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See the original image at arstechnica.com

European Comission Wants a Better Game Ratings System

arstechnica.com — The European Commission wants a stronger ratings system for games, one that would encompass the entire European Union. The challenges—as well as the possible rewards—are great.

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  • lucidguru, on 04/23/2008, -17/+20AKA the EU wants to be able to censor games better.
    • shortstacks, on 04/23/2008, -16/+14not everything is a conspiracy
      • sirbeta, on 04/23/2008, -6/+15Except in this case, the primary case cited for their reasoning was someone who killed people and then himself, and games are being tied to him killing people because he mentioned games on a video blog (if I kill a bunch of people and talk about how much I hate red koolaid, are we going to adopt stricter drink color policies?). It looks like it's getting as bad over in Europe as it is in the US with unfounded logic that video games kill.
    • fkr3, on 04/23/2008, -2/+29Parents should be able to look at a game and see if it's suitable for their child just like they can with movies, tv shows, cds etcetera.
    • asskey, on 04/23/2008, -3/+18You seem to not understand the difference between informing the consumer and controlling the consumer.
      • mikemil828, on 04/24/2008, -2/+8You know, those two aren't mutually exclusive...
    • Myonosken, on 04/23/2008, -2/+10I didn't see any mention of banning.
      • PeppermintPig, on 04/24/2008, -2/+6Programs always sound good when first established.. just give them time, they're bound to exert more control.
      • Scheissen, on 04/24/2008, -1/+3Get approved by the European board or it can't be sold. It's banning. This is how Germany does it.
  • RyeBrye, on 04/23/2008, -7/+7Of all the things to exert some kind of control, video game ratings is where they are starting?

    I wonder how long until they just start calling the countries states and electing a single President of the EU.
    • conmulligan, on 04/23/2008, -0/+9Members of the EU are already called 'Member States', there is already a 'President' (it rotates between the member states) and the new constitution introduces a new position, President of the European Council, who will be directly elected and will hold broader powers than any other high-level office.

      It's all good though, if you look at the proposed changes there's nothing too scary in there.
    • ndonohue, on 04/24/2008, -0/+3to expand on mulligan, the traditional use of the word 'state' is different from the american use- it is synonymous with 'country'. 'Province' would be a better term. I know we're splitting hairs, but I just got out of lecture and felt like imparting some knowledge :)
  • megaton, on 04/23/2008, -0/+8They should use TIGRS: http://www.tigrs.org
    • Planets, on 04/23/2008, -0/+2Is that a serious website? I can't tell.

      No, seriously.
    • grimward, on 04/24/2008, -3/+1Wow, I'm just amazed at the level of intense cookie cutter christian fundamentalism that just oozes off that site. Just the fact that the author diffirentiates between alcohol, tobacco and "other" drugs as separate drugs makes me chuckle as it signifies the typical "pure christian" view of the world. Any sane and critical person would just slap a "drug usage" label on it.
      • Planets, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Differentiating between drugs has nothing to do with Christianity. =P
  • unitedkronos, on 04/23/2008, -0/+17Why bother updating the current system? In the case of GTA:SA in the UK, an 18 certificate covers 1/10th of the cover art and it also has a detailed table of content on its back. This is more than enough, it's up to parents to watch what their kids are playing is suitable or not.
    • Myonosken, on 04/23/2008, -1/+4The size of that sticker is not even necessary. Most games still have the tiny ones.
    • TSSaloic, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2Its that some countries have no rating system in place, and the EU would like some ratings system across the Euro zone.
  • MenthiX, on 04/23/2008, -9/+24Buried as inaccurate, they don't want a better system... just a stricter system and force all EU counties to use it :(.
    • Kakemonstere, on 04/23/2008, -1/+12Well, the only thing I read is that they want all the countries in the EU to use the PEGI system and they want to increase awareness to the parents. I actually don't problem with that.
      • Kakemonstere, on 04/23/2008, -7/+0Sorry, "I actually don't GOT a problem with that" :P
        • fkr3, on 04/23/2008, -0/+6Or even "I actually don't HAVE a problem with that".
  • Nhmarine, on 04/23/2008, -5/+3There is a sharp contrast between killing off hundreds of tiny computer images on your television and actually getting off of the fat that has formed itself around your posterior as a result of sitting on the couch committing hundreds of simulated massacres and picking up a gun to shoot someone with. Or... wait... is there...? At least I can tell the difference.
  • farkis, on 04/23/2008, -11/+2F the EU
  • SeanRoss, on 04/23/2008, -1/+10Do we need a better game rating system or more attentive parents the world over?
  • doctechnical, on 04/23/2008, -3/+27How about a simple list of what groups the game enrages, and to what degree (say, a number between 1 and 5)? Like:
    Fundamentalist Christians: 4
    Fundamentalist Muslims: 3
    Scientologists:5
    Anti-Gun: 3
    Anti-Vivisectionists: 2
    Filthy Hippies: 5
    Ron Paul Supporters: 0
    The View: 4
    Department of Homeland Security: 4

