[Dark Drakan]

I havent got a problem with this, being of legal age to buy any game of any rating on the market and think its a good idea. Would stop the stupid banning and censorship of games and make all games of a similar style be treated equally id think unlike the witchhunts of Rockstar games.

Originally Posted by CVG

Dr. Tanya Bryon's review into young people's access to inappropriate interactive entertainment has recommended 'movie-style' ratings for games, according to early newspaper reports.

The report, which is officially released at 9am this morning, was commissioned by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to look into better regulating of the game and internet use of young people.

The report is said to recommend a new 12 rating for games and harsher punishments for retailers selling underage kids inappropriate software; a hefty fine and five years in prison, to be exact.

Byron also calls on the games industry to help increase parents understanding of age ratings, and to put more parental controls into games consoles.

"We have to make child digital safety a priority. If you are under 18, you should not be able to buy an '18' game and if you are under 12, you should not be able to buy a '12' game," Byron says in the report, according to The Times.

It also looks like PEGI, the current rating system for games in the UK, is to be axed:

"The alternative Pan-European Game Information system is considered to be ineffective because it uses symbols that are confusing and distributors effectively chose their own ratings by filling in a form about their product," says the Times. "Dr Byron wants a single statutory classification system."

Look for the full report later this morning.

UPDATE:
According to the BBC, which seems to have the report already, Byron recommends:

* The creation of a website for parents where they can find our more information about online safety
* A comprehensive public information and awareness campaign on child internet safety
* Clear and consistent guidance for industry on how games should be advertised
* High profile efforts to increase parents understanding of age ratings and improved parental controls
* A gold standard for the use of console games, including clear set-up guidance for parents on issues such as pin codes and locks.

Full Downloadable PDF Can Be Found Here

[RedBullKid]

Ha, another futile attempt to prevent kids from getting thier hands on games. All these efforts will amount to nothing in the end as the next generation of parents will be todays gamers who weren't allowed to buy an '18' game. I for one, if i ever have kids, will let them play whatever they want.

Have that Dr Byron!

[Dark Drakan]

Originally Posted by RedBullKid

Ha, another futile attempt to prevent kids from getting thier hands on games. All these efforts will amount to nothing in the end as the next generation of parents will be todays gamers who weren't allowed to buy an '18' game. I for one, if i ever have kids, will let them play whatever they want, have that Dr Byron!

Exactly though, they cant blame the games or the shops then they will have no choice but to blame the parents and that suits me fine. Not all us gamers are idiots who cant tell games from reality so they can blame the parents overall. I for one am tired of all violent games being branded as brainwashing media that turns kids into killers or violent criminals... they shouldn't be playing these games anyway for a start.

[RedBullKid]

Originally Posted by Dark Drakan

Exactly though, they cant blame the games or the shops then they will have no choice but to blame the parents and that suits me fine. Not all us gamers are idiots who cant tell games from reality so they can blame the parents overall. I for one am tired of all violent games being branded as brainwashing media that turns kids into killers or violent criminals... they shouldn't be playing these games anyway for a start.

No one is going to stop simple kids playing violent video games or listening to angry music or watching scary movies. Video games are just what they're blaming things on right now so there clamping down to look like they're good at their jobs. The columbine massacre was blamed, by some people, on marilyn manson. So i say, let them look like there trying but i doubt they even think its going to work them selfs.

[Dark Drakan]

Originally Posted by RedBullKid

No one is going to stop simple kids playing violent video games or listening to angry music or watching scary movies. Video games are just what they're blaming things on right now so there clamping down to look like there good at there jobs. The columbine massacre was blamed, by some people, on marilyn manson. So i say, let them look like there trying but i doubt they even think its going to work them selfs.

I didnt say it was going to stop them playing them, just think that they will have no choice but to shift the blame from them. Soon as the heavy restrictions are there and retailers cant sell them to kids without the parents getting them, hopefully the focus will be put onto the parents learning more about what they are buying for their kids when the age restrictions are clearly marked. The system as it stands is optional and merely a guideline no-one pays attention too, if the shops start getting big fines and parents are watched for this then it might stop people blaming the games industry as they have done all they can to stop kids getting their hands on them and its down to the parents. Some kids are mature enough to take violent games obviously as i played GTA from the age of 11 but if i was to go and kill someone after getting so caught up in the game i think my parents and me alone should be to blame and not the game itself as it wouldnt have that effect on everyone.

[Tsuyu]

While I don't usually like restrictions of any kind when we're talking about games like this, it "does" seem like a sound idea.

However, it would be bullcrap if some 15 years old couldn't buy, lets say, the new GTA or whatever.

[RedBullKid]

Originally Posted by Dark Drakan

I didnt say it was going to stop them playing them, just think that they will have no choice but to shift the blame from them. Soon as the heavy restrictions are there and retailers cant sell them to kids without the parents getting them, hopefully the focus will be put onto the parents learning more about what they are buying for their kids when the age restrictions are clearly marked. The system as it stands is optional and merely a guideline no-one pays attention too, if the shops start getting big fines and parents are watched for this then it might stop people blaming the games industry as they have done all they can to stop kids getting their hands on them and its down to the parents. Some kids are mature enough to take violent games obviously as i played GTA from the age of 11 but if i was to go and kill someone after getting so caught up in the game i think my parents and me alone should be to blame and not the game itself as it wouldnt have that effect on everyone.

