because of an idea they got from a book, thinking that it would be romantic to do so.
But what I certainly DONT agree with, is those "studies" saying that videogames make people more violent by nature.
A person like me, who's been suffering from depression and anxiety, feel that videogames have helped me calm myself and to get my thoughts on other things.
Videogames does in other words work in the same way as that punching bag you beat up when you're angry.
gamer revolutionists,that will stand up and fight the Man one day,could be doing the same with their CoDs and Halo3s!
Yes I am insane.
To be frankly honest, I stopped caring about this when I saw that, she's a child psychologist I believe. I also was lead to believe that the average age for gamers was late 20's or something, meaning she's dealing with the minority of people playing games right? (that's thinking logically btw.)
if i do become a psychologist, im going to stick to my respective area and only shout about my findings if it turns out to be
A) conclusive (not all research leads to a definite answer) and
B) would actually have some impact on games in general, from this it may lead (again thinking logically here) to games that are aimed for younger people, 10 and below, to have slightly stricter ratings.
Now I think about it the carry out a big enough study, she'd need to have about 30 concurrent case studies (fed by BPS funding?) to get a really representative view.
Also my psychology tutor is helping bring in a new type of depression treatment these past couple of years of which I'm dead proud. If you get depressed (near where she works obviously) and are given this holistic approach, then give props where they're due.
Dumb tv psychologist make me annoyed, but this woman doesn't seem too dumb. Who knows, we may have something worthwhile come of this?
The thing that irks me more than the above is that parents can moan about 18 rated games content but 9 times out of 10 they were actually the ones who bought the game over the counter for their kid. What part of 18+ do people not understand?
But it all comes down to what Brown's opinion on games are and for that he should be tested. Let's give him COD4 for a few hours and I defy him to not be enjoying himself!
"I know in the US we tend to feel that self-regulation is the best solution -- but then again, we're in the middle of a fun little mortgage crisis brought on by that same thinking."
Go to live to a socialist country, like Venezuela or Cuba... They keep them as examples of how great the big brother way of goverment is.
And this is from someone who lives in a latin american country.