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I have this morning seen GMTVs disgusting attempt at journalism when trying to blame videogames for violence and various other problems and attempting to talk about bringing in a new age rating system for games like Bioware, Mass Effect and most likely titles like GTA and Manhunt.
Surely the government should be reviewing the rating of Nintendo's videogames.
Sure, Super Mario Bros and the various titles that have followed may look harmless...but when you consider Mario gains strength from 'Magic Mushrooms,' you've got to wonder if Nintendo are secretly promoting drug use.
Super Mario World 2 on the SNES (or Yoshi's Island on the GBA) features a level called 'Touch fuzzy get dizzy' to which a rather strange intoxication overwhelms Baby Mario when he touches floating fuzzy creatures.
Then we must consider Nintendo's approach to animal cruelty. In Mario Bros, the aim of the game is to score points by killing turtles and crabs. Pokémon sees humans training small animals to fight each other with brutal torturing attacks such as electricution, poisoning, and even in some cases seduction before making them feint. In the Mario Strikers football game, as well as the upcoming Mario Kart game, you throw turtle shells at each other to hinder your enemies play (as well as the above mentioned usage of Magic Mushrooms).
Some websites even suggest Mario promoted communism!
Ofcourse, what I have just said is a load of rubbish, but just goes to show how someone can interpret games in such a way to make a point and attempt to use them as a way of blaming society for its wrongs.
Remember that boy Stefan Pakeerah who was murdered by Warren Leblanc. GMTVs good friend Gordon Brown was recently in talks with Stefan Pakeerah's parents (according to C&VG) whilst this report was being prepared for feedback on violent videogames because of the link between the original Playstation 2 Manhunt game which was blamed for the murder. However, (again, according to C&VG) it was not the murderer that owned a copy of the game...it was instead the victim.
Age ratings are already on games - though from what I've seen in my past experience both as a sales assistant for one of UKs top videogames retailers and since then as a customer is that parents see the current PEGI system (And the old ELSPA) system as difficulty ratings. Parents are ignorant as to what age ratings mean and that's very concerning.
When I was a sales assistant, I was trained to be fully aware of who I could and could not sell age rated games (every single one) to. Games had BBFC ratings which were law. Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City were the most difficult as kids wanted it because their friends parents had bought it for them. I don't think I've ever seen so many IDs in a videogame store before. However it was also my employer's policy not to sell advisory rated games to those who are too young. That meant that if I suspected a child wasn't old enough to purchase a 12+ game, I would ask to speak to their parents. If the parents were with the child buying the game, I was not allowed to take the money from the child - it had to be from the parent. I'm sure most retailers are responsible like this, though I can't speak for them, I think it is mainly the adults buying the games for children that cause the biggest concern.
How many children were playing Grant Theft Auto 3 when that came out? And how many parents bought the game for their children knowing that the 18 rating was there, however resigned to the fact that their kids were playing the game when they visited their friends anyway?
Age ratings only work if everyone plays their part. And as much as I am in favour of anything that protects the customers, the retailers and also important, the developers and publishers, I can't see that a new age rating scheme, especially the one Gordon Brown mentioned, making any significant difference.
But the most important point I would like to make today is that games aren't the cause of violent deaths; Games aren't the cause of traffic accidents; Games aren't the cause of binge drinking and drugs; Games aren't the cause of violent attacks or rape; Games aren't the cause of Wales winning the Six Nations Grandslam. Games are an interactive entertainment like DVDs, music, books or board games. No, they're not the cause of the world's problems...they're just the scape goat.
Surely the government should be reviewing the rating of Nintendo's videogames.
Sure, Super Mario Bros and the various titles that have followed may look harmless...but when you consider Mario gains strength from 'Magic Mushrooms,' you've got to wonder if Nintendo are secretly promoting drug use.
Super Mario World 2 on the SNES (or Yoshi's Island on the GBA) features a level called 'Touch fuzzy get dizzy' to which a rather strange intoxication overwhelms Baby Mario when he touches floating fuzzy creatures.