I see what you mean but to be perfectly honest i think the system as it stands is sufficient. My parents pay plenty of attention to the ratings and didn't let me play games like gears of war until they thought i was mature enough. Although if it takes the heat of gaming as the 'evil media' i'm all for it.

[Dark Drakan]

Originally Posted by Tsuyu

While I don't usually like restrictions of any kind when we're talking about games like this, it "does" seem like a sound idea.

However, it would be bullcrap if some 15 years old couldn't buy, lets say, the new GTA or whatever.

Yeah im not a fan of restrictions in anyway but these seems a sensible idea to me and the way the age rating system should have been on games.

It will take a while to come into force id imagine but in future games like GTA would be rated 18 so a 15 year old wouldnt be able to buy them themselves.

Originally Posted by RedBullKid

I see what you mean but to be perfectly honest i think the system as it stands is sufficient. My parents pay plenty of attention to the ratings and didn't let me play games like gears of war until they thought i was mature enough. Although if it takes the heat of gaming as the 'evil media' i'm all for it.

The rating system now is a joke and not even a system, its just some labels that dont mean anything that most parents dont even look at. I mean games have an 18 certificate printed on them and says on back 'Contains drug, sexual and mature content' and then some parent buys it for their kids without reading it at all. They just see the picture on the case and think 'thats too violent for my kid' however a picture that doesnt give much away wont flag this to them. However some parents arent like that, their kid moans enough about it they will buy it them to shut them up. Then wonder why the kid starts acting things out from games that they arent mature enough to take. Then the game gets blamed for being too violent, when its not any more violent than most games from the last 10 years its just a couple of kids reactions to it.

[Tsuyu]

Originally Posted by Dark Drakan

It will take a while to come into force id imagine but in future games like GTA would be rated 18 so a 15 year old wouldnt be able to buy them themselves.

Which is why I am also sort of against it. I know from personal experiance that there is much that separates a 12 years old from a 15 years old - you are "almost grown up" and a helluva lot more mature.

You should be allowed to buy such games if you want.

[Dark Drakan]

Originally Posted by Tsuyu

Which is why I am also sort of against it. I know from personal experiance that there is much that separates a 12 years old from a 15 years old - you are "almost grown up" and a helluva lot more mature.

You should be allowed to buy such games if you want.

Id imagine its the minors that are slightly younger that are being mainly targeted by these ratings. Most people wouldnt bat an eyelid at a 15 year old playing an 18 rated game. Maybe they shouldnt be allowed to buy it themselves but im sure the majority would be mature enough to take the content and wouldnt see many cases of them getting violent or becoming killers because of their reaction to game violence so wouldnt have much to worry about.

[RedBullKid]

Originally Posted by Dark Drakan

The rating system now is a joke and not even a system, its just some labels that dont mean anything that most parents dont even look at. I mean games have an 18 certificate printed on them and says on back 'Contains drug, sexual and mature content' and then some parent buys it for their kids without reading it at all. They just see the picture on the case and think 'thats too violent for my kid' however a picture that doesnt give much away wont flag this to them. However some parents arent like that, their kid moans enough about it they will buy it them to shut them up. Then wonder why the kid starts acting things out from games that they arent mature enough to take.

Ive had a completely different experience to both of those you've mentioned so i geuss that down to the situation there . Whats more is that ive been refused purchase of games plenty of times at retailers like 'GAME' so i dont think the current arrangement is totally useless.

[Dark Drakan]

Originally Posted by RedBullKid

Ive had a completely different experience to both of those you've mentioned so i geuss that down to the situation there . Whats more is that ive been refused purchase of games plenty of times at retailers like 'GAME' so i dont think the current arrangement is totally useless.

I got refused a game when i was younger too but ever since then ive seen 11 year olds walk into stores and buy games like Condemned, Resident Evil, Silent Hill, GTA series and many many more. Seems the restrictions are there in some places but the shops know that they dont have any guidelines and there isnt a proper law against the sale yet. Even seen them refuse to sell a game to one kid and have his angry parents come down later shouting at the shop owners for not selling the game to him. He was about 12 and was trying to buy the first Manhunt... thats why id like the ratings there so there is a set rule for every shop and parents realise that the shops have to decline to serve some people or face huge fines. Then if the parents come and purchase the game its on their head and not the game or the shops head.

[Tsuyu]

Originally Posted by RedBullKid

Whats more is that ive been refused purchase of games plenty of times at retailers like 'GAME' so i dont think the current arrangement is totally useless.

Most likely a good store policy rather than them actually following any set rules.

[Dark Drakan]

Originally Posted by Tsuyu

Most likely a good store policy rather than them actually following any set rules.

Yeah i would agree with that for sure.