real world
Government Denies Gaming/Violent Behaviour Link
Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 12:00 AM on March 18, 2008
As we previously posted, it looks like the UK is getting the choice not to purchase Manhunt 2. Hooray! So, is the British bureaucratic Department for Culture, Media and Sport going to try to stop this? You know, intervene. Says a department mouthpiece:
The classification of Manhunt 2 is a matter for the BBFC and the Video Appeals Committee... It is important to note that there is no conclusive evidence of any link between playing computer games and violent behaviour in real life. Our concern is to make sure that inappropriate material is kept away from children.Whoever at the DCMS said this is smart and deserves a high five.
No Evidence [GamesIndustry] [Pic]

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
EnigmaNemesis
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
@NecronomiconUK:
When movies are not held with the same scrutiny.
But there is nothing to discuss, that hasn't been 1 million times in the past on the interweb.
EnigmaNemesis
Accordion
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
The problem is the result of bad parenting, and age ratings not being enforced.
Perhaps because games are a growing media that is not very established within most peoples opinion, both parents and retailers dont apply the same restrictions as other media sales.
I often see mature, age rated games being sold direct to young children, and also parents taking young children to choose any game off the shelf without the parent taking any notice of the content.
I guess the scare stories of orgasmic rape and murder training are aimed at the irresponsible parents. Unfortunately extreme precautions only offer naive solution.
Accordion
TheMysteriousStranger
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
That bear needs a hug.
TheMysteriousStranger
TearsandScreams
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
@BenignMuffin: I kind of agree with you a bit, perhaps not quite so extreme. I think parents have every right to prevent their kids seeing certain violent media. My parents were quite strict, they never found anything completely unacceptable, but they would sit and watch/play games with me so I understood what was going on. And when the first GTA came out they didn't want me playing it. The horror games etc (Resident Evil et al) were fine because they were more fantasy based. Would you let kids play Manhunt 2? I have played it a bit, and as well as not being great it was quite a nasty little game. Not worthy of being banned certainly, but kids should not be playing it.
TearsandScreams
ManjiKengo
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
@Unknown-User: No children and anyone else.
The game is all kinds of "terrible".
Terrible camera, terrible gameplay, terrible game.
ManjiKengo
ManjiKengo
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
I threw my original xbox fat controller into my wall, resulting in a big hole, due to the 60th time retrying alma in ninja gaiden.
ManjiKengo
Mr.SithNinja
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
The only violence I ever experinced that was a direct result of gaming is throwing my NES controler at my little sister because she wouldn't let me play.
Come to think of it gaming also causes instances of spontanieous swearing with racial overtones as well. I once had to explain to my Mom why I was screaming "Jump you fat, Itallian bastard!!"
Oh and btw... Those MAX controlers may look like boomerangs but they won't come back when thrown.....
Mr.SithNinja
MKS
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
High five.
Still don't think it's appropriate material for certain age groups. Also think it's a parental responsibility to be in touch with what your children are exposed to and preparing them for it.
In this case, M/Mature 18+ rating would be appropriate.
I also think game vendors should card people, like we do for alcohol, pornography & cigarettes. You'll have a fringe bleedout of course(there's always a way to get what you want even though you're not 'supposed to') but at least it would shift the responsibility where it should be owned, rather than getting blames from every which way for making the adult content.
MKS
BenignMuffin
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
@Papa Midnight:
I grew up on violent video-games, my parents never saw the need to tell me what I can or can't watch/play, instead, if you can believe it, they gave me proper education, taugh me the difference between artistic entertainment and real life (mind boggeling, I know...) Personally I think that if, as a parent, you think letting your child play violent video games would develop violent tendencies then you shouldn't have had children in the first place.
BenignMuffin
UFO
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
Well of course the kiddies shouldnt get to play it and as a responsible parent of 2 children myself i wouldn`t let them play any unsuitable games, dvds etc.But what i dont need is some TIT in government telling me as an adult that i can or cant play a game because it will turn me into some kind of fucking nut.
Do all these people at the bbfc etc go psycho after a while and shoot,rape everybody in sight because of the content they have viewed? No!
There has always been nutters out there, they dont need a game to make them go nuts, they just are that way.In the late 80s and early 90s the popular thing to blame was so called video nasties.Chucky(childs play) films were blamed when a young kid was beaten and killed by 2 other children."we watched the chucky video" they cried.
So naturally the boffins, aka knobs in charge added 2+2 got 5 and came to the assumption that horror films or "video nasties" kill people.
If i buy an 18 rated game i am ALWAYS asked whether a game is for myself and not for someone younger.This is in uk stores so i just dont know what the problem is.
Oh and no i dont want the game at all.I just hate censorship.
UFO
Dajmin
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
It's about bloody time too. Give it an adult rating and let the adults decide how to deal with it. What a novel idea...
Dajmin
Papa Midnight
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
@Unknown-User: That's why it's rated M. If the parent is dumb enough to buy their child the game, then that's another issue.
Papa Midnight
TRT-X
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
Don't worry folks, somebody will dismiss this guy as a radical thinker, tear him apart for some miniscule mis-statement, discredit the whole discussion...and restore balance to the universe.
TRT-X
Huxleyhobbes
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
Wait, the fuck? A member of the British bureaucracy had a considered, non-reactionary reaction to something?
Huxleyhobbes
Witzbold
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
I aint hi-fiving that bear till he washes those grubby paws.
That by far is the best quote Ive heard in a while with regards to games + violence.
Witzbold
GameraTheGreat
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
I Knew it! Damn Nazi bear...die Nazi bear..die.
GameraTheGreat
4Degrees
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
He's not waving... It's a god damned nazi bear!
4Degrees
Billkwando
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
Waving bears....I approve. Any excuse to use this pic is good with me.
Billkwando
pokebud
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
I dunno why but you reminded me of this
+ Watch video
pokebud
njhardcoreguy
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
Where is JT's comment? Come on Jacky-boy... let's get your take on this. I'm sure you're going to claim that the British government isn't a reputable source.
njhardcoreguy
NecronomiconUK
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
@EnigmaNemesis: please explain...
NecronomiconUK
GameraTheGreat
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
OooHH.....what a cute bear.....that will utterly destroy you....die bear....die.
GameraTheGreat
EnigmaNemesis
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
Double Standards, as usual.
EnigmaNemesis
sudz
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
Games have ratings for a reason, parents need to realize we're not playing Mario everytime we buy a game
sudz
Channing
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
It seems that a lot of people who are against violent video games somehow over look the fact that these games are given ratings and are NOT meant for young children - yet that's what they always complain about. Their young children being corrupted by mature games.
Gosh, I'm sure glad I don't have to take responsibility for my own action as a parent!
Channing
kelptocratic
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
Good news I guess. I hear the game isn't great. Now please excuse me, as I there's an imploding economy to watch...
kelptocratic
Unknown-User
Posted 11:06 PM 19/3/08
...at least some people in governments are smart.
However, I still don't think that children should have Manhunt 2.
Unknown-User