Then we must consider Nintendo's approach to animal cruelty. In Mario Bros, the aim of the game is to score points by killing turtles and crabs. Pokémon sees humans training small animals to fight each other with brutal torturing attacks such as electricution, poisoning, and even in some cases seduction before making them feint. In the Mario Strikers football game, as well as the upcoming Mario Kart game, you throw turtle shells at each other to hinder your enemies play (as well as the above mentioned usage of Magic Mushrooms).
Some websites even suggest Mario promoted communism!
Ofcourse, what I have just said is a load of rubbish, but just goes to show how someone can interpret games in such a way to make a point and attempt to use them as a way of blaming society for its wrongs.
Remember that boy Stefan Pakeerah who was murdered by Warren Leblanc. GMTVs good friend Gordon Brown was recently in talks with Stefan Pakeerah's parents (according to C&VG) whilst this report was being prepared for feedback on violent videogames because of the link between the original Playstation 2 Manhunt game which was blamed for the murder. However, (again, according to C&VG) it was not the murderer that owned a copy of the game...it was instead the victim.
Age ratings are already on games - though from what I've seen in my past experience both as a sales assistant for one of UKs top videogames retailers and since then as a customer is that parents see the current PEGI system (And the old ELSPA) system as difficulty ratings. Parents are ignorant as to what age ratings mean and that's very concerning.
When I was a sales assistant, I was trained to be fully aware of who I could and could not sell age rated games (every single one) to. Games had BBFC ratings which were law. Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City were the most difficult as kids wanted it because their friends parents had bought it for them. I don't think I've ever seen so many IDs in a videogame store before. However it was also my employer's policy not to sell advisory rated games to those who are too young. That meant that if I suspected a child wasn't old enough to purchase a 12+ game, I would ask to speak to their parents. If the parents were with the child buying the game, I was not allowed to take the money from the child - it had to be from the parent. I'm sure most retailers are responsible like this, though I can't speak for them, I think it is mainly the adults buying the games for children that cause the biggest concern.
How many children were playing Grant Theft Auto 3 when that came out? And how many parents bought the game for their children knowing that the 18 rating was there, however resigned to the fact that their kids were playing the game when they visited their friends anyway?
Age ratings only work if everyone plays their part. And as much as I am in favour of anything that protects the customers, the retailers and also important, the developers and publishers, I can't see that a new age rating scheme, especially the one Gordon Brown mentioned, making any significant difference.
But the most important point I would like to make today is that games aren't the cause of violent deaths; Games aren't the cause of traffic accidents; Games aren't the cause of binge drinking and drugs; Games aren't the cause of violent attacks or rape; Games aren't the cause of Wales winning the Six Nations Grandslam. Games are an interactive entertainment like DVDs, music, books or board games. No, they're not the cause of the world's problems...they're just the scape goat.
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I was thrilled when I got my copy of GHII a week before the release date - as well as a million freebies here and there. Have four guitar hero faceplates, two guitar hero guitar bags, DS Lite Mortal Combat carry case as well as about half a dozen Godfather metal tin boxes.
And that was after I left...
And that was after I left...
Edgy wrote:
> I remember 'borrowing' that Zelda bonus disc that had Ocarina and
> Majora's Mask from one of Nintendo's GameCube bundles...
>
> Luckily I rememered to bring it back when the stocks were
> running low on GameCubes...
Still got my copy!
Ah, and I miss special free preview copies of games. That was a nice perk, though we used to fight over them.
> I remember 'borrowing' that Zelda bonus disc that had Ocarina and
> Majora's Mask from one of Nintendo's GameCube bundles...
>
> Luckily I rememered to bring it back when the stocks were
> running low on GameCubes...
Still got my copy!
Ah, and I miss special free preview copies of games. That was a nice perk, though we used to fight over them.
I remember 'borrowing' that Zelda bonus disc that had Ocarina and Majora's Mask from one of Nintendo's GameCube bundles...
