Today, the government is asking for new evidence in a study of the effect of violent video games on children. This review is due to be launched by Dr Byron at a school in East London.

ELSPA said it will be co-operating, but they believe it has too often been blamed for the screw up's in society.

Paul Jackson of Elspa mentions that the games industry has been too often blamed for everything, from obesity to youth crime and violence. After that he says "It's just not true and not appropriate"

Mr Jackson feels that the review is going to make sure that parents are properly informed on what their children are playing.

Frontier games developer David Braben was asked why games are being singled out.
He believes that although a review may be useful, it should be done on all types of media, rather than just looking at one, seeing as most media is intersecting.

He then goes on to say "We do tend to be the people who get blamed first at the moment, and that is a tragedy - because this industry is one of the most interesting"

Blitz chief executive Philip Oliver believes that more education is needed for parents, because they are not paying attention to the age ratings, and that most parents have a distorted view of games, they are either harmless and fun, or violent and totally evil.

This review comes a day after the BBFC refused a certificate for highly controversial game Manhunt 2, for the second time.

According to the Elspa, only 2% of games released in the UK receive and 18 rating and the average age of a gamer is 28.

The review is expected to last 6 months.

Yes, because all the other reviews came up with damning evidence that videogames are bad.*shakes head*

I really couldn’t give a crap anymore, as long as they continue to make games somewhere in the world, I’ll learn different languages if I bloody well have to.

The government knows nothing about games, and most of the people doing the review are probably psychiatrists who like nothing better than analysing the human psyche.

*sigh*

Opinions everyone?

Tags : Dr Byron : ELSPA : psychology : study : video games and violence

Comments

By: Dragonfly

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On: 02:23 Oct 10th, 2007
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I'm rather curious as to what inspired the decision for this in the first place.

I've expressed my view on the subject before though, and it's changed little; whilst I don't disagree that gaming is far too often a target of unfair scrutiny, I do think it needs to do some growing up; constant exposure to violence *will* affect a younger mind, and the added degree of immersion that gaming provides can only intensify that ten fold.

I'm not saying that gaming is inherently to blame; such things are the responsiblity of the parents, but the problem lies with the fact that the current ratings system in the US and UK are NOT LEGALLY BINDING and are only guidelines. A store can sell adult games to minors; most simply choose not to so they don't get a lawsuit up their butt.

By: Samuel

On: 03:04 Oct 10th, 2007
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I'd rather kids play violent games than be violent kids. In fact, a survey I conducted at school showed that a majority of the violent kids only played football games, or none at all. It's a localised study, so it can't be all that accurate, and it's a few years old now. But it does suggest that violence in children is a direct result of football hooliganism :monster:

By: Dragonfly

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On: 03:23 Oct 10th, 2007
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Master Chief;33296

But it does suggest that violence in children is a direct result of football hooliganism :monster:

So what are you suggesting? We should ban football?

...

Good idea. :monster:

By: Evren

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On: 10:34 Oct 11th, 2007
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That would be a great idea.
Less chavs on the street.

Usually things like this are done when a stupid child kills another person and they find games in his room.

Imagine if he had just had KIRBY?!

By: Corrine

On: 07:59 Oct 13th, 2007
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Words of Ivory;33295

I'm rather curious as to what inspired the decision for this in the first place.

I've expressed my view on the subject before though, and it's changed little; whilst I don't disagree that gaming is far too often a target of unfair scrutiny, I do think it needs to do some growing up; constant exposure to violence *will* affect a younger mind, and the added degree of immersion that gaming provides can only intensify that ten fold.

I'm not saying that gaming is inherently to blame; such things are the responsiblity of the parents, but the problem lies with the fact that the current ratings system in the US and UK are NOT LEGALLY BINDING and are only guidelines. A store can sell adult games to minors; most simply choose not to so they don't get a lawsuit up their butt.

Basically, I agree with this.

It's not surprising that this study flopped; maybe instead of trying to see if violent videogames affect kids adversely, they should try to see what a wide range of games do to kids in general. I don't know... it seems less biased? But this sort of study will never give conclusive results. There are so many factors that affect childrens' development.

I think ratings should be given more attention and tightened up. I am glad, though, that when I went to buy GTA with my 15 year old cousin, they asked for ID. Since he explained that he was from out of country the store let him buy the game, but I had ID on me anyway and offered it up, and I could've bought the game for him.