Sur le même thème que "Dr. Tanya Byron explains her report findings, stance on games"

UK Dust-up Over Tanya Byron TV Program on Video Game Addiction

An MCV UK report on a recent episode of Am I Normal?, a TV show featuring Dr. Tanya Byron, has caused some concern among gamers. During the program, Byron, author of the widely read, British government-commissioned report on the effects of video games and the Internet on children, looked at video game addiction. Byron made comments that appeared to liken video game addiction to dependence on street drugs: It might seem ludicrous to compare a childish computer fantasy game with hard drug addiction. But addiction counsellors offering treatment to gamers argue that there are key similarities in the way that the consumer gets hooked into coming back for more… [Staff at an addiction clinic] treat computer game addicts exactly as they treat cocaine addicts. [lien] [EN]

Tanya Byron: “Difficult” Meeting with Game Critic Keith Vaz

MCV UK details Tanya Byron’s comments regarding a “difficult” meeting with Labour MP - and frequent game violence critic - Keith Vaz: The private meeting, which took place as Dr. Byron gathered evidence for her Review, was also attended by Giselle Pakeerah – the mother of murdered Leicester schoolboy Stefan and a constituent of Mr. Vaz. Vaz continues to connect Stefan Pakeerah's tragic murder with the influence of Rockstar video game Manhunt – despite detectives that investigated the 2004 case categorically rejecting the link. MCV reports that during a session with UK game industry leaders, ELSPA head Paul Jackson queried Byron about Vaz’ characterization of her report as drawing a link between violent games and actual violence. [lien] [EN]

Despite Byron Report, EA UK Favors PEGI Ratings Over BBFC

In the wake of Dr. Tanya Byron’s report on video game violence and the Internet, U.K. game industry executives have fretted about how Byron’s recommendations will affect the rating system. In her review Byron called for a hybrid system which would combine the Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) and British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) systems. As he did prior to the release of Byron’s report, EA exec Keith Ramsdale expressed concerns about the BBFC in an interview with The Guardian: Our main disagreement with [Byron’s] findings is with the age rating system suggested for games. As an industry we have been unanimously clear that there should be a single system and that system should be PEGI… A Nielsen study showed PEGI has 94% awareness with the UK game. [lien] [EN]

SCEE Boss Challenges Tanya Byron: “You’ve Been Too Nice to Us”

MCV UK has coverage of meetings held last week between members of ELSPA (the U.K. equivalent of the ESA) and Dr. Tanya Byron. In the first installment, SCEE president David Reeves tells Byron that the industry is in favor of giving the PEGI rating system the force of law. This is a quite different approach from the U.S., where the ESA strenuously opposes any such regulation. During the meeting, Reeves told Byron: We funded research into the subject of age ratings… the findings that came out were this: the ratings are well known in Europe, less so in the UK and there's more confusion In the UK than anywhere else in Europe… They concluded also that retail is doing an excellent job at policing the ratings… But they also concluded that the ratings had no teeth whatsoever and that they believed PEGI should be given teeth. [lien] [EN]

UK Minister: Tanya Byron Video Game Review Cost £275,000

Popular TV shrinks don’t come cheaply. In response to an inquiry from Parliament, Margaret Hodge, UK Minister of State for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism said earlier this week that the much-discussed video game and Internet review conducted by Dr. Tanya Byron (left) cost the British government about £275,000 ($544,000). From Hodge’s written remarks: The review has just ended and while accounting procedures are still to be completed, we estimate that a total of around £275,000 has been spent on the review, not including salaries and expenses of the civil servants on the Review’s secretariat. This included expenditure on consultation with parents and other stakeholders, and a comprehensive literature review. This entry was posted on Thursday, April 24th. [lien] [EN]

In British Parliament, Longtime Game Critic Keith Vaz Spins Byron Report His Way

Labour MP Keith Vaz, a frequent critic of video game violence issues, has issued a statement in support of the recently released video game and Internet review conducted by Dr. Tanya Byron. As noted by MCV UK, Vaz said: This House warmly welcomes the publication of Tanya Byron's report… [and] notes that it accepts that violent video games do have an affect on children and therefore their availability to children need to be properly controlled; considers that it is only through a partnership between parents, retailers and the video games industry that these issues can be addressed and calls on the Government to implement the recommendations in full and immediately. Vaz also continued to insist that Rockstar’s original Manhunt played a role in the brutal 2004 murder of Stefan Pakeerah. [lien] [EN]

Ireland Sticking with PEGI Ratings, Despite Byron Report

Tanya Byron’s recommendations concerning video game ratings are not likley to be adopted in neighboring Ireland. ENN reports that the Irish Film Censor’s Office (IFCO) plans to continue using the game ratings assigned by the Pan European Games Information (PEGI). Byron recommended a hybrid, film-like system which would combine information from PEGI and the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). Deputy IFCO censor Ger Connolly told ENN: Since PEGI was introduced only one game, Manhunt 2, has been banned. There are 29 countries using [PEGI] and they all have input. This entry was posted on Friday, March 28th, 2008 at 9:44 am and is filed under Games & Culture, People, Politics & Legislation, Video Game Industry/Economics, Game Consumer News. [lien] [EN]

