British rating board examines gaming

New report looks into how and why gamers play what they play, touches on violence and effectiveness of classification.

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) rates fewer than 7 percent of the games released in the UK (those with adult content are required to get a BBFC rating), but it wants to have 100 percent understanding of the medium regardless. To that end, the BBFC today released a report on its research into all aspects of games, from what gamers like and why to parental concerns and regulation.

The 107-page report is culled from a series of interviews on broad topics with a diverse group, from young and middle-aged gamers to concerned parents, game reviewers, and developers. One of the most interesting topics touched on in the report was that of violence in games, and it's one the report approached with caution.

"This is a difficult subject," the report reads. "A number of points may be made that, taken together, make the incidence of violence in games more comprehensible and perhaps less malign than may initially appear."

According to the report, many gamers see violence as a means to eliminate obstacles in order to achieve a goal, and not the end goal itself. And given that most games that involve shooting people also carry the risk of being shot, the report said gamers tend to be more concerned with saving their own lives than with ending others'. The report continues that giving gamers the chance to indulge in violence without consequences underscores games as escapist fantasy; they are fun because they depict things gamers wouldn't do in real life. Finally, the report says the requirement to keep interacting with a game in order to make progress makes it harder to become engrossed in than a film, and that seems to serve as a reminder for players not to mistake the game for real life.

As for the parental concerns, the report notes that parents who are familiar with games are more accepting of the medium.

"[Some parents] complain that children who play a lot of games become monosyllabic and unsociable, emerging from their rooms pasty-faced and zombie-like after hours of incomprehensible engagement with a fantasy world," the report says. "Parents who play are unsurprisingly better informed and less bothered than parents who have never played. Negative attitudes amongst the latter are often driven by bewilderment; games are a mystery and their negative image in much of the media means they are not given the benefit of the doubt."

Beyond violence in games, the report also touched upon how gamers choose the games they play. Some of the findings might surprise frequent message board visitors.

"There did not appear to be much brand loyalty to Sony or Microsoft as platform producers," the report notes. "Console brands do not appear to be cool in the way that games can be; a console is cool if it is very new on the market, but not because it is a particular brand. ... Despite its having produced some of the most popular of all games, Nintendo is mentioned less often by gamers than PlayStation and Xbox. On prompting it is sometimes regarded as pursuing a different strategy and its consoles are not subject to the same comparisons."

The report also reaffirmed the BBFC's own role in the gaming industry as a rater.

"There is widespread agreement that some regulation of video games is needed," the report reads, adding, "Regulation is needed not least because parents cannot be expected to play games themselves and come to their own judgements."

Despite that, the report did not absolve parents of blame entirely.

"If the classification of video games is indeed less vigorously enforced than film/DVD classifications, part of the explanation must lie with parents," the report says. "When they are interviewed in research many parents seem to agree on the need for a system. In practice, many do not make any effort to enforce it."

110 Comments

  • latejake

    Posted Jun 30, 2007 6:33 am GMT

    The report also reaffirmed the BBFC's own role in the gaming industry as a rater. "There is widespread agreement that some regulation of video games is needed," the report reads, adding, "Regulation is needed not least because parents cannot be expected to play games themselves and come to their own judgements." I am a parent.
    I play games.Fair play if it an adult game like 18 cert.
    I don't let my son play it because 13.
    if they ban this game.they should ban hostel film and saw plus hills have eyes plus many more.it a shame that they banned manhunt2

  • madmachinegun

    Posted Jun 22, 2007 6:10 pm GMT

    this has got to be one of the most enlightened, balanced reports by a government (including politicians) or media entity i have ever read.
    that said, government regulation of media is not a good thing in my opinion

  • S_Jake

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 10:16 am GMT

    Benny_is_here: Uhh, because the game is rated 18+? Seriously, if a system was adopted that allowed 15 year-olds to but 18-rated material, just what would be the point?

  • frumpton

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 1:14 pm GMT

    Once again our BBFC are the voice of reason. Lol.

  • Benny_is_here

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 11:49 am GMT

    I'm all for 5 year-olds not buying 18+ games, but why can't a 15 year-old buy a 18+ game? That is an obstacle that is constantly in my way when I want to buy a new M-rated game, especially in Europe where many games rated T by ESRB gets an M from PEGI... I've seen the Pain Olympics final, and should be able to handle animated gore... I'm also perfectly sane, so why can't I buy Gears of War?

  • Dreski83

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 8:31 am GMT

    Its always nice to hear fair reports of videogames, especially the violent ones. If anything, I'm not too surprised to see parents who actually play games have more justly opinions of them compared to ones who never played.

  • TTDog

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 7:38 am GMT

    I agree that using the BBFC certificates means that the ratings symbols are recognisable by parents but how difficult is it to understand the current ELSPA ratings of 12, 15 and 18? Just because they're in a little black and white box doesn't mean they can't be understood.

  • matrixman2k

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 6:38 am GMT

    ...Interesting...

  • soldier1993

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 5:27 am GMT

    xbox.... nintendo..... what is this? never heard about!!!!

