Interviews// Tanya Byron: The Exit Interview, Part 2

SPOnG: (Laughs). Was there any particular platform that jumped out at you as good or bad?

Tanya Byron: The select committee tried to get me on this... Again, I'm not going to go down the product route. I think it's unfair, really. I don't want the headlines to be, 'Tanya Byron says this is a better console than that one.'

First of all, in the retail market people should choose what they want to buy. I did look at all the consoles and spent a lot of time setting them up and thinking about them. There are some that I think, in terms of safety settings, are easier to understand than others. I've set out what I think the gold standard should be, and I've said that the industry needs to set up a gold standard that everyone can work towards, because it will just make life a lot easier for the consumer.

Fundamentally, if we get this stuff right it stops all the negative stuff that comes along, as well. Because, here we've got a responsible industry who are saying, 'this is what we've got in terms of product, this is what we've got in terms of classification systems which we want to be enforceable, this is what retail can do, this is how industry can support retail' – maybe through education campaigns and advertising campaigns if that's what they want to do. And from a platform/console point of view - 'this is what we do, we've made it really easy for people to understand, because we don't want kids to play games that we're not designing and publishing for them.' That, for me, is a responsible industry.


SPOnG: A lot of people might find that encouraging to hear. When the Review was announced there were obviously a lot of people worried...

Tanya Byron:... That I was going to be another of those waggy finger types?


SPOnG: ... Well, I wouldn't say it was a personal thing... But there was a lot of concern.

Tanya Byron: Oh, I know. I read it! 'Who is she? What does she know?' But, listen, I understand that. I think, as an industry, you're fatigued by all of this and I understand. But I also think as an industry this gives you an opportunity to step up in a very public way and show the public how you do want to make a difference and that you do want to support the public. I hope I've opened that door for you. I think I've made some very positive noises about the industry as much as I've been able to and I feel like I want to continue to support the industry.

What I don't want, really, is for this to become a big debate in a way that isn't proactive. You know, in some areas of the industry there's some concern about the BBFC and whether it should be them or PEGI, and so on. I respect that. That's why I've recommended a period of public consultation, because I think all of this needs to be thought through.

I just hope... if I've done anything with this Review (and I don't want to sound like a bighead), I think I've brought people together in a way that enables them to have really sensible conversations without all this blame going on. People are starting to talk to each other and to respect each other's positions. If we can carry on with that, while keeping the child firmly at the forefront of our thinking, I think then lots of good things could happen, and I think the video games industry could maybe see a change in the way that they are perceived, and that would be a great outcome for everybody...

For me, I feel really strongly about this review, I think the positive way it's been received is great but, you know, I really want to see it happen. I know there are a lot of things that need to be sorted out for the industry and I do respect that, and the classification system I've proposed, I've proposed within the remit of child safety – I know there are other things that need to be considered - but I hope that this can be taken on in a way that's really positive, and I hope we can build on the good works in terms of good relationships and collaborative working that I think this review has probably started.


SPOnG: Well, we certainly hope something good can come out of this. There was a lot of groaning that went around when the Review was announced. Perhaps an element of victimisation...

Tanya Byron: You've got to move out of that space yourselves, I think, as an industry. But... you did, you know? I think the industry engaged really well.

Actually, if you think about it, for the last whole week the industry has been written about, talked about – you've had massive media coverage and, actually, it's not been negative in the way that it has been in the past.

That's pretty good from an industry point of view, I'd say.


SPOnG: Thank you very much for your time.

Tanya Byron: Thank you.


You can see part one of this interview here.