The
BBFC have issued a press releases in response to recent criticism from
the the games industry.
It is has also been noted that Tanya Byron's position may have changed.
The Times reported Dr Tanya Byron stating that, ...her wish to have
the BBFC rate all games 'may be changed slightly as a result of the
consultation.'
The BBFC press release reads:
The BBFC’s Director, David Cooke, today rejected
criticisms from some quarters of the games industry of the Byron Report
proposals for games classification. He said:
“We are disappointed and concerned about attempts by one or two video
games publishers to pre-empt, through recent press statements, the
forthcoming public consultation on video games classification. Their
statements are misleading in several respects:
The BBFC’s current average turnaround time for games classifications is
eight calendar days. In terms of international comparisons, this is
notably quick. There is no reason why the increased role for the BBFC
envisaged by Dr Byron should lead to delays.
BBFC classifications are already cheaper for many games than those under
the Pan European Games Information System (PEGI). Because the BBFC
currently deals mainly with the most problematic games, BBFC costs will
fall if, as Dr Byron recommended, we take on all games, physical and
online, rated ‘12’ and above.
It is absurd to imply that the BBFC could not cope, or would need “a
building the size of Milton Keynes”. The BBFC is a larger and better
resourced organisation than PEGI, and is well used to gearing up, and to
providing fast-track services where appropriate.
We reject any suggestions that the Byron proposals for dealing with
online games are not future-proof. Countries such as the USA and Germany
already classify such games in a way which reflects national cultural
sensibilities. The BBFC has made clear that we are prepared to work
through PEGI Online, which already recognizes BBFC symbols. But, with
online games, the real need is not a pan-national grouping of markets,
but rather soundly based and independent initial classification, full
information provision, and responsible self-regulation of online
game-play backed by properly resourced independent monitoring and
complaints mechanisms.
“The games industry really does have nothing to fear from a set of
proposals which would provide more robust, and fully independent,
decisions, and detailed content advice, for the British public, and
especially parents. The Byron proposals, far from envisaging the
collapse of PEGI, specifically provide for a continuing PEGI presence in
UK games classification. They also provide significant opportunities to
reduce duplication of effort and costs. And they would make wider use of
a system, the BBFC’s, which British parents recognize, trust and have
confidence in.”
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