  • Irve

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 5:11 am GMT

    See what you get when you have legally enforcable age ratings on games ... you get a government sanctioned body praising gaming !! Listen up america .. you may think it your god given right to make sure "the man" can't stop a store selling a 5 yr old Manhunt 2 .... but it's only right that the industry should welcome preventions like this .. it gives the Anti gaming lobby less ammo and makes them impotent at introducing draconian measures on game releases !

  • amogley

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 3:28 am GMT

    OMG .... do I see some common sense shining through here?

    To be honest, there are no real surprises in the report above, in fact I would hazard that there is nothing there that most of us didn't already know.

    At least it shows a growth in the unbiased awareness of gaming as a medium.

  • casidor

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 12:53 am GMT

    This is an excellent news article, I agree with the great majority of it. Parents who have no clue about games, see total violence, where learning how to kill another person is the whole point. When you play games and feel the games, you learn a lot more about life. In some cases you learn history, strategy, teamwork, and YOU ARE MORE SOCIAL WITH YOUR FRIENDS THAT PLAY GAMES. You must remember that you should not let the games control your mind and time. You control your actions and thoughts, not the games. In saying this, use your time wisely.

  • Poshkidney

    Posted Apr 19, 2007 12:20 am GMT

    WOW a nom bias report

  • TiRoSu13

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 9:04 pm GMT

    This is the most comprehensive professional study on video games that I have ever seen.

  • twisted696

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 7:29 pm GMT

    This is a game website I wish people would just talk games and not polititics.

  • AFVerlin

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 7:25 pm GMT

    I agree with the article. Parents just watch the media, and they depict video games horribly (unless its Attack of the Show of course) and then parents automatically think video games are like the spawn of satan or something. Dang people, stop blaming video games and start blaming real causes, like gangs. even blaming rap for shootings is more realistic than blaming video games.

  • capthunt

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 7:16 pm GMT

    Finally!!! An honest and very comprehensive research that games are not bad at all.

  • G_W_X

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 3:46 pm GMT

    Is this because of the shootings?
    I saw in the newspaper(glimpsed) that the guy who did it wrote some note saying it was because of some rich kid or somthing?
    See it s not gaming that cause people to flip out?
    Not games.
    Get it right people.
    Scapegoat-ism must go away.
    Nothing else to add.

  • death1505921

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 1:54 pm GMT

    A point i have to make to this is, I never see little british kids online. I'm a brit, but it always seems to be athe little 10 year old american. Like the guy said, they should use the same rating system on both DVD and games, that way parents would recognise it. Like they do in britain.

  • rainmanstile

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 12:33 pm GMT

    finally someone takes an unbiased look at video games. i dont think this will cross the atlantic though..... generally speaking the most ignorant people raise the most hell and get their way over hear in america( jack thompson, george bush)

  • anarchicgoth

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 12:01 pm GMT

    jhfjksahckjwcw ugh why cant people just leave video games alone!!!!!

  • TehPickle

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 11:32 am GMT

    MonkeysDad:

    "less chance of pleading ignorance at buying Manhunt for their 10-year old..."

    I wish that was the case, I really do. It's depressing how many ignorant parents there are out there that simply think "I'll buy it for him, how bad can it be?"

    Please guys, get off this subject of "My country pwns yours." It has nothing to do with the subject in question and you're making yourselves look ridiculous.

  • theKSMM

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 10:47 am GMT

    It's interesting to see a new viewpoint coming from a research perspective. So many similar studies in the U.S. rehash the same results enough to make you wonder if they weren't predisposed to their findings before the research began.

  • SorrowsFlame

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 10:27 am GMT

    Military power defines nothing in this day and age. The US economy is falling and useless wars are being fought. Invading Iraq/Afganistan actually GIVES them a reason for further bombing. In the end it will solve nothing, and the lives lost will be for nothing. People will just rise with more hate and anger than before.

    (Canadian by the way)

  • Rect_Pola

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 10:02 am GMT

    Very nice. Pretty much nothing I didn't already know, but it's nice when important groups perform studies verifing it. I'm sure a similarly open-minded study in any other territory would produce the same analysis.

  • can0of0cheese

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 9:06 am GMT

    Are you pasty faced and zombie-like? Join the club and become a subscriber at Gamespot.com!

  • Mikazukinoyaiba

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 8:58 am GMT

    I find it funny how this topic drifted towards politics and "which country is better".

    v;

    Each and every one of you are biased, everyone that said USA is better are americans. Everyone that said Britain is better are British or European perhaps.

    'course there could be some Americans that said Britain is better, mostly because they are those angsty teenagers who "hate this intolerant country! ;_;"

    Oh and Military power DOES define a great country, you can't say a country is great for any other reason because in just one military campaign, that country is wiped out.

    If you studied world history you'd know without great military power all the accomplishes a country achieves is for naught, for they are erased off of the map.

  • ReggieNametaker

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 8:26 am GMT

    Puts the ESRB to shame lol!

  • MonkeysDad

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 8:26 am GMT

    The big difference over here is that games rated "18" by the BBFC have the same badge as movies and DVD's. Parents actually recognise it and (sometimes) pay attention. No censorship, but less chance of pleading ignorance at buying Manhunt for their 10-year old...

