The ability to censor is an extremely volatile power to have, mainly due to the conflict of basic human rights that it raises. On the one hand free speech dictates that the public have a right to know every detail that passes through our courts, but when you combine that with the equally important issue of protection you begin to delve into a serious problem which is much more than simply black and white.
The super injunction is something that has been at the forefront of our media for weeks now, and is effectively a tool that enables celebrities to silence the appropriate outlets in writing about their private life. Most recently a top Premier League footballer was found guilty of a super injunction, only later for his name to be revealed on Twitter, where the injunction is difficult to apply due to the instant nature and popularity of the service, as well as its international nature. Over 200 million boast a Twitter account, and within hours many had made a mockery of the law that continues to beg the question; is censorship right?
The potent matter of censorship is one that also haunts the videogaming industry, in some countries more than others. Britain itself has an extremely lenient history when censoring videogames and this is reflected in the fact that only three games have ever been seriously questioned by the British Board of Film Classification, in the form of Carmageddon, The Punisher and Manhunt 2. All three were eventually released after reworking parts of the game, the most drastic change appearing in Carmageddon where the intended pedestrians were replaced with zombies to somewhat reduce the game’s realism.
Although we’ve only had three games that actually required it, is the censorship of videogames (or anything else, for that matter) insulting to the intelligence and maturity of the masses? The BBFC and PEGI currently share the role of rating our videogames, and as long as these ratings are followed and acted upon responsibly, theory dictates that there should be no need for censorship. Cases occasionally arise where videogames serve as a scapegoat for various violent crimes, but it is highly debatable whether these crimes are down to the content of the videogame itself or the state of mind of the player. The general consensus is that it’s most commonly the latter, so censorship is entirely unnecessary as long as the games in question do not fall into the wrong hands. But then is that a risk that any government seeking votes can hazard?
[drop] The Australian government certainly don’t think so. Utilising a similar age badge scheme to Britain, the only noticeable difference is the lack of an “adult” rating, meaning that if any videogame is deemed to be only worthy of an “18” it is immediately refused classification. This has led to a large number of videogames being denied a release down under, and the titles that do see the light of day are often heavily edited to fit into the country’s arguably flawed rating system. The sufferers include both the public and the developers themselves; heavily edited games such as Grand Theft Auto IV, Left 4 Dead 2, and Fallout 3 are a less attractive proposition to the public and as a result harm the developers, who are working increasingly harder to censor their own creations so that they are allowed into the prominent Australian videogame market. What makes the regulations even harder to take is the fact that they insinuate that only children play videogames, which is definitely not the case with studies showing that the average gamer is over twenty years old.There is no right or wrong answer, but from a personal perspective I’d like to think that I am mature and old enough to make my own decisions in regards to what I can and cannot view. The motives of censorship are completely understandable – it’s a harsh truth that humans do kill other humans and then pin the influence on videogames, and I think that it would take a naive person to say that they didn’t have an effect at all. However, anything visual can potentially have an effect on the viewer, and if you decide to censor based on the concept of safety then you’ll find that other outlets need to be censored too for consistency.
And even then, the personal line for each individual is likely to be different, and as a result you will have a large number of people who feel strongly aggrieved by the censorship in question. It’s a topic that is endless and one that certainly warrants a healthy degree of discussion, but after the recent injunction farce you have to question the right of any esteemed body to decide what we can’t, and cannot partake in.
Crocadillian
This reminds me of a problem England and probably other countries have in it’s society in that some people believe their children cant comprehend ‘adult’ concepts, and that they need to keep away from adult gatherings and kept with other children. It’s ironic when England probably has the most childish culture in the way that people speak to each other and behave. How do children develop when they are constantly treated in this set way? Like adults?
I think ratings are good, but they need to be lenient, and i’m very happy that the ESRB and the BBFC in the past have been. Censorship however is ridiculous, no media should be too much to censor. It’s not like real life can be censored to make it less, ‘offensive’, media should be no different.
TotalHitman
Lol, my family and friends mock censorship. My 10 year old brother plays Black Ops and so does his best friends who happen to be 9 and 8. I am 16. I have never felt the need to suddenly kill and torture people. Censorship is a waste of time.
