"Parents are concerned about whether children are exposed to harmful violence and sexual imagery in games and on the internet."

Really? And that's why they queue to buy GTA for their little Jonnie when it comes out.

No thats because they are to afraid of their owns kids not liking them, they are so desperate to be a 'good' parent and be their kids friend they buy them anything they want. Either that or tey don't care and just want to shut their kids up.

Anyone else who works in a store been asked that classic by a parent about to buy her (don't want to pick on mothers, but it almost always is) kid an 18 game "Is there any swearing or anything bad in this game or is it just violence?"

*sigh*

ALL publishers and stores should get together and for a month give away a pack of condoms a pack of cigs and a porno mag with EVERY 18 game. See if that drives home to the dumb parents what an 18 rating means when they look at you like your satan for handing that lot to their kid along with his game.

Too true. I could count the number of concerned parents I've dealt with that buy rated games for their kids on one hand.

Sort out the bloody parents, and make them accountable for their kids, instead of protecting them and their 'rights'.

This is bull****
what happened to blaming the parents... Brown, u are officially a muppet.
if parents didn't buy them for kids, then kids wouldn't have them.
the games industry does its best to label the content on packaging, and also by marketing it for adults, not children.
Isn't this what age-ratings are for?

Before simply banning the games the Government should try educating parents, everyone knows why films are rated 18, why not games?
If parents buy these games for their kids and they end up doing some great wrong the child AND parents should be punished.

Simply put I dont want dome ignorant politician telling me what I can and cannot play

A child gets shot in Liverpool and what do they point the finger at? Ineffective policing? Illegal weapon availability in UK cities? Nope. It is clearly the maleffects of owning a playstation....

Quite frankly, this issue should be down to the BBFC to control, not the government. After all, they're not planning on banning violent films. What needs to happen is stricter pentalties for retailers ignoring the PEGI system, not banning them.

How much stronger do the censorship rules need to be, everything is rated by the BBFC and its ratings are legally binding with stores punishable by fines and even prison sentences for breaking them, the BBFC can ban a game if it sees fit and the ratings badge on the games cover is the same one as on DVD's so they are well known. What else do you want to tighten up Mr Brown?

"Before simply banning the games the Government should try educating parents, everyone knows why films are rated 18, why not games?
If parents buy these games for their kids and they end up doing some great wrong the child AND parents should be punished."

- that is an excellent idea, the government should put out a public info ad on telly informing those dumb parents to pay attention to what games their kids are playing and not to buy them inaprropriate titles

"He said the plans would be put to a new ‘Citizens' Jury’ "

And who the hell is going to make up this Jury.. im guessing folk who have never played a video game or know little about the industry. If he is so concerned about the Growing effect that media has on youngsters then maybe he should do something about providing teachers/the police with more powers to punish antisocial kids. - oh but wait, that would be against their civil rights to punish a teen for stealing a car - best just blame it on video games!

what a moronic idea, gordom brown dnt know his a$$ from his elbow.. a 11 year old kid cant go an buy an 18 rated game, parents get it for him, the parents are to blame,,, and ps3 built in a parental control so parents can prohibit games over a certain age linmit to be played on that specific console, putting it back to the parents. parents dont want to be blamed for nothing, 1000's of jobs will be lost if thsi pass'. grow up gordon

clearly this is ur typical transparent politician response simply to copy the tories recent stupid 'anti games' statement

he just wants to look good to all those dumb parents whose vote he's after for the coming elections, after all he hasn't personally won an election yet

As a public sector worker and a huge games fan this turn of events and lacklustre approach to a resolution fills me with dread. I hear that restrictions will be for the children but how long before this spreads to the games themselves and GTA 5 never materialising as a result because we were unable to control our kids. I choose to play games, some are violent but i feel that i am able to control myself and do not want to chainsaw someone in half. Parents should not simply be considering age ratings; rather the actual content of the game AND the age rating. This requires parents to do something and places responsibility upon them, rather than putting a TV remote control in their hand and leaving them to it....It's a sad day for gaming when societies ills are blamed upon games in a knee-jerk reaction to tragic occurences. The words "i don't want to ban anything" do not sit well with me as it places the subject on the lips of the ignorant masses.

Another knee-jerk reaction.

I certainly agree that it is down to the parents to take responsability for their children's actions and activities. If they don't wish for their child to play the games or watch the films then don't buy them/watch them/borrow them. Surely its down to the parent to monitor their activities.

