UK Government Asks For Input On Byron Report
The Byron Report on the effects of the Internet and videogames on children appeared earlier this year, to general consternation, confusion, indifference and tacit approval - depending on where you fit within the games world or government.
Now the Department for Culture, Media & Sport has launched a consultation asking YOU the ordinary gamer for your views. They'd also like the views of your parents, postman, the general populace, the industry, retailers - and even children.
This IS actually important. As the website states:
So your input could decide how exactly games are rated and classified. Currently the BBFC is the mandatory system, providing age ratings and "short content advice" (i.e. gore/robots/prostitutes). PEGI is the industry-created voluntary system which also awards age classifications but accompanies these with pictograms which describe the content (fist/sweary balloon/syringe/spider).
The consultation is asking respondents to consider four different options:
- 1 - Hybrid Classification System – BBFC ratings for all games for players over 12 and PEGI ratings for under 12s
- 2 - Enhanced BBFC system
- 3 - Enhanced PEGI system
- 4 - Voluntary code of practice
Which opens up a number of issues to do with the ability of the various organisations (BBFC for example) to actually review *every* game with a rating greater than a 12, the futility of reviewing some of the more advanced games on the market (Spore, GTA, APB?) where content is generated dynamically. Plus as soon as any game is played online (World Of Warcraft, Counterstrike) against other players, it becomes an entirely different experience.
However - "Consultees are also invited to propose an alternative option."
So if you have any clever ideas, now's the time people...
This could profoundly affect the whole industry. An approval loop through the relevant organisation/s could take weeks or months. There may be a cost applied to the developer/publisher to submit code for review. Then there may also be an associated redevelopment period in which you have to revisit your design in order to hit your target rating. It could radically alter the ability of independent developers to create their own original games and get them out on the market.
Which in turn could lead to a form of self-censorship from developers as they try to bring things in under the magic "12+" rating, just to avoid the whole process.
Of course, this is a UK-wide consultation. There's no mechanism (outside the famous Scottishgames.biz poll...) to ascertain just how the industry in Scotland feels about this, or indeed if there is anything which could be done - or driven - in Scotland to explore these areas, or provide the industry with clear leadership.
If you're an established games studio, an independent developer, a Dare protégé, a student, a gamer - or anyone with an interest in the market for making videogames, then you really need to make your views known on this issue.
Come on readers, show the rest of the UK you care. You can reply to the consultation using these details:
Please send your reply to
Video Games Classification
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London
SW1Y 5DH
or e-mail to gamesclassification@culture.gsi.gov.uk
Submissions close on NOVEMBER 20th 2008.
However, the SG.biz comments are open and awaiting your thoughts, opinions, ideas and input.
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