Luckily I rememered to bring it back when the stocks were running low on GameCubes...
Luckily I rememered to bring it back when the stocks were running low on GameCubes...
Ah, the good old days.
Now I just get my gaming fun from taking the day off work for a console release and hanging around the game shop at early hours of the morning.
Now I just get my gaming fun from taking the day off work for a console release and hanging around the game shop at early hours of the morning.
Yeah, Our store had a broken 360 and a DS Lite with a string where the stylus should have been.
(slightly pleased I have a few 28-day return labels now I don't work there :p but shhh...)
(slightly pleased I have a few 28-day return labels now I don't work there :p but shhh...)
Aye, I worked in that one.
Though the two statues weren't there at the time. And I don't know any of the staff working there now. I was only in that store for 8 weeks - though that was a 'between jobs' job that I did before starting my current job...
Last time I looked, the one I mainly worked in had a statue like Lara and the hitman from Hitman (I haven't played the game and so I thought they left the barcode on him...:P) but it was of Link :D
Though the two statues weren't there at the time. And I don't know any of the staff working there now. I was only in that store for 8 weeks - though that was a 'between jobs' job that I did before starting my current job...
Last time I looked, the one I mainly worked in had a statue like Lara and the hitman from Hitman (I haven't played the game and so I thought they left the barcode on him...:P) but it was of Link :D
pb wrote:
> In some cases, yes, there are some thick parents out there (or
> those that just don't care). But having worked in a Games shop
> (well, worked for a friend in their independent in return for
> payment in games) I can say that there are also many cases of
> kids getting these games without the parents even knowing,
> usually through friends, schools etc.
You do have a point there about other ways of obtaining the game, but I'm certain the lure of the "18" certificate draws kids to want it. Pester power is a powerful thing and I'm not saying all parents give in to it (in fact most parents I know don't), but if you know your son or daughter frequents their friend's houses playing Grand Turok Manhunt (nice combo there) I think they should take steps to sort it out.
It does work - I think I was eght when the first GTA came out and started playing it on a friend's PSX. A few months later, I had my own pirate copy of it (as my mate's dad used to copy EVERYTHING!) and came across a nice cut-scene of two gangster swearing. My mum heard and then rang my friends parents and we were both banned from playing it (until my friend stole the copy, copied that and then put the original copy back where it belonged - we were kids :P). But the steps worked for a while and had my mate's dad hidden the disc better, well we wouldn't have played it.
But I'm not just going to blame the parents - I think everybody has to take their own responsibility in their part of obtaining age-restricted products. I think a law very similar to the alcohol/tobacco may work - where it is a criminal offence to actually try and buy an age restricted product if you are under the age. And the on the spot fines for people who buy these products for the youngsters. Ratings are fine as they are - just everybody needs to be a little more educated about what impact they intend to achieve.
Cool Edgy - did you ever get to work in the one in the shopping mall? I'm so tempted to take the life-sized Agent 47 and Lara Croft in those stores! And yeah, working for them now is a bit of a chore - the management have gone crackers!
> In some cases, yes, there are some thick parents out there (or
> those that just don't care). But having worked in a Games shop
> (well, worked for a friend in their independent in return for
> payment in games) I can say that there are also many cases of
> kids getting these games without the parents even knowing,
> usually through friends, schools etc.
You do have a point there about other ways of obtaining the game, but I'm certain the lure of the "18" certificate draws kids to want it. Pester power is a powerful thing and I'm not saying all parents give in to it (in fact most parents I know don't), but if you know your son or daughter frequents their friend's houses playing Grand Turok Manhunt (nice combo there) I think they should take steps to sort it out.
It does work - I think I was eght when the first GTA came out and started playing it on a friend's PSX. A few months later, I had my own pirate copy of it (as my mate's dad used to copy EVERYTHING!) and came across a nice cut-scene of two gangster swearing. My mum heard and then rang my friends parents and we were both banned from playing it (until my friend stole the copy, copied that and then put the original copy back where it belonged - we were kids :P). But the steps worked for a while and had my mate's dad hidden the disc better, well we wouldn't have played it.