Toys "R" Us Unable To Explain Why "All Video Games" Means "Some Video Games" [Toys R Us]

Toys "R" Us is not doing a very good job of explaining why an ad advertising a special that applies to "ALL Video Games $19.99 or less" only applies to some video games that are "$19.99 or less." Reader Laura says that not only are they unable to explain how "ALL" means "some," they aren't able to understand why she is upset. Laura writes: I just got off the phone with Toys R Us customer service. On the main page for video games it states "Buy 2, Get the 3rd Free on ALL video games $19.99 or less while supplies last" However, when you click on that, it only gives you selected video games that are $19.99 or less. If you add other games (which I assumed were included in ALL video games) they are not eligible. Customer service was no help. They just kept stating that it was only certain games and couldn't comprehend why I was unhappy with the misleading banner ad. [lien] [EN]

In UK, Game Biz Group Lobbies for PEGI Rating System

Although TV shrink Dr. Tanya Byron has recommended that video games sold in the U.K. carry both Pan European Game Information (PEGI) and British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) ratings, the video game industry wants to deal with PEGI alone. As reported by Spong, Paul Jackson (left), director of game publishers trade group ELSPA, said: We are an entertainment industry that produces games for all ages. It is important that during this period of consultation post-Byron we work with everyone to ensure the revised ratings platform is robust and future proof. As games move increasingly on line, we call on all parties to embrace the PEGI Age Ratings system. As an instrument of the Video Recordings Act it would have teeth and deliver the right system to help the public make informed choices about the games they play. [lien] [EN]

ESA Annual Report Details Video Game Legislation

The ESA, which represents North American video game publishers, has released its 2008 Annual Report. Ben Kuchera of Ars Technica provides a nicesummary ofthe business and legislative highlights. In reading the ESA report, we were most struck by the sheer volume of legislative efforts directed at video games on both the state and federal level. Many of these we were aware of and reported on here at GamePolitics. A few others flew under the media radar. Here's the state list: · Colorado: The ESA persuaded the Denver transit company not to ban M-rated game ads on buses · Connecticut: tax incentives were approved for video game production · Delaware: legislation directed at point-of-sale died in committee · Florida: approved financial incentives for game development · Indiana. [lien] [EN]

Reporters find presumed priveleges revoked behind the Great Firewall [China]

The Chinese government may have assured the International Olympic Committee that reporters would enjoy Western freedoms while covering the Olympic games, such as unfettered access to the Internet. Once on the ground, however, journalists have discovered that's not exactly the case. The IOC has been busy backtracking. Olympics reps now have clarified that open Web access is only for sites about "Olympic competitions" — not, say, Amnesty International, one of many sites that has been blocked. The question no one has asked, however, is why China should feel compelled to act in any other way? No restrictions of press freedoms will ultimately harm the financial interest by companies like NBC, which paid $900 million for the right to broadcast the games. And technology companies here in the Valley. [lien] [EN]

Political Junkie Finds Video Game-Like Fun in Spitzer Scandal

Blogger Tony Sachs of the Huffington Post writes:  I didn’t think this year could get any more exciting politically, but Eliot Spitzer just took it up a notch. For the next several days, at least, Hillary and Barack will be the second most riveting story in the news. It’s like I’m a kid playing a video game, and I’m avoiding being killed for way, way longer than I’ve ever managed before, and then at some point, I hit a level and get some crazy bonus that I never even knew existed, like my ship all of a sudden gets twelve guns or an impenetrable force field or something. It’s that cool. This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 at 10:17 am and is filed under Politics & Legislation, Video Game Critics, Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2. [lien] [EN]

Drayer reports on the game plan for Felix

(ht to msb for the link) Drayer gets some nice, in-depth comments on how Felix wants to pitch this year. I talked to Johjima about this and he told me that the game plan is solidly in place for this year relaying this through interpreter Antony Suzuki: “I think there are two game plans with Felix. If his sinker is working, great we can use the sinker early in the game and get the strikeouts with his breaking ball because the sinker will make the breaking ball very effective. But if the sinker is not working we will have to use the breaking ball more often and get that sinker as the strikeout pitch. So there are two ways in his game plan, since he has got a great breaking ball and great command he can come up with any kind of sequence as well.” Good, good. Like the “any kind of sequence”. [lien] [EN]

Co-Optimus helps gamers find friendly games

Filed under: Fan stuff Stop us if this situation sounds familiar. Your significant other decides that they'd be interested in playing a game as long as they can play with you, but you have no idea what co-op games are available -- other than your general shooter titles. Thankfully the team at Co-Optimus has compiled dedicated their entire site to promoting co-operative titles. If you're looking for information on which co-op experiences exist in the world of Xbox 360 or any other console, we recommend you check it out. We stress one point though, significant other and friends are not included. [via Gamescore Blog] � Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments -------------------- [lien] [EN]