Crocadillian
Funny you should say that, my 8 (nearly 9) year old brother has been regularly borrowing my copy to play with other kids his age. It’s no different to watching some typical action movie.
minerwilly
A friends kid brother has been playing CoD online since he was about 13 . 4 years later now and he is signing up for HM Forces and cant be talked out of it , and yes he wants to be in the infantry so that as he himself put it he wants to shoot terrorists.
tonycawley
Thing is, kids have no perception of how wrong certain actions are, they’ve not had a chance to develop morals yet. I was a twat when I was young and didn’t see anything wrong in my actions. Only now I’ve aged and developed a sense of right and wrong I can see what a twat I was.
If things are never censored, they WILL get into the hands of kids. As mentioned above kids play a lot of 18 games. That’s where you’ve got a problem.
Sympozium
Can anyone stop Granny Smith from buying grandson Timmy the latest in 18+ technology?
Sympozium
Funny though, No ones ever asked for my age whenever I was buying a game over my age.
Foxhound_Solid
We should all be able to play what we like. Hate silver heads sat around big tables telling us what we can and Cant do.
fattyuk
I’m over 21 so couldn’t care less I can drink smoke view what I wNt anywhere in the world!
Censor anything you like cause I can still see it!
Toby M [Dexter17]
If a game is censored to the extent where content is removed, you can’t see it, regardless of your age. Censorship isn’t just about ratings – it’s about stuff getting physically stopped from hitting the shelves, too.
tonycawley
Wow. What a prick. Fatty, I’m disappointed, the world really must revolve around you. Sorry, I don’t normally get like this, but what a prick!
The Lone Steven
But censorship can remove things from games and even get them banned. It has nothing to do with age ratings.You just sounded like an arragant person. And no you can’t see it if it gets banned.
Origami Killer
i have to admit he made me laugh at first but tony cawleys comment and bluntness is just LOL :L
there hasnt been a lot of censorship in games i have played, so i can only comment of my hate for age ratings, to which i shake my fist at fatty’s comment
fattyuk
Calm down dears it was only a Tongue in cheek comment lol
tonycawley
was it Bollocks. You just realised what a prick you sounded like and thought you’d try and make up for it.
fattyuk
You sir, are correct :D
Origami Killer
I don’t mine censoring or age ratings but it the last two years its gone a bit patheitc. For a start you the only enforced age ratings where 12,15 and 18, not they have 16?! Ive been turned away at 17 for trying to buy age 15 and 16 games with ID, that is just patheitc, i was close to punching the bastards across the face. I was also in Blockbuster and manhunt 2 has a peice of paper on it saying over 21 only! Its become like health and safety!!!
and when things get censored out its just stupid, for a start why is LA Noire an 18, when there are programes such as CSI and NCI with worse scenes on them. i just don’t understand
Origami Killer
what there ive said i dont mind it what i really meant was i hate it ;)
TSBonyman
A censorship conspiracy exists and it’s all because of *REST OF COMMENT REMOVED*
gordon123
I would personally love to see the age ratings of 15 and 18 disappear and replaced with a 16 age rating. I’ve only just turned 18 and it was really frustrating not being able to buy games which some argue are the best in the industry. The same with movies, where I wasn’t able to buy some films which show the art form at its greatest. By the age of 16, due to the internet, the majority have watched some of the worst images around.
There is that joke about how you can join the army at 16 but can’t buy call of duty till your 18. Censorship should remain but needs reform in this modern age.
fattyuk
Think of the yanks they can fight for there country but not have a beer till there 21!
sssssssaaaaaaad!
LOL yeah it is rediculous; You can smoke, drink (I think), have sex, drive and join the military when your under 18. But you can’t play some games or watch some films until you are 18, it really is a joke.
Origami Killer
Legally buy alcohol at 18 and cigarettes at 21 i believe ;) still you can join the army but not be allowed to play call of duty, makes you laugh everytime
btw fatty, theyre and their not there ;) couldnt resist
mrbojangles
Oragami what do you mean? We can buy rated m games when we are 17.
Origami Killer
rated m games? i only know 15, 16+ and 18 ones, not familar with m rated and that system
fattyuk
Americans is 18 to smoke and 21 to drink.
mrbojangles
In the U.S. its Everyone, Everyone 10+, Teen, Mature, and Adult. For Mature games, which is the same for your 18+, you have to be at least 17 years old to buy or rent Rated M games.
sssssssaaaaaaad!
‘I’ve only just turned 18 and it was really frustrating not being able to buy games’
Haha, I still couldn’t buy games because even though I was 18, I had no form of ID to prove it! I didn’t start learning to drive ’til I was 19, so that was when I could prove my age when I got my provisional licence lol.