Government Taking Games Seriously Shocker
Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport Enquiry into New Media and the creative Industries
Getting to the committee meeting required the uber-taxi.
ELSPA has explained to SPOnG the goings on within the sixth evidence session of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee ('Games Politics' - to you and SPOnG) on the 17th of October.
This ongoing enquiry into new media and the creative industries is covering off on several games-related issues ranging from violence via piracy and on to why the UK games industry is not getting the support it deserves.
Representing the games industry were Ian Livingstone, product acquisition director for Eidos, and ELSPA director general Paul Jackson.
According to the ELSPA release, discussions began on the subject of competition for the UK industry with emerging expansion from the Far East and new media platforms.
The response from the panel was that the government needs to offer more support to the UK industry from varying angles; the first being that of education.
Ian Livingstone suggested that Korea’s strong foothold comes partly from its strong emphasis on educating future generations within many areas of games development. This, he suggested should be something the British government should look towards achieving. Without it our strong content development will continue but we will look to outsource processes in development, something the industry is keen to keep within the UK to remain competitive.
The committee moved on to discuss the topic, hot in the media, of violence in videogames. Livingstone was quick to answer this, stating that videogames are largely misunderstood, that a very small number of games produced in the UK each year have violent content, he said, “If you judge the whole of the computer games industry on the back of a game like Grand Theft Auto, it's like judging the whole of the film industry on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” - and SPOnG's agreement with that is as strong as Leatherface's aftershave.
Livingtone also pointed out that the average age of the gaming audience is mid-20s and that there are age regulations placed on the games to restrict unsuitable content reaching those who are deemed to young.
Videogames in education, a very topical issue after the release of the Unlimited learning report, was addressed by Livingston. He posited that videogames by their nature are educational, promoting strategic thinking, team work, problem solving and in some cases exercise. However, he went on to say that using such technology in schools as educational tools is the next step.
This comment was met with a question from the committee regarding the games industry making ‘games’ for the national curriculum. Livingstone suggested that this may not be economically sound for smaller publishers, however with government support and funding it is something that the industry would more than likely embrace.
The committee then moved on to ask what the UK business model for the UK games industry looked like, what games are most popular and what the consumer is looking for. One committee member asked about MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online) in relation to this.
Livingstone took the opportunity highlight the large MMO market in Korea, he said that although it was a hard market to compete with, the UK market in these games will pick up. He explained the consumers' love of customisation within these games and that real money is spent on virtual objects.
Livingstone responded, with in SPOnG's considered opinion, a well-stretched but valid point, “Anything you like doing is addictive but it is the individual and parents responsibility to play these games sensibly". Yes, valid if you're happy with the distinction between addiction and dependency - and let's not go near gambling versus alcoholism in terms dopamine/endorphin production due to... (yes, don't go there... it's way off the point - Chief Ed).
Jackson took on another subject, that of the age rating system. Parents are able to find out such information from the newly launched initiative askaboutgames.com.
The committee then asked how parents can be assured that their children won’t get hold of games rated higher than their ages and what is done to stop this. Jackson defended the retailers of these games and stated the main problems arise from resales and theft (piracy) of games. He did state that at this time it is more difficult to restrict online games and at this time PEGI are working on introducing an age rating scheme for online games.
The committee briefly touched on the media reporting on the title formally called ‘Bully’ and asked whether games like this can have a negative effect. Jackson soon answered that of course young children should not play this game as it is inappropriate for them, however the age rating states that it is specifically not aimed at them and they should not be able to do so. Livingstone added that there has been no evidence to suggest that games relate to real life in respect to players actions post playing.
The committee then commented that some games publishers may want to produce over 18 titles to appeal to their core 20-something audience. Jackson stated that many games of different age ratings are produced all the time and that the important thing is that each game is rated properly and that ELSPA take it very seriously and are constantly working to make sure children don’t get hold of inappropriate material. Livingstone added that Film, books and TV also have age restrictions or are played after certain times to avoid the content falling into children’s hands, it is the same with games.
The committee then came back to Jackson’s previous points about theft and piracy within the games industry and asked what was currently being done. Jackson explained that for 15 years ELSPA had an AntiPiracy Unit (APU) who worked hard to crack down on piracy through gathering information and carrying out raids. Trading Standards also play a part, as do the police. He went on to say that although all these policies and official channels were in place the system was failing somewhat. The reason he gave for this was that there was little to no enforcement of these policies and laws against piracy and theft. He stated that some provisions are still yet to be implemented, for instance section 107A of the CDPA 1988 to empower Trading Standards officers in their anti piracy activities, which he said he was bewildered as to why. Jackson went on to enforce these concerns by stating that the UK games industry is deprived of revenue and by definition the economy of is taxes from such theft, he also pointed out that the people directly involved in the industry feel demoralised and fell they are not valued by the government when nothing is done.
Livingstone stepped in at this point and said that the government need to change their perception, furthermore change others perceptions of the government in relation to the industry. That theft is wrong and piracy is theft.
The final topic the committee brought up was that of online distribution, a committee member enquired as to why with music and film now moving towards digital distribution whether the games industry was looking to do this and if not why not. Jackson simply answered this by stating that the games industry will be the 3rd in line in this due to the mere size of the products and the fact that the technology at this time is not stable enough. He stated that there were also issues of copyright and physically managing the digital rights, a discussion that will be held in the future. Here the meeting concluded.