The retail industry police's itself very well with the retailer facing very stiff penalties for selling underage games and films. The consumer of course faces no penalty for attempting to break the law and mearly moves onto the next shop to try again. Maybe the child should be prosecuted as well :-)

As a public sector worker and a huge games fan this turn of events and lacklustre approach to a resolution fills me with dread. I hear that restrictions will be for the children but how long before this spreads to the games themselves and GTA 5 never materialising as a result because we were unable to control our kids. I choose to play games, some are violent but i feel that i am able to control myself and do not want to chainsaw someone in half. Parents should not simply be considering age ratings; rather the actual content of the game AND the age rating. This requires parents to do something and places responsibility upon them, rather than putting a TV remote control in their hand and leaving them to it....It's a sad day for gaming when societies ills are blamed upon games in a knee-jerk reaction to tragic occurences. The words "i don't want to ban anything" do not sit well with me as it places the subject on the lips of the ignorant masses.

I thought the government were supposed to be helping the "troubled" gaming industry. Absolute idiot!

him and cameron make a lovely pair of clowns. They should really come together.

I always knew Brown was an arse and this confirms it.

shouldn't Brown be criticising violent games with words rather than sinking to their level?

The 360 also has ratings control on it's parental settings and I use it all the time. Very effective it is too.

As for the "everybody knows why films are rated 18" argument...parents I know regularly let their kids watch 18 rated films because it's the 'in thing' too. The ratings system is absolutely fine...the ratings legislation and enforcement is a completely different matter and is the nub of the issue here.

IF he want's to 'draw up new legislation' that further penalises people for supplying 18 rated games to minors... great! But, if he even alludes to preventing over 18's from playing these games, then he has lost MY vote!

So, rather than do something about the state of Education, Welfare, Housing and Policing, Mr Brown would rather find a scapegoat in 'Video Games'? Obviously, playing Computer Games has far more effect on crime than the problems with those other areas.

Strikes me that Mr Brown is simply trying to find a diversion to the real issues in order to appear like he is doing something without actually lifting a finger. Cameron is no better, they remind me of the 1960's when Rock Music and Comics were the root of all evil.

If Mr Brown is truly concerned about media getting into the wrong hands, then he would be helping Trading Standards enfoce the governent regulated ratings system, rather than tying them up in a continuing barrage of pointless legislation that hinders them from doing their jobs properly.

Why do games have to be full of ‘harmful violence and sexual imagery’ anyway?
The reason, of course, is because gamerwriters and designers are completely bereft of any original ideas, or concepts, preferring to churn out the same old crap, with graphics and charatures taken from the latest $hit movie, or alternatively, full of the afore mentioned ‘harmful violence and sexual imagery’ usually taken to evermore extreme levels, so the game will get publicity and sell.
How long will it be before even the in the latest footy game you get to follow the top players home to shag the latest fashion model, then down the nightclub to beat up the doormen.
Forget whatever the government want to do to the games industry, unless you revive originality and genuine fun, your days are numbered anyway.

Man!?!? one more, really..does he look like he knows what a XBOX or PS3 is? ... again, no one complains about films or music, because those stupid politicians grew with this, but games wow.."it is just an expression of the rebelry of the youth these days".. or maybe we really have stupid parents and dumb youngsters, and maybe they proved games influenceed every condened found in prison today.. for heaven's sake man...

I think obviously some youngsters are dumb and the parents are also dumb for not being bothered to raise their children properly. That is my sentiment when I think of poor Rhys who was shot dead by dumb kids going around on BMX's, trying to be like the casual, laid back gangster in GTA San Andreas. This is the game where you don't have to complete levels, you can just doss around all day, steal a car or ride your BMX down the street and kill someone. Can you see now just how similar real life incidents are to these stupid video games - purchased by stupid parents who don't understand. It's not pacman any more for crying out loud. If I was in charge I would keep violent games uncensored but ( like Ghost Redcon:Advanced Warfighter) make them so difficult to play - that the dumb kids will probably give up and go back to their Nintendogs. Just like the sale of guns and war planes, video gaming is an industry and it's big money. There is too much VAT being made to put a stop to it. There is nothing anyone can do except for 3 things. 1. Respect the ratings. 2. Educate the parents & 3. Have good, honest sales staff in our video games stores who should look out for parents when they find themselves at the mercy of their demanding kids. Enough said.

Dear Mr Browm, will you please stop people like Ball & Cooper working the system to rip off the tax payer. they claim their second home is in the North yet their childern go to school in London I am sure they must be out of the catchment area!!! is it any wonder the general public hold MP`s in contempt.I bet you Ignore this comment like you ignore all public opinion

Yeah its a must, its shocking to even see still images captured from those games. so you can imagine what kind of a experience you get when you play such a game.

okay a simple logic
what is a flight simulator? It is a system that tries to copy, or simulate, the experience of flying an aircraft.

so what do you think of these violent games?
its also like a kind of simulation

and why cant gaming developer's make games without violence, are they on a mission to create killers in society?

so violent games should be banned.

gordon brown talking rubbish he should be out of mp