But it does not reveal that parents want certain games banned.
From the Telegraph courtesy of the Melon Farmers:
Survey reveals parents `concerned’ about content of video games
Almost three quarters of British parents are concerned about the
content of video games, and want to see the industry independently
regulated, according to new research from the British Board of Film
Classification (BBFC).
By Claudine Beaumont
Almost three quarters of British parents are concerned about the
content of video games, and want to see the industry independently
regulated, according to new research.
Nearly 80 per cent of those surveyed said they believed video games
could affect the behaviour of some children, while 77 per cent said
that game ratings should reflect the concerns of British parents.
The survey, which was carried out by YouGov on behalf of the British
Board of Film Classification (BBFC), the body responsible for
granting age certificates to films and some video games, questioned
2,143 adults.
It comes as the Government considers the findings of the Byron
Review, a paper written by parenting expert and psychologist, Tanya
Byron, into the steps that need to be taken to safeguard children in
the digital age.
Many MPs and family groups have warned that violent video games can
have a detrimental impact on child development and behaviour. In
2007, the British Board of Film Classification failed in its efforts
to ban Manhunt 2, a game in which players must escape an asylum
using whatever weapons they can find. Following repeated appeals by
the game’s publishers, Manhunt 2 was eventually granted an 18 age
certificate.
The study also found that 82 per cent of parents believed it would
be helpful if video games used the same age ratings systems as films
and DVDs. At present, there are two systems of game rating in
Britain: the compulsory one run by the British Board of Film
Classification and the voluntary one run by the Pan European Games
Information body, known as PEGI.
Under current legislation, all video games are exempt from
classification except for those that contain gross violence, sexual
activity, or material that could be useful in the commission of a
crime. If a game breaches any of these criteria, it must be granted
an age certificate by the BBFC before it can be released.
PEGI’s ratings are designed primarily to educate parents about the
content of a game. It has its own age recommendations (3+, 7+, 12+,
16+ and 18+) as well as a series of symbols to depict certain
features of a game, such as violence, drug abuse, discrimination,
gambling, or sexual behaviour.
The BBFC has a panel that plays each game before giving it an age
certificate; the PEGI system relies on a questionnaire answered by
the game’s publisher.
The Byron Review recommends that video games designed for people
aged 12 and over, regardless of content, should be reviewed by the
BBFC for classification prior to release.
“This poll clearly shows parents support a regulatory system for
games that is independent of the industry and UK based, reflecting
UK sensibilities and sensitivities,” said David Cooke, director of
the BBFC said. “The BBFC has been classifying games for over 20
years and our decisions reflect the views of the public. Our
classification systems and symbols are known and trusted by the
public and in a converging media world they want to know what their
children are playing as well as watching.”
But publishers claim the PEGI system, backed by all the major games
makers, provides a better insight into the precise content of a game
than a simple age certificate. “The BBFC is set up to rate films,
and it takes that approach for games when a different approach is
required,” said Matt Lambert, director of corporate affairs at
Microsoft. “[PEGI] is more sensible, and it also has a European
aspect to it.”
Professor Byron said that one possible compromise could be to
introduce PEGI-style advisory symbols alongside the more familiar
age certificates used by the BBFC.
Mike Rawlinson, director-general of Elspa, the body that represents
the video games industry, said he shared the BBFC’s concerns about
protecting children.
“UK parents need a system for videogames age classification that is
built with the protection of the new generation of children in mind,
and as such, delivers a robust system that works as well for games
bought in-store as played online.
“Gamers no longer just play with their mates, they also play online,
and we need a system that reflects this situation and protects their
interests. The independently administered PEGI system is the right
solution for child safety.”
“Many MPs and family groups have warned that violent video games can
have a detrimental impact on child development and behaviour.”
And those MPs and family groups have been lobbying for total bans on
violent video games and not just age ratings.
“Nearly 80 per cent of those surveyed said they believed video games
could affect the behaviour of some children, while 77 per cent said
that game ratings should reflect the concerns of British parents.”
But there is nothing that says parents want regulators to deny
classification to some video games and ban their release altogether.
So the moral guardians can’t get too excited.
Mediasnoops believes in a video game regulatory system where there is a balance between protecting children from inappropriate games and preserving adult games consumers freedom of choice.
