BBFC: Video Games Don't Turn You Into A Psycho Or Sociopath
The British governing body of all things censorship, the BBFC, have ruled that there is inconclusive evidence to suggest that playing violent video games will turn you into a knife-wielding thug. Ok, perhaps they didn't quite put it like that, but the British Board of Film Classification representative Andrew Caldecott has stated "The board's position is that there is insufficient evidence to prove, as a fact, there is a causal connection between violent games and behavioural harm". He then goes on to suggest that further investigation is required to ensure that we're safe from joypad wielding lunatics - again, not exactly his words.
The entire debate started off because the Rockstar game Manhunt 2 was refused a classification by the BBFC. It was deemed far too violent and mindless to be approved and although Geoffrey Robertson from Rockstar attempted at great lengths to make a valid point about video game violence not being related to actual crime, the BBFC weren't too keen on listening.
The situation is still ongoing, but at least it looks like the BBFC are started to talk some sense. As with most issues of censorship however, they're reticent to put their reputation on the line by approving such a violent game. Caldecott has suggested that just because the research put forward by Rockstar at the hearing in defense of the game "achieves the objective of establishing that research does not demonstrate that there is a causal link", he still states that is "certainly does not establish is that there isn't."
Hopefully this will be sorted out soon and it will set the precedent for upcoming violent, adult titles. The title is due to be released before Christmas in the UK, but still has a 'to be confirmed' rating on it.
Gadget Girl
Posted to Video Games on 27 November 2007
· Comments (2)
Other stuff like this: bbfc, censorship, manhunt 2, rockstar
did anyone else notice gadget girl is not on the staff list? :(
Uh, if it doesn't, then why did they ban Manhunt 2 by not classifying it?