Video Game Censorship

http://www.consumer.org.nz/reports/video-game-censorship

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Electronics

Video game censorship

Updated: 09 Jul 2009

Introduction

It’s time to update our video games censorship laws – and for parents to keep an eye on what their kids are playing.

Video games have been largely regarded as kids’ entertainment – but that’s no longer the case, with sophisticated adult games and violent “shoot ‘em ups” sharing shelf space with more innocuous titles. Are our censorship laws keeping up with modern games and the increasing ways you can access them?

Censorship laws

Video games are not all about Pac-Man and Space Invaders – and equally, they’re not all about Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt. The video game market is diverse, with pre-school titles, R18 shooters, sports simulators, fitness programs, and free web games all jostling for attention. The methods of acquiring and playing games are also expanding beyond retail models.

These developments put our censorship laws increasingly behind the times, saysChief CensorBill Hastings.

Labelling issues

Anything that gets rated as MA15+ in Australia has to pass through Bill Hastings’ office. He says that “we probably see 50-70 games a year, which is obviously only a small portion of the games that arrive in New Zealand”. This is something he’d like to change. “I want to repeal a section that exempts video games from labelling requirements,” says Hastings. “It came into force in 1994, when video games were apparently seen as too harmless to require rating.”

This is hardly the case today. So why hasn’t it been changed? Hastings cites dealing with two departments: it’s administered by the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Internal Affairs. “But I’m hoping my proposal to the new government will see some movement on this front.”

The result of this law is video games have a variety of labels from New Zealand and Australia which can leave parents confused about what titles are appropriate for their children. Hastings wants every game here to carry a New Zealand label, bringing them in line with other media such as DVDs.

In the meantime, it’s still worth paying attention to labels: anything with an “R” is inappropriate for children.

Rating labels found on games in New Zealand

New Zealand ratings / Australian ratings /

These labels are found on electronic games sold in New Zealand. All games with R labels are legally restricted. All other games can be bought, given to, or played by anyone.

The law and parents

There has been an outcry over R16 or R18 video games getting into the hands of children. “Parents are a funny bunch,” says Hastings. “Often you’ll get groups or individuals saying we shouldn’t be letting our youth play these R18 games. My standard reply is … you shouldn’t be letting your kids play. So they come back and say it’s obvious kids are playing them, so we should ban them all.

“We’ve got the developers on side – they market only for an older audience and spend their resources targeting those who are allowed to play their games. And we’ve now got the retailers educated: they have posters up in their stores. And yet still we hear through various surveys that kids are getting their hands on these restricted games – and the only place left is the parents.”

It’s illegal to allow children to play restricted video games, even in your own home. But many parents aren’t getting the message. “They treat these games simply as babysitters. Anything to keep junior quiet for hours in his bedroom has to be good, right? Well, no, actually!” says Hastings.

The faces of gaming

Games can be sourced from a variety of places, which makes life difficult if you’re a parent trying to monitor what your children play. Here’s a quick rundown of what to be aware of:

Retail copies

Physical copies of games are still the most common – and the easiest to keep track of.

Consoles are game machines that plug into your TV. The major ones are PlayStation 2 and 3, Xbox 360, and Wii. PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are the most graphically powerful. A high-definition TV is recommended to get the best out of them. They also have the most “hardcore” line-up, such as Grand Theft Auto and numerous shooters. But they also have a great many games appropriate for all ages, from karaoke to quizzes.

PlayStation 2 and Wii are best for younger gamers, though there are actually titles that are “fun for the whole family”. PlayStation 2 is a good budget option, and because it’s been around for years, it has an extremely diverse range of games.

Windows-based computers are also home to many games, although you will need an expensive machine with a good graphics card to run the latest 3D titles. But there are also many older games that are cheap and great for kids.

Handheld machines such as Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable are for gamers on the go. The DS boasts a large selection of kid-friendly games, while the PSP aims for a slightly older audience, with many of its games adaptations of home console titles. The newest versions of both machines also allow music and video playback.

Digital downloads

Increasingly, games can be found online in many different forms.

Free-to-play games inside your web browser are common and generally supported by adverts. Google search safe online game websites such as Miniclip.com, which is a good distraction for kids, especially since the games are short.

Online-based games generally require a download and use the internet constantly. Multiplayer online games often involve thousands of people playing at once, competitively and co-operatively. World of Warcraft boasts over 11 million subscribers paying a monthly fee. These games are time-consuming, so keep an eye on usage.

Digital versions of retail games are creeping up on retail sales. They require a good broadband connection – file sizes can go over 4GB. Paying for and downloading full games through services such as Steam or Direct2Drive can be more convenient than hunting in stores – and the prices are often better. But be careful if your children have access: there’s no age checking for downloading.