Watch out for that camera flash...
In the Outrageous Fortunes documentary to be aired again at 9PM tonight on BBC3 - just in case you missed it first time around - a Nintendo insider claims that the company is responsible for making games that could trigger epileptic seizures in children. What's more, Nintendo is also alleged to have known of the problem, but failed to remove any flashing-light sequences from its games.
Of course, Nintendo was quick to respond. A company spokesperson stated: "The notion that Nintendo would knowingly include in its games material that it knew could cause seizures is ridiculous. There is nothing more important to us than the health and well-being of our players." There was more. "We are aware of the Independent Television Commission guidelines for broadcast television. However, in the absence of established guidelines for video games, Nintendo voluntarily prepared and implemented its own internal guidelines for game design and development in 1988."
Fair comment from Nintendo. The company has, after all, included health warnings relating to epilepsy with its games for more than a decade.
Of course, Nintendo was quick to respond. A company spokesperson stated: "The notion that Nintendo would knowingly include in its games material that it knew could cause seizures is ridiculous. There is nothing more important to us than the health and well-being of our players." There was more. "We are aware of the Independent Television Commission guidelines for broadcast television. However, in the absence of established guidelines for video games, Nintendo voluntarily prepared and implemented its own internal guidelines for game design and development in 1988."
Fair comment from Nintendo. The company has, after all, included health warnings relating to epilepsy with its games for more than a decade.
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
Joji 19 Apr 2004 11:41
1/7
Mo money, mo problems. It's that old epilesy ticket again. Why would Nintendo intentionally put such rubbish in their games. This obviously angry ex employee is just sticking the boot in. The whole thing before was to do with the Pokemon anime series, not any games. Games and anime have had these sort of warnings accompanied for years since then.
Next they'll be telling us lens flare in games has subliminal messages hidden within. Load of bollox.
Next they'll be telling us lens flare in games has subliminal messages hidden within. Load of bollox.
SPInGSPOnG 19 Apr 2004 12:58
2/7
Outrageous Fortunes - Outrageous Bollox more like. Don't the BBC have better things to do than spout this crap. Even an idiot can see that Ninty have been putting warnings on games long before it was fashionable to do so.
And if they are are getting on Ninty's case about Epilepsy, what about poor nut allergy sufferers? Their lives were placed in danger by CBS Software's Peanut Butter Panic - but in the days before these "Nut Allergies" were trendy this might have been forgiveable. But Lucas Arts return to Monkey Nut Island was nothing short of callous.
And if they are are getting on Ninty's case about Epilepsy, what about poor nut allergy sufferers? Their lives were placed in danger by CBS Software's Peanut Butter Panic - but in the days before these "Nut Allergies" were trendy this might have been forgiveable. But Lucas Arts return to Monkey Nut Island was nothing short of callous.
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DiGi 19 Apr 2004 17:03
3/7
in response to Joji:
You never know, Spiderman had words written in the clouds remember? Anyone daring a lawsuit there claiming it would be offensive due to some mishap in their childhood? Anyone?
You never know, Spiderman had words written in the clouds remember? Anyone daring a lawsuit there claiming it would be offensive due to some mishap in their childhood? Anyone?
locopuyo 19 Apr 2004 20:49
4/7
People are always looking for revenge and a way to make easy money. They see video games as an easy target. This is why I don't like liberals.
QuaiD 19 Apr 2004 23:01
5/7
Its on at half past one in the morning if you missed it earlier. Its almost midnight and i am watching Ga,e Network channel. As a new Sky viewer i was hoping to see some games action but all i can see is naked flesh. Whats going on? I cant believe it,Does anyone else watch this channel?
SPInGSPOnG 20 Apr 2004 09:05
6/7
locopuyo wrote:
>People are always looking for revenge and a way
>to make easy money. They see video games as an
>easy target. This is why I don't like liberals.
WTF has over-litigious stupidity got to do with liberals?
And since your web site has you asking for donations for college, it seems that you'll accept the social welfare - a liberal foundation stone! You conservatives should be using your trust fund!
>People are always looking for revenge and a way
>to make easy money. They see video games as an
>easy target. This is why I don't like liberals.
WTF has over-litigious stupidity got to do with liberals?
And since your web site has you asking for donations for college, it seems that you'll accept the social welfare - a liberal foundation stone! You conservatives should be using your trust fund!
Joji 20 Apr 2004 12:26
7/7
In response to Quaid, after 9pm game network turns into stupid Babe Station, a late night live chick flesh tv. All the game stuff is on in the daytime upto 9pm. How the mighty have fallen to make money?
Back to the subject, I believe america is stuck in this culture of suing people. I managed to see the BBC program which focused on Nintendo, the majority of which was positive. But when the started focusing on the epilepsy thing you could see where it was all going.
If a child sits that close to the damn tv (they showed a picture of the said plantiff as child playing Nintendo, and very close to the tv) something bad is bound to happen.
Obviously the parents are never responsible these days for their kids, so the kid don't get a warning to sit further back from the tv.
I never heard the program once ask why Sony who have the lion share of the market (or even MS) anything about this seizure stuff. I've always found the BBC to be very anti-games anyway. Since this industry has been around and I'm yet to see them do a proper dedicated games program and stick to it. On the flipside, the now smaller-than-games music industry gets Top of the Pops on in a prime time slot. It would have made more sense to just have a BBC music channel. I understand the BBC's stance clearly. I think they consider games, like Sky etc, as competition not really worthy of airtime unless it's something negative to say about them.
Sky and ITV meet our needs with Gamesville, Gamer TV, Gamepad and Gamestars, alongside several music channels etc, whereas the BBC wants us to pay an unjustified licence fee, yearly (which keeps going up each year) to not meet our needs. Go figure.
Back to the subject, I believe america is stuck in this culture of suing people. I managed to see the BBC program which focused on Nintendo, the majority of which was positive. But when the started focusing on the epilepsy thing you could see where it was all going.
If a child sits that close to the damn tv (they showed a picture of the said plantiff as child playing Nintendo, and very close to the tv) something bad is bound to happen.
Obviously the parents are never responsible these days for their kids, so the kid don't get a warning to sit further back from the tv.
I never heard the program once ask why Sony who have the lion share of the market (or even MS) anything about this seizure stuff. I've always found the BBC to be very anti-games anyway. Since this industry has been around and I'm yet to see them do a proper dedicated games program and stick to it. On the flipside, the now smaller-than-games music industry gets Top of the Pops on in a prime time slot. It would have made more sense to just have a BBC music channel. I understand the BBC's stance clearly. I think they consider games, like Sky etc, as competition not really worthy of airtime unless it's something negative to say about them.
Sky and ITV meet our needs with Gamesville, Gamer TV, Gamepad and Gamestars, alongside several music channels etc, whereas the BBC wants us to pay an unjustified licence fee, yearly (which keeps going up each year) to not meet our needs. Go figure.