    You get the idea. Feel free to add your own. This also doubles as a wishlist for gift shopping - "Any game that pisses off the CO$ to Five!"
    • matador3, on 04/23/2008, -0/+8What game would offend Ron Paul supporters?
      • metamorfoza, on 04/24/2008, -2/+9a game where you have to kill Ron Paul and his supporters?
    • grimward, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Actually, I would like a rating that went "How many Yatzee's this offended" :P
  • wiachy, on 04/23/2008, -1/+5everyone wants everything better.
    • obliviousfool, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2I'd be happy just to have an icon which tells me whether a game sucks or not.
  • conmulligan, on 04/23/2008, -2/+14If this is implemented right, I don't have a problem. The only real hurdle I can foresee is Germany; generally they're quite a bit harsher on games than the rest of Europe (especially regarding stuff like Nazi iconography and the like).
    • grimward, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4Yeah, it's ironic that the Germans having endured some of the world's worst facism, is now acting in the same way to "prevent" it from happening again, they're acting like the very people they say they are protecting their citizens from :D
  • chrisduser, on 04/23/2008, -0/+9The 18 year old adult in the article is a murderer, and what murderer wouldn't be interested in violent games, he is a murderer after all. Is it the video games fault that normal people aren't the only ones that play video games?
  • FaithclubDotNet, on 04/23/2008, -0/+6I too would like a better ratings system. It seems like editors always seem to rate games high even when they suck just so they can keep their job.
  • Zap2, on 04/23/2008, -0/+8Well I want better parenting!

    Its an Art form...stop minors from using it if fine, but an adult should be able to get any game someone makes.
  • Wilsomatic, on 04/23/2008, -2/+6Anything that hopefully prevents little foul-mouthed pre-teen british kids from playing games rated for older audiences (ie CoD4) gets my vote.
    • PeppermintPig, on 04/24/2008, -0/+5That might require responsible parenting...
  • spiggot123, on 04/23/2008, -1/+1great article.
  • NonLeftistDiggr, on 04/23/2008, -3/+6European Union wants more (fill in blank here) regulation.
    • PeppermintPig, on 04/24/2008, -2/+1Awesome?
    • DarkShroud, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1This would also give them news ways to extort money from any business that does not comply or breaks the rules.
  • wexmajor, on 04/24/2008, -2/+6There are no possible rewards here. The only thing that will happen is crazy ***** like Germany will end up pushing their crazy douchebag censorship on everyone else.
    • hfactor, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2Uuh yeah. Like, not being allowed to show a nipple on TV. Oh wait...
      • grimward, on 04/24/2008, -1/+1I'm intrigued, do tell how you managed to dechiper that wexmajor is an american :O
  • SuperMoses, on 04/24/2008, -1/+3Why is the EU wasting their time with this *****?
    • DarkShroud, on 04/27/2008, -0/+1There is lots of money involved in video games. The EU can't continue to extort MS forever.
  • IamStarkiller, on 04/24/2008, -1/+0Parents can't control their kids, that would involve effort and 2 minutes from the TV or McDonald's drive thru.
  • Dundasbro, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4That's nice, now how about getting Australia an adult's only rating? We have games banned, yes honestly banned here because there is no AO or R rating at all. We get modified content to avoid this, but it is still ***** and needs to be changed, but won't be because of some inbred ***** Attorney General from South Australia who has a vendetta against video games, and thinks that an AO rating will expose games to children. Read about the retard here if you want - http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23 ... - Now tell me, does he make sense at all?

    EDIT: Oh and I am aware that the European Union's Commision can't actually do anything about the Australian situation, just wanted to complain a little.
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  • Winston84, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4Screw better rating - I just want better games !
  • djpray2k, on 04/24/2008, -0/+4This is the easy way out - the two other options are:
    1. Make parents do some frigging parenting
    2. Make people realise that games are not children's toys, many are intended for adults

    Of course these options are much harder so won't ever happen.
    Personaly I'm over 18 so as long as a game doesn't get banned it doesn't make a huge difference to me.
  • grimward, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1Actually, I can understand the idea that games need ratings to aid parents that aren't up with the latest game developments. However, as with all things, I don't think one needs the legislators to put a rating like this into cement as it's not any ***** business of the state of how I parent my children. But, in all fairness, with today's climate online, one should slap an 18+ on all games able to connect to any kind of text or voice chat which is unmoderated, because as we all know, people are less than friendly when they play games online.
  • kravex, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2"discrimination," the PEGI site explains, showing an icon of two white figures towering menacingly over a black figure.
    Has anyone ever seen a game with this on?
  • slayersotaku, on 04/24/2008, -0/+1The problem is most parents are desensitized to the content in the game. They watch their late night shows that have similar content. So when they see an M rating or the like it's not a deal to them. I have a lot of friends who work at gamestop and I hear the same old story.

    1) Kid brings up GTA to the counter.
    2) Clerk informs kid he cannot sell it because of the rating.
    3) Kid gets mom who is waiting in the car.
    4) Mom is mad because she had to get her lazy butt out of the car.
    5) Clerk informs mom that this game is rated M for violence, sexual content and language.
    6) Mom replies, "That's ok, it's nothing they don't hear or see from their father."

    The rating systems work and all the retailers I see will not sell the M rated games to the children. Unfortunately it really does come down to the parents. I know everyone blames the parents and in this case it's true.
  • bobbagoose, on 04/24/2008, -0/+2I would argue that alcohol consumption causes more deaths (as a ratio) than video games.
  •  

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