This ongoing enquiry into new media and the creative industries is covering off on several games-related issues ranging from violence via piracy and on to why the UK games industry is not getting the support it deserves.
Representing the games industry were Ian Livingstone, product acquisition director for Eidos, and ELSPA director general Paul Jackson.
According to the ELSPA release, discussions began on the subject of competition for the UK industry with emerging expansion from the Far East and new media platforms.
The response from the panel was that the government needs to offer more support to the UK industry from varying angles; the first being that of education.
Ian Livingstone suggested that Korea’s strong foothold comes partly from its strong emphasis on educating future generations within many areas of games development. This, he suggested should be something the British government should look towards achieving. Without it our strong content development will continue but we will look to outsource processes in development, something the industry is keen to keep within the UK to remain competitive.
The committee moved on to discuss the topic, hot in the media, of violence in videogames. Livingstone was quick to answer this, stating that videogames are largely misunderstood, that a very small number of games produced in the UK each year have violent content, he said, “If you judge the whole of the computer games industry on the back of a game like Grand Theft Auto, it's like judging the whole of the film industry on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” - and SPOnG's agreement with that is as strong as Leatherface's aftershave.
Livingtone also pointed out that the average age of the gaming audience is mid-20s and that there are age regulations placed on the games to restrict unsuitable content reaching those who are deemed to young.
Videogames in education, a very topical issue after the release of the Unlimited learning report, was addressed by Livingston. He posited that videogames by their nature are educational, promoting strategic thinking, team work, problem solving and in some cases exercise. However, he went on to say that using such technology in schools as educational tools is the next step.
This comment was met with a question from the committee regarding the games industry making ‘games’ for the national curriculum. Livingstone suggested that this may not be economically sound for smaller publishers, however with government support and funding it is something that the industry would more than likely embrace.
The committee then moved on to ask what the UK business model for the UK games industry looked like, what games are most popular and what the consumer is looking for. One committee member asked about MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online) in relation to this.
Livingstone took the opportunity highlight the large MMO market in Korea, he said that although it was a hard market to compete with, the UK market in these games will pick up. He explained the consumers' love of customisation within these games and that real money is spent on virtual objects.
Livingstone responded, with in SPOnG's considered opinion, a well-stretched but valid point, “Anything you like doing is addictive but it is the individual and parents responsibility to play these games sensibly". Yes, valid if you're happy with the distinction between addiction and dependency - and let's not go near gambling versus alcoholism in terms dopamine/endorphin production due to... (yes, don't go there... it's way off the point - Chief Ed).
Jackson took on another subject, that of the age rating system. Parents are able to find out such information from the newly launched initiative askaboutgames.com.
The committee then asked how parents can be assured that their children won’t get hold of games rated higher than their ages and what is done to stop this. Jackson defended the retailers of these games and stated the main problems arise from resales and theft (piracy) of games. He did state that at this time it is more difficult to restrict online games and at this time PEGI are working on introducing an age rating scheme for online games.
The committee briefly touched on the media reporting on the title formally called ‘Bully’ and asked whether games like this can have a negative effect. Jackson soon answered that of course young children should not play this game as it is inappropriate for them, however the age rating states that it is specifically not aimed at them and they should not be able to do so. Livingstone added that there has been no evidence to suggest that games relate to real life in respect to players actions post playing.
The committee then commented that some games publishers may want to produce over 18 titles to appeal to their core 20-something audience. Jackson stated that many games of different age ratings are produced all the time and that the important thing is that each game is rated properly and that ELSPA take it very seriously and are constantly working to make sure children don’t get hold of inappropriate material. Livingstone added that Film, books and TV also have age restrictions or are played after certain times to avoid the content falling into children’s hands, it is the same with games.
The committee then came back to Jackson’s previous points about theft and piracy within the games industry and asked what was currently being done. Jackson explained that for 15 years ELSPA had an AntiPiracy Unit (APU) who worked hard to crack down on piracy through gathering information and carrying out raids. Trading Standards also play a part, as do the police. He went on to say that although all these policies and official channels were in place the system was failing somewhat. The reason he gave for this was that there was little to no enforcement of these policies and laws against piracy and theft. He stated that some provisions are still yet to be implemented, for instance section 107A of the CDPA 1988 to empower Trading Standards officers in their anti piracy activities, which he said he was bewildered as to why. Jackson went on to enforce these concerns by stating that the UK games industry is deprived of revenue and by definition the economy of is taxes from such theft, he also pointed out that the people directly involved in the industry feel demoralised and fell they are not valued by the government when nothing is done.
Livingstone stepped in at this point and said that the government need to change their perception, furthermore change others perceptions of the government in relation to the industry. That theft is wrong and piracy is theft.
The final topic the committee brought up was that of online distribution, a committee member enquired as to why with music and film now moving towards digital distribution whether the games industry was looking to do this and if not why not. Jackson simply answered this by stating that the games industry will be the 3rd in line in this due to the mere size of the products and the fact that the technology at this time is not stable enough. He stated that there were also issues of copyright and physically managing the digital rights, a discussion that will be held in the future. Here the meeting concluded.
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