News
75 per cent of European parents worried about violent games
Ben Parfitt Dec 4 2007, 12:58pm
Comments (6)
Microsoft survey says nearly half of parents claim to be unaware of games ratings and that daily play time should be limited
A survey conducted on behalf of Microsoft has claimed that over 75 per cent of parents in the UK, France, Italy and Germany are concerned about the content of games played by their children, the BBC reports.
Half of the parents surveyed also believe that gaming should be kept to a maximum of one hour per day. The survey also found that 64 per cent of children played games alone, and that only five per cent played online multiplayer and only 12 per cent played with friends.
UK games body ELSPA responded to the claims, which come several months ahead of the widely publicised government Byron Report, by saying: “Game playing is part of a balanced mix of leisure activities for all ages.
"We welcome the opportunity to highlight the range of devises such as age content suitability ratings and parental controls that support parents in exercising their responsibilities."
ELSPA has always supported the drive to increase parents’ understanding of age ratings and game content, and earlier this year established the www.askaboutgames.com website.
Comments
“Oh come on now”
Posted by: Ryu Haybusa - Dec 4, 1:32pm
These parents are either stupid or being ignorant, I mean are you telling me when they buy a movie or go to the cinema they dont have a clue what PG, 15 and 18 means??? Its pretty much the same damn rating on games!
“Re: Oh come on now”
Posted by: Kite - Dec 4, 3:04pm
For the BBFC ratings parents generally know what's what, but a lot of parents think the PEGI ratings are difficulty rather than content markers, in the same way that kids' toys have.
“Re: Oh come on now”
Posted by: Ryu Hayabusa - Dec 4, 3:08pm
Yes I can see how a PEGI rating's can confuse...3+, 12+ and 18+ is very difficult to follow *rolls eyes*
“Re: Oh come on now”
Posted by: Sanchez - Dec 4, 6:36pm
Its a good job violent games have an '18' rating, so that PARENTS don't buy the game...
“Re: Oh come on now”
Posted by: Sarnt Majr - Dec 4, 11:15pm
Busy lives lead parents to agree to most things that are likely occupy their kids for a few hours - whether it's a video or a game or colouring or whatever. Kid wants it, it makes them happy so everyone's happy. However, as with access to the internet and chat rooms, plonking a kid in front of the TV conflicts with a parent's awareness that it isn't necessarily the right thing to do. It's not just about ratings or violence its about a kid having a balance in what they do. One of the issues tho with the ratings is the continuation of publishers to wrap more adult oriented material in comic-book covers. It's no different to the alco-pop debacle which was subsequently outlawed. The cover looks like a comic book character that generally belies the nature of the content. Such marketing should be restricted or made more accountable. I've known too many kids (pre-teen) playing Vice City. Equally, parents should take a greater interest in what their kids are doing. Although my 13 yr old son really resents the interest I take :-).
“Re: Oh come on now”
Posted: Dec 5, 10:52am
if these parents are so concerned with the ratings and do not understand them, then they should DO SOME BLOODY RESEARCH!, its not hard to type "Pegi ratings" or "Game certification" into google and read a page for 5 minutes.
and as for restricting play for 1 hour a day, that is down to them as parents. Or do they want the games developers to go around every house every hour and tell the kids to turn off their games consoles, and instead join in with the violent sports like football that encourage drinking and beating people up because they support another team?