News Singapore introduces new rating system

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/04/15/singapore_introduces_new_rating_system/1

The island of Singapore has formally introduced a new rating system for games that seems remarkably sensible compared to Western equivalents.

 

Good. We need a system like that, legally enforced.

 

We can have all the systems in the world but if they are not properly enforced with deterrant punishments given out to not only retailers selling to underage but also parents allowing underage kids to play them then nothing will happen other than more of our money being wasted by endless government commitees trying to work out what the 'problem' is.

Strange how this very same arguement can be used for so many more of this country's perceved problem areas as well............

 

Sounds very sensible, but if the retailers don't enforce the id checking, then it'll fall flat like many others.

Besides, it really comes down to the responsability of the parents -- they have the kids, they don't want them playing inappropriate games, then it's *their* responsability to enforce it, not society's.

 

Two ratings: "you must be an adult" & "parents, please pay some goddamn attention to what your kids are doing."

It seems they could have broken it down further on the low end, with some "youth" or "12+" ratings. Or, even better, (and this is what I sincerely hope they do in America) they could have just extended the ratings system for film into videogames.

 

More ratings could easily blur them in the eyes of parents. Many parents already think that ratings are suggestive recommendations of game difficulty, not quality of game contents. Having a clear M18 - badge on the box could make a difference. If all else fails, they should legislate mandatory "HOT SEX & PORN INSIDE" - signs on all r-rated games. Parents would be bound to take notice.

 

Then buy it for them selves?

To be honest im dubious about the whole thing, I hope it will work so it will shut up people like Jack Thompson but im unsure, I guess only time will tell.

 

and may this pave the way for other countries to enforce games ratings.

tbh i think it should be as simple as:

18+, 15+, PG, U - just like the film system. The difference being the 15+ and 18+ MUST have ID present to buy the game. No exceptions. Even if you're the queen.

 

I seriously doubt that people like Jack Thompson will ever shut up, video games give them such a big fat target to aim at as representitives of the "outraged moral majority" and the "ban this sick filth" Daily Mail readership.

I agree with the above comment that it doesn't make a blind bit of difference what kind of ratings system you have, what matters is how its applied at the retail /customer interface. If its not adhered to at the point of purchase then its a waste of time, even worse is the "responsible" parent/adult who buys it and then gives it to someone under the legal age anyway. Hell I remember seeing my eight year old nephew playing Doom II on his dad's pc and later on trying to persuade me that its "really ok" for him to play The Fall of Max Payne. When I checked with his dad, he said "its only a game".

 

Thats the question I have. Who is buying the games for kids? I seriously doubt that your average 15 year old is dropping $50 for GTA, so either their parents are buying the games (and will continue to do so), or the kids are downloading them. Its a nice thought, but in a world of digital distribution and torrents, I think a pointless one.

 

ya I remember when GTA3 SA came out and a mother wanted to buy it for her 12 year old son and I told her right there and then that this game is rated mature and that it has sex, drugs and cursing and she was like uh huh ya whatever its a video game and the next day she comes in cursing at me saying how terrible this game was and how she wasnt told how wrong it would be to let her kid play it I flat out told her to shut it and said I told you and showed you on the box you chose to ignore me so dont even start yelling at me for your own fault, she took a moment and the said sorry lol