  • bsully04

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 7:58 am GMT

    Ok, off-topic, yes France helped the US win the American Revolution...and then the US helped France (somewhat) in WWI, was a major part of liberating France from the Nazis in WWII, and got involved in Vietnam initially to help the French...with all due respect, I think we're even.

    Anyways, on topic, yeah, it is nice to see something positive about gaming in this form. Hopefully non-gamers will pay attention to it.

  • Brainkiller05

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 7:54 am GMT

    Good

  • gibsongirl

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 4:44 am GMT

    finally something positive

  • SapSacPrime

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 4:32 am GMT

    I fully agree with this, and I also think games should have the online elements examined and this should also infuence the rating at some level. Too many young children are just allowed to do what they want on the internet when the parents should try actually monitering them.

  • whizzedOUTwoz

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 3:43 am GMT

    This is an excellent report, not biased at all.

    I hope more people take this onboard, that's why the british rating system is the best in the world. They take films and games for what they are, and that's entertainment, they have no hidden agenda.

    I was very pleased to read this, it dosen't belittle or big up gamers, it tells it how it is. Kudus.

    Yet it will be completely ignored by all those media attention seeking whore scum. rucktards like Jack Thompson.

  • zsc4

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 3:31 am GMT

    I hope this turns out on the positive side for gamers.

  • Vorknykx

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 3:25 am GMT

    JangoFett582 said:

    "Riverwolf007, lets look at the Revolutionary War: USA victorious over the British. Example 2: War of 1812 - Same results as first. Examples 3 and 4: WWI and WWII - USA saves ALL of Europe, including the British, and also save the Japs from themselves. But thats a different story.

    I agree with shanzor. If you look at this history, I'm not just saying this because I'm from Britain, it was France who secured the US independance also because of a game of chess (A sympathiser sent a not to a British General who never got to read it because he was too busy playing chess and cost him with an up coming battle).
    And the thanks that France get, Mr. Bush saying if you're not with us you're against us." And France is alienated.
    Also the US Marine Corps uses the British made Harrier because they couldn't get their own VTOL working. If you look at most technological accomplishment, Britsih can get more out of items than some American manufacturers.
    FInal dig: If USA is greater than, why is the £ worth $2, highest it's been in ages?
    And with the right to bear arms: that law aws only made just after the War of Independace just in case the British returned. But because of insecurities over tehre there is a gun in each room to use on the fellow man of America. We have th right to bare arms *rolls up arm sleeve*

    And about the Japanese. If history serves me correctly they held animosity to the US because US fleet surrounded its port and the man in charge said: if you don't trade we'll start firing on your coast. And the bombing of Pearl Harbour. Thank the British for that. THe wooden fins was an idea we used on an Italians in the same war because their port was shallow like Pearl Harbour. YEs saving them from themselves with a thermonuclear device of two concentration because they had no idea what they were capable of. Well it did give us the 27 Japanese Godzilla films, must be something good from that.

  • TTDog

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 2:59 am GMT

    "There did not appear to be much brand loyalty to Sony or Microsoft as platform producers," the report notes.

    So they obviously haven't read any of the news threads on here then.

  • TehPickle

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 2:43 am GMT

    yukine: "Another report that Jack Thompson will completely ignore."

    Unfortunately yes, he has no reason to pay attention to it as I'm sure in his warped mind, it doesn't apply to his countrymen.

  • trexnine

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 2:37 am GMT

    At least someone is looking at all the aspects of gaming and writing it all after investigating it instead of seeing shooting people and say its wrong and should not be on the gaming market

    and jango no not at all
    USA=British they have their faults and so do we accept that fact wars don't prove anything. just another way people die.

  • LordLeckie

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 2:17 am GMT

    @Mkurts agreed we desperately need an R18+ rating what the hell is taking the government so long? god it wouldnt take long for them to modify the dam system, sheesh.

  • lord-azrael

    Posted Apr 18, 2007 1:46 am GMT

    you see,if you get the British to investiagate the situation then youll get a report that makes sense

  • ChitoKiryoku

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 10:52 pm GMT

    At least some reports make sense, I wish there were more like this one

  • yukine

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 10:43 pm GMT

    Another report that Jack Thompson will completely ignore.

  • Kfoss

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 10:04 pm GMT

    wow that actually makes sense in a not insane way..why can people here do that....

  • Terrorantula

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 9:36 pm GMT

    Whats wrong with the British? Our economy is doing far better than the Americans and we were the most powerful nation in the world for a long time.

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 7:24 pm GMT

    More studies being done, is a good thing.

  • ElectrolightSH

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 6:15 pm GMT

    Interesting...

  • mkurts

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 5:49 pm GMT

    Dumb parents who go with the hype, neglect the education of their children, then blame games are commonplace these days.

    Regulation of games is fine, as long as we in Australia get the long overdue 18+ rating, like those for the movies.

    Glad to see that these censors are actually thinking about their actions and their ratings.

    Games do not kill people or cause violence.

    Psychos and Freakshows do that regardless of influence.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Apr 17, 2007 5:44 pm GMT

    okay

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