But I'm not just going to blame the parents - I think everybody has to take their own responsibility in their part of obtaining age-restricted products. I think a law very similar to the alcohol/tobacco may work - where it is a criminal offence to actually try and buy an age restricted product if you are under the age. And the on the spot fines for people who buy these products for the youngsters. Ratings are fine as they are - just everybody needs to be a little more educated about what impact they intend to achieve.
Cool Edgy - did you ever get to work in the one in the shopping mall? I'm so tempted to take the life-sized Agent 47 and Lara Croft in those stores! And yeah, working for them now is a bit of a chore - the management have gone crackers!
Edgy wrote:
> And in response to PB - I admit I don't remember reading your
> post but due to other priorities, I haven't been on here as much
> as I used to. I did feel, however, it backed up my point which is
> why I mentioned it.
No problem, was just backing up/agreeing with your point myself! It was another case of Daily Mail crusading against using the truth to back up their right wing agendas again.
> And in response to PB - I admit I don't remember reading your
> post but due to other priorities, I haven't been on here as much
> as I used to. I did feel, however, it backed up my point which is
> why I mentioned it.
No problem, was just backing up/agreeing with your point myself! It was another case of Daily Mail crusading against using the truth to back up their right wing agendas again.
hippyman wrote:
> My final word - blame the parents. People over the age of the
> certifcate are (usually) responsible - so why ruin it for
> everyone.
In some cases, yes, there are some thick parents out there (or those that just don't care). But having worked in a Games shop (well, worked for a friend in their independent in return for payment in games) I can say that there are also many cases of kids getting these games without the parents even knowing, usually through friends, schools etc.
The enforcement of age restrictions have helped to some extent, seeing the difference from a retail side both before and after the stricter guidelines on selling to kids were brought in. Although most retailers who valued their reputation wouldn't have sold to kids anyway, it helped raise the awareness to some of the more caring parents.
But, yes, there are those parents who just begger belief when caring about what their kids are watching/doing and those that just don't have the brain power to understand.
> My final word - blame the parents. People over the age of the
> certifcate are (usually) responsible - so why ruin it for
> everyone.
In some cases, yes, there are some thick parents out there (or those that just don't care). But having worked in a Games shop (well, worked for a friend in their independent in return for payment in games) I can say that there are also many cases of kids getting these games without the parents even knowing, usually through friends, schools etc.
The enforcement of age restrictions have helped to some extent, seeing the difference from a retail side both before and after the stricter guidelines on selling to kids were brought in. Although most retailers who valued their reputation wouldn't have sold to kids anyway, it helped raise the awareness to some of the more caring parents.
But, yes, there are those parents who just begger belief when caring about what their kids are watching/doing and those that just don't have the brain power to understand.
hippyman wrote:
>
> I saw it all my time whilst working for Game and parents are
> usually the ones to blame for not taking responsibility. Where
> did you work Edgy?
I worked in Game in Debenhams Cardiff a few years ago when GTA4 and Vice City were popular...left not long after the Silver PS2 was released.
I did do the odd bit of work in the other 2 stores in Cardiff too...
The discount was nice, but I prefer playing the games to selling them.
And in response to PB - I admit I don't remember reading your post but due to other priorities, I haven't been on here as much as I used to. I did feel, however, it backed up my point which is why I mentioned it.
>
> I saw it all my time whilst working for Game and parents are
> usually the ones to blame for not taking responsibility. Where
> did you work Edgy?
I worked in Game in Debenhams Cardiff a few years ago when GTA4 and Vice City were popular...left not long after the Silver PS2 was released.
I did do the odd bit of work in the other 2 stores in Cardiff too...
The discount was nice, but I prefer playing the games to selling them.
And in response to PB - I admit I don't remember reading your post but due to other priorities, I haven't been on here as much as I used to. I did feel, however, it backed up my point which is why I mentioned it.
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