No press are to be invited to an event organised by The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) as part of the London Games Week that sees Dr Tanya Byron unveiling to ELSPA her plans for the review into violent games and media. The event is the ELSPA Forum.
You will no doubt be aware that leading TV psychologist, Byron, is currently working on a government-funded review into violent media (including games) and children. Details here.
Beverly Hughes, secretary of state for children, schools and families faced some questions from anti-gaming MP Keith Vaz about the Byron Report in parliament this week.
Vaz is keen to know more about how the report will be conducted and how the information will be gathered. Crikey, so are we! We actually agree with Keith Vaz. There’s a first.
Hughes told Vaz that "The review…will consider the evidence on the risks to children and young people from inappropriate or harmful content in video games and the internet and assess the effectiveness and adequacy of existing measures to protect them and support parents."
"An open call for evidence was published by Dr. Byron on October 9, running until 30 November 2007…A children and young people's call for evidence is due out in week commencing October 22 and will be promoted through a wide range of media platforms (including social networking sites and online debates)."
"The Byron Review will draw upon a wide range of existing evidence, including published commentary and research literature, and will undertake some further research. Dr. Byron and her team will continue to meet with key stakeholders…The final Byron report is due in March, 2008."
Sure, ELSPA is more than entitled to have a private meeting for its members and Dr Byron (or Lord Byron or anybody, for that matter). We've got no quibble there. We're actually all for the body representing the games industry being involved with the review.
However, why publicise the event, hold it during a public 'Games Week' and then ensure that the press are not allowed to observe and report?
This makes no sense at all. For now, we're going to put this down as 'Cock-Up' rather than 'Conspiracy'.
Our Forum is, as ever, totally open to the public - your opinions there please.
You will no doubt be aware that leading TV psychologist, Byron, is currently working on a government-funded review into violent media (including games) and children. Details here.
Beverly Hughes, secretary of state for children, schools and families faced some questions from anti-gaming MP Keith Vaz about the Byron Report in parliament this week.
Vaz is keen to know more about how the report will be conducted and how the information will be gathered. Crikey, so are we! We actually agree with Keith Vaz. There’s a first.
Hughes told Vaz that "The review…will consider the evidence on the risks to children and young people from inappropriate or harmful content in video games and the internet and assess the effectiveness and adequacy of existing measures to protect them and support parents."
"An open call for evidence was published by Dr. Byron on October 9, running until 30 November 2007…A children and young people's call for evidence is due out in week commencing October 22 and will be promoted through a wide range of media platforms (including social networking sites and online debates)."
"The Byron Review will draw upon a wide range of existing evidence, including published commentary and research literature, and will undertake some further research. Dr. Byron and her team will continue to meet with key stakeholders…The final Byron report is due in March, 2008."
Sure, ELSPA is more than entitled to have a private meeting for its members and Dr Byron (or Lord Byron or anybody, for that matter). We've got no quibble there. We're actually all for the body representing the games industry being involved with the review.
However, why publicise the event, hold it during a public 'Games Week' and then ensure that the press are not allowed to observe and report?
This makes no sense at all. For now, we're going to put this down as 'Cock-Up' rather than 'Conspiracy'.
Our Forum is, as ever, totally open to the public - your opinions there please.
Companies:
ELSPA
Read More Like This
Comments
realvictory 19 Oct 2007 19:50
1/1
Why do people bother with these things? It's just games, not reality.
How about (a) not selling violent games to violent people, (b) not making violent games in the first place that ruin the reputation of every other game, and (c) focus effort into preventing real life violence?
How about (a) not selling violent games to violent people, (b) not making violent games in the first place that ruin the reputation of every other game, and (c) focus effort into preventing real life violence?