UK Video Game Study: "Protect the Children"

by jordan | March 27, 2008 at 09:38 am | 243 views | 1 comment

Cover art for Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

A British government-supported review of current video game ratings states that the current system needs to be overhauled, incorporating more stringent ratings and extra bloatware for new computers that would "protect" young people from the nasty-bad online world. I guess parents actually watching their kids use the computer would be too straightforward.

Carried out by psychologist Dr Tanya Byron, it says more games need to be rated by official bodies. It calls for the creation of a UK body to draw up and oversee a national strategy to keep children safe online. It also recommends that new PCs be sold with software that will help prevent children seeing harmful online content.

Jordan's quickie guide to video-game violence: * If the title alludes to crime; * If the cover art depicts weapons (anthropomorphic animals nonwithstanding); * If the title contains the phrase "God of War"; * If the main character is an escaped convict ... then the game likely has violence. Having said that, the material contained on the DVD is a game and not a documentary film. Proceed accordingly, and with your best judgement.