First of all, the BBFC's role in classifying games has always been 'under scrutiny'.

Next up, even if Dr Byron does recommend PEGI what chance does that recommendation have of making it through Parliamentary debate? Imagine the Dailies Mail and Express, The Sun and the other organs that affect New Labour and CameronTory policy decisions getting hold of it. "Europeans Tell England What Sick Filth Our Kids Can Play!”,“Grand Theft Euro!”…

This is a government so terrified that the population would vote “No bloody way!” that it won’t even allow a referendum on Europe.
It governs a country that can’t see any sense in a single European currency because, erm, 50p bits are prettier. What chance a single European rating board that will have sway over ‘our kids’?

Julian Brazier’s Private Members’ Bill had more chance.

Sure, I can see why publishers would like PEGI – but real politik more than suggests that what will happen is: The Byron Report will, I’m afraid, get Sir Humprhied into oblivion as soon as the mainstream media kicks in.
Happy Feaster All.

Hi Tim. I guess we'll all find out next Thursday.... Looking forward to those front page headlines.

The thing about BBFC is that it has teeth - its a criminal offence to supply a BBFC rated 18 game to a minor and its a criminal offence to supply a work that is classed as a video work under the Video Recordings Act.

However the twist is that video games are expressly stated to be exempted as video works under the act UNLESS
to any significant extent, it depicts—
(a)human sexual activity or acts of force or restraint associated with such activity;
(b)mutilation or torture of, or other acts of gross violence towards, humans or animals;
(c)human genital organs or human urinary or excretory functions;
(d)techniques likely to be useful in the commission of offences;
or is likely to any significant extent to stimulate or encourage anything falling within paragraph (a) or, in the case of anything falling within paragraph (b), is likely to any extent to do so.
or to any significant extent, it depicts criminal activity which is likely to any significant extent to stimulate or encourage the commission of offences.

So except for the really violent games BBFC has always been largely unnecessary.

Ive allways thought that all games released in the uk should be rated with BBFC ratings, to avoid confusion.

But when parents are still buying games for thier kids that have a massive "BBFC 18" rating of the size that you would never see on any dvd you have to wonder if any ratings system is going to make a difference.

BBFC all the way. As a parent (and games developer) PEGI doesn't work for higher-end games as violence, sex, language etc is so subjective to different cultures. That's why the American ESRB and the German USK work well for their territory. So do you think the Dutch, Danish and english all have the same national values when it comes to sex and drugs issues???

Why would the BBFC be under scrutiny?

It tried its hardest to avoid us wasting money on a game that has no merit other than the publicity generated by the lame content.

Before anyone goes on about free speech, have you played this load of old tosh? I want my money (and several hours of my life) back.

If you want to make a stand about censorship and governmental interference and how we can all be trusted to know what's good for us etc., trust me: this is NOT the game to hang your hat on.

Not by a long way.

The sun does not shine out of Rockstar's crevice and the BBFC are to be applauded for trying to raise the standard of games in this country to something we'd be proud to show to people as a valid use of our time.

No one's going to say: "Oh, you played that game about psychotic murderers torturing people unnecessarily while escaping from a mental asylum do you? DO meet my daughter."

And, whats even more boring, you can play through the game without killing anyone for a lot of the time, apart from the places where you are 'forced' to to progress (great gameplay dynamic guys), so it's painfully obvious that the violence is just tacked on to jazz up a pretty tedious pile of old guff.

The people that should be under scrutiny are the spineless wimps at the VAC who wouldn't back up the people best able to judge content, the BBFC, who see hundreds of games a year - more than any other person, including journalists - so do know of what they speak.

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, guess what: it's a feeble, over-hyped game, masquerading as a valid expression of free-speech, that should be sent back to the drawing board.

Well done to the BBFC for daring to say: "Oi, Emperor! Get some ruddy clothes on!"

to EggyBread

I too agree that Manhunt was a rubbish game (and couldn't care less about a sequel); however, I do not think it should get a ban.

Why should games be banned or held to higher standards than books or movies? It has an 18 rating and adults should be able to choose what they want to purchase (such as pornography, alcohol etc...) - please spare me the passive audience vs interactive argument. My life has actually been more influenced, motivated and provoked by books than any game. (which is a good thing :))

If your argument is that kids play it, then that is not a ratings issue. Rather, this should be about enforcing these regulations at a retail level.

On another note, I do not understand the persistance with the BBFC in this case. Usually the BBFC are more lenient than PEGI - there are many games that have PEGI 18+ yet only get a BBFC 15; correct me if I am wrong, but I cannot think of an example (besides Manhunt 2 ban) where BBFC has been stricter than PEGI.

"It governs a country that can’t see any sense in a single European currency because, erm, 50p bits are prettier."
And we keep letting people in who have an IQ equal to the number of sides on a 50p. Maybe we don't want a single currency because we're sick of being shafted by a bunch of foreigners.... just a thought.

The rating system for anything these days is a joke. When you are dealing with a country where irresponsible parents, will buy their kids any game the kids can't buy themself. Where they let their kids drink and smoke under age and where horror films will "keep the kids quiet while they nip off down the pub". What's the point in any rating system when it's the parents who abuse it?

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