Upcoming Study Might Change New Zealand's Game Ratings

[SelectivelyEvil13]

At least it doesn't sound like they're approaching this with an obviously slanted view on the matter without due consideration. In America, it seems like games are one of those things that are an immediate scapegoat without logical or empirical evidence. I can only imagine an American study...

Day 53: Another day playing Call of Duty online. It has been three days in a row without incident and everything seemed to have been going fine. Thirty minutes in, the voices started to pound caustic insults towards my mother, heritage, and sexual orientation into my psyche. Unbeknownst to me, hours slipped past me as the voices grew stronger and flashes of death and bullet lag spilled into my mind. Then came the screams. Oh the screams, they were the worst of it all! It was as though a thousand kittens had been thrown into a wood-chipper and then set on fire. The horror of it all has me questioning my own perceived reality.

Day 68: Now the voices are telling me that my name is actually Nathan Drake and I am to travel to the lost city of El Doritos and find the lost city of golden cheddar ranch! The only thing standing in my way is that damn Mrs. Graham next door and her damn cats and fresh baked apple pies. And those damn campers. I must prepare for the many fights to come, from the neighborhood pool, to Boy Scouts meeting, to the local grocery store! But first thing's first, to the gun shop!

 

[Gildan Bladeborn]

That picture is just a hysterical accompaniment to this article, I almost spewed water all over my monitor from the sudden onset of laughter seeing it provoked.

 

[Adzma]

While it's admirable that the country is willing to commit some serious cash to updating its game ratings system, this almost seems like overkill. One would think that a system like the one the ESRB uses here in the United States would be a reasonable way to handle game ratings, especially since it was (presumably) created with little more than common sense.

That would be wonderful in theory, but the unfortunate truth is that both New Zeland and Australia's respective classifcation systems are enforced by law. The ESRB system is merely a reccomendation. (To my knowledge anyway, someone from America correct me if I'm wrong)

 

[C95J]

God dammit, games do not cause violence already!

When will people get it into their heads...

It may not, but would you really feel comfortable with a 6 year old plying Dead Space? No. It's not all about violence, that's just part of it. Games should be subjected to the same standards as movies and television are. In other words, rating systems to stop people from seeing content which is inappropriate for them, such as my previous example. It's about educating parents and so forth.

I think that if the parents of the child consent to this, and the child is mature enough to understand the differences between a game and reality, then yes, they should be able to play it.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

God dammit, games do not cause violence already!

When will people get it into their heads...

It may not, but would you really feel comfortable with a 6 year old plying Dead Space? No. It's not all about violence, that's just part of it. Games should be subjected to the same standards as movies and television are. In other words, rating systems to stop people from seeing content which is inappropriate for them, such as my previous example. It's about educating parents and so forth.

I think that if the parents of the child consent to this, and the child is mature enough to understand the differences between a game and reality, then yes, they should be able to play it.

And I agree with you. That's why we need rating systems so that parents can make an informed decision. But generally a 6 year old shouldn't play a game like Dead Space without the parent knowing the nature of the game first. That's what the rating system is for.

 

[VondeVon]

While it's admirable that the country is willing to commit some serious cash to updating its game ratings system, this almost seems like overkill.

I don't know, I'm grateful. Someone somewhere is sacrificing the cash to gather some scientific information on gaming and how it affects us. I don't know if they plan to do anything BEYOND monitoring brainwaves whilst someone plays games, or just do the bare minimum and then bunk off for a government-sponsored smoke, but it's data that might turn out interesting and maybe even helpful.

Of course, it might just be a big smokescreen fund so they can then ban a lot of stuff citing scientific research. We'll see.

 

[Jared]

And this is proof that its not jsut a syustem no one cares about - at least trying to put some effort into making a system work, and work well

 

[C95J]

God dammit, games do not cause violence already!

When will people get it into their heads...

It may not, but would you really feel comfortable with a 6 year old plying Dead Space? No. It's not all about violence, that's just part of it. Games should be subjected to the same standards as movies and television are. In other words, rating systems to stop people from seeing content which is inappropriate for them, such as my previous example. It's about educating parents and so forth.

I think that if the parents of the child consent to this, and the child is mature enough to understand the differences between a game and reality, then yes, they should be able to play it.

And I agree with you. That's why we need rating systems so that parents can make an informed decision. But generally a 6 year old shouldn't play a game like Dead Space without the parent knowing the nature of the game first. That's what the rating system is for.

yep, perfect viewpoint, I just wish a bit more people take responsibility, and the media handle things correctly

 

[felixader]

I congratulate.

I congratulate the Guy who actually managed to get a government to pay for that very doubtfull study of only 60 people who have to stound for Millions.

I guess three years of save employment are a nice reason to celebrate.

 

[The Admiral]

I think it is a great idea to apply science to the issue instead of listening to a bunch of dumb soccer moms who can't be bothered to actually raise their kids. If they are looking at what material actually affects people and then give that a higher rating, then that system actually makes a bit of sense.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

God dammit, games do not cause violence already!

When will people get it into their heads...

It may not, but would you really feel comfortable with a 6 year old plying Dead Space? No. It's not all about violence, that's just part of it. Games should be subjected to the same standards as movies and television are. In other words, rating systems to stop people from seeing content which is inappropriate for them, such as my previous example. It's about educating parents and so forth.

I think that if the parents of the child consent to this, and the child is mature enough to understand the differences between a game and reality, then yes, they should be able to play it.

And I agree with you. That's why we need rating systems so that parents can make an informed decision. But generally a 6 year old shouldn't play a game like Dead Space without the parent knowing the nature of the game first. That's what the rating system is for.

yep, perfect viewpoint, I just wish a bit more people take responsibility, and the media handle things correctly

As do we all, good sir.

 

[Alpha164]

now me being from the nz all i can hope for is that if this test works out correctly and that we either get a slightly modified version of the current rating system or a new system that allows more freedom in these areas of entertainment otherwise i really wouldnt mind if the original system was left in place, though all on one condition that we do NOT end up with and ultra-strict system like austrila.