Computer games are a £60 billion industry globally and playing games is a big part of many children's daily lives. Games, like movies, are classified by content and age appropriateness. So how does this work and what do young people themselves think about games classification and value for money? Ben, Hugh and Simon sought the views of a retailer and some game players.
| ...people are coming at you to shoot, you stab them and all that and run over people. |
Parents are often concerned about the violent content of some computer games. Games like Grand Theft Auto and Resident Evil, both rated 18+, feature significant scenes of graphic violence and are not supposed to be sold to children.
Yet our research found that younger children were still getting access to these games. We asked Scott Ferguson, who works for high street retailer Game and is an enthusiastic computer gamer himself, how retailers operate the rating system. Scott told us,
"Grand Theft Auto is a massive hit, but kids can't buy it. I think the parents are to blame for young kids playing 18+ games. If a kid goes into a store and says, 'mum, can I get that game?' the parent will generally say yes. It's not our place to say, 'no, that child can't play that game', if the parent's paying for it. We simply advise them and say that game is an 18+."
Scott thought that the manufacturers could do more to help by addressing the gore content but keeping the games action packed for children. He said,
"Grand Theft Auto is senseless violence. There are pedestrians and everything getting mowed down and there's blood all over the place. So if there were games that were a bit less gory but still action packed, I think that younger children would steer away from buying, or wanting to buy, the 18 rated games and maybe go for the younger titles."
Scott explained the legal position on ratings and retailing games.
"The only ones that are required by law to be followed are the ones that are circled in red, which are the same ones that you'll see on film boxes - 15 and 18. They're the ones that we are required to adhere to by law."
"We adhere strictly to the ratings. We do not sell them to under age children at all! You do feel bad sometimes saying no. If a kid comes up, even if it's a 16-rated game, you just have to say, 'I'm sorry'. However if they come back ten minutes later with their mum or their big brother who is over 18, then we'll sell it to the mum or the big brother no problem. But we won't sell it to the underage child."
We interviewed young people in two locations, London and Derry in Northern Ireland, to find out their experience of buying and playing computer games.
Samir Pasha, 15 from London, was concerned about the violent content of PC games.
"I think it's a bit too violent for young people cause, like, when people are coming at you to shoot, you stab them and all that and run over people. I think that's really ridiculous, having an 18+ game that some parents don't really mind their children buying cause they just think, 'it's only a game, what harm is it going to do?' but actually there is a lot of harm they can do."
Ryan McLaughlin 15 from Derry, disagreed with Samir and felt young people could distinguish between violent content in games and real life.
"I do have an 18+ game but my views on it is that, well, they may be 18+ but, like, there's nothing really there to support an 18+ certification. It's just normal violence as usual but so what! This game, Evil Dead, of course there is a lot of gratuitous violence and all that, but it is only a game. And where isn't there violence these days?"
Ryan also thought manufacturers could do more for younger age groups to avoid them pestering parents for more violent but exciting games.
"To be honest, I think there should be, like, more different genres of games for the younger children."
Eoin Shields, 17 from Derry, thought that the certification system was working and that the 18+ categories clearly indicated the violent content of the games.
"In my view, if you actually look at it, life, that's relevant to life, because life is all violence and stealing and theft and burglary. That's just plain, because people are going to relate to that once they get older. Put them into games where it's just a fantasy world like Rayman isn't going to pollute their minds, so I think you just keep things real."
The high cost of buying PC games was the one issue all our interviewees agreed on. Connor Donnelly 12, from Derry said,
"Yeah, I can hardly afford games. I got a game recently, a week ago, and I've been saving up since Christmas just to get enough money for it."
Connor felt manufacturers were making excessive profit from selling PC games.
"I think, for the amount of money it costs to make a game, it's way too excessive, and, I mean, I read something, and it was, like £1 to make one game and we're paying £40, so I think they're too excessive."
Joshua, a nine year old in London told us he could rarely afford to buy a game at the full-recommended retail price.
"I really wanted this game at £40 and I was begging my mum to buy it, but she couldn't afford it. Later, as time goes past, the game gets cheaper, so now I just wait till it's not that expensive anymore. I wait until it's cheaper."
Games retailer Scott also thought games were over-priced for children.
"The game prices I think are a bit expensive, £39.99 for a new title. While I will pay that, I think that it could be decreased a little bit. The ones that I think are the worst would be the handheld ones, like Gameboys and stuff. Gameboy games are £29.99 when they're released and I think that this is a bit much. But people don't realise that it does cost a lot of money to make a game."
Connor had some sympathy with manufacturers but still thought prices were excessive. "Well, about £20 - £25, would easily be enough, and that's understandable because the trouble they go through to make them, that's worth it, but I think £40 and things is too much."
Based on our research we believe that games are too expensive for many parents with big families and that £30 should be the top price for a game. Generally though, games offer value for money as young people will play with them more frequently and over a longer period of time than none computer games.
There is a need for game manufacturers to make games targeted at younger gamers more exciting and to reduce the gore content of most games. Parents should read the game descriptions and content carefully and be aware of what can appear in the game. They could be more aware of the games rating system and the age suitability of game content taking advice from retailers if in doubt. Finally, parents shouldn't give in to the pester power of their children!
About the team
This story was produced by Simon Forbes 12, Hugh Simpson 13 and Ben Ritchie 13. It was published by the Reach for the Sky website.
