One system of age ratings or more bad press?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Industry fears grow that Gordon Brown could use report to introduce an aggressive ‘crackdown’ on games

A Whitehall leak to Scotland On Sunday last week suggested that Brown was ready to introduce an aggressive ‘crackdown’ on violent video games in the wake of the Byron Review, which will recommend the introduction of BBFC ratings for all software titles when it is published next month.

Brown’s choice of rhetoric has got top publisher, retailer and development bosses concerned – not least because Byron has won industry-wide praise for her open-minded approach to her task.

Byron met industry representatives behind closed doors in London last week. A source told MCV:

“It was pretty much agreed by all parties – publishing, retailers and parents and Government – that there needs to be one rating system for transparency’s sake, whether that be the BBFC or something more voluntary.”

“But there’s a definite fear that Brown will aggresively present this to the media and public as ‘we are fighting the industry for your kids’ safety’. Nothing could be further from the truth, and Tanya Byron knows that.”

“The meeting ended with a lengthy discussion, headed up by her, on how we can present this to the Government.”

A spokesperson for the Department For Children, Schools and Families said: “We cannot comment on anything that has not yet been published.”