EU Considering Regulating Sale of Violent Games

Spamicles writes "European Union justice ministers met today in order to discuss the regulation of sales of violent video games to minors. Europeans were riled up last year when a German gunman shot several people before taking his life at a secondary school. A European Union Commissioner is taking advantage of the shootings last year called for stricter regulations in the video game industry. A motion introduced last month calls for legislators to "put in place all necessary measures to ban the sale of particularly violent and cruel video games.""

Comments

Huh?

[skrolle2]

Europeans were riled up last year when a German gunman shot several people before taking his life at a secondary school.

No we weren't.

Re:Huh?

[MoonFog]

I wondered about that myself, apart from a few newspaper notices the only place that only appear to get "riled up" was Germany itself. I don't read German newspapers daily, so the level of their concern I don't know, but certainly in Scandinavia this has hardly been discussed. I also read a lot of British newspapers and I certainly haven't seen much there to indicate such a reaction from the Brits either.

Go sensationalism!

Re:We knew this was coming

[Anonymous Coward]

Sort of. Most games Europe-wide get a PEGI rating, but this is for information only and doesn't actually have any legal force. However, UK games that depict "human sexual activity or gross violence to any significant extent" get a BBFC classification which it's a pretty serious offence for retailers to breach.

Re:We knew this was coming

[simm1701]

The UK age certificates are legally enforced with heavy fines for anyone selling or renting films or games to those below the age of the rating. I think vendors that persist in selling media to those under age can be barred from selling dvds or games in the future.

The ratings are also pretty fair and its not that expensive to get something rated (a couple of thousand for a 90 minute film)

Re:not an outright ban

[drb_chimaera]

Actually, for the UK at least, we'd actually be holding games to the *same* standard we hold movies. The BBFC ratings given to films are legally binding and its a crime to let a minor in to see an 18-cert film, or to sell/rent the DVD to them.

For those not familiar with the cinema ratings in the UK:

• U - Universal (suitable for all)
• PG - Parental Guidance (suitable for all but some scenes may be unsitable for youngsters)
• 12A - 12 Advisory (noone under that age of 12 without a parent or guardian accompanying them)
• 15 - 15 and above only
• 18 - 18 and above only
• There are a few others but they only apply to VHS or to sex shops/licensed cinemas. Personally I think its a good and fair system (although of course its only as good as the people applying it) but most of the time I've found I've agreed with the ratings given and the stuff I'm unsure of theres been leeway for parental decision (such as can I take my eleven year old nephew to see Pirates 3 (12A in this country) - and on discussion with his mum we agreed he'd be fine with it). Anyway - my point is that I actually agree that we should hold videogames to the same standard we hold movies which is what this legislation appears to do. As a point of fact several games have been BBFC certified already in the past although I must admit to being unsure what the requirements are for such a certification to be given (whether its a voluntary move or if its like to be adult only or whatever).

Re:We knew this was coming

[PatrickThomson]

Yeah, it works for us so I never really understand all the fuss americans kick up over it. Here in the UK, if you want a violent videogame underage just ask the clueless parents for it. My 11-yo cousin has already completed san andreas on the PS2.