Vaz: "I’ve never been against games"

By Johnny Minkley Published 13 January, 2011

Controversial MP speaks to Eurogamer.

He was the guest that no-one expected to see – and yet Keith Vaz MP, Parliament's most hostile critic of the industry, turned out last night at an event in support of gaming, claiming: "I've never been against games".

Parliament Games Day, held at Portcullis House in Westminster, was organised by pressure group Gamers' Voice to bring together politicians and the industry to promote the cultural and economic strengths of Britsoft.

Vaz, whose arrival turned heads, told Eurogamer: "I've never been against games. I've been against violent games that are able to fall into the hands of young people who are perhaps not able to understand the implications of what they're doing."

Vaz is well known to gamers for his fierce campaigning against titles including Manhunt, Bully and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. But in a sign that his views may have softened, he added: "Clearly there are some very violent games around – but if you're 18-plus then you can make those decisions yourselves".

"I don't oppose games," he inisted. "I just think it's very important that people respect and acknowledge the age limits. And the campaign has always been about ensuring there is proper labelling so that people know exactly what kind of games they should have."

Other guests saw his presence as symbolically significant. Minister for Culture Ed Vaizey said: "I'm constantly teasing Keith and I think he is aware of the sea-change in videogames and that, particularly with the new generation coming into parliament, there are now many more MPs who grew up with games as a normal part of their life."

He added: "It's important that there's a voice in parliament that talks about issues of concern, be it about videogames or media in general – I think he now realises the gaming debate is now far wider than that."

"Keith is very concerned about classification and violence in games," said fellow Labour MP Luciana Berger. "War games are one element of a very wide range of games you can play and engage with be that recreational or educational."

It was a big moment for Gamers' Voice chairman Paul Gibson. "When Keith Vaz walked in there was a murmur of recognition across the room," he said. "Keith is a sensible MP but at the same time he hasn't made many friends in the videogames industry.

"For him to show up this evening is a show of good will on his part, because he knew when he walked into that room that everyone was going to turn and look. It's fantastic that he came along – he didn't stay for long – but the fact he came speaks volumes."

Asked if he was happy with the new games classification system – still waiting to be passed into law – Vaz said he felt it was "moving in the right direction".

"When we started this campaign the age limit was the size of half a, I think, a 5p coin, which was very small," he explained. "Obviously we want to see what PEGI does, but the more that they can draw to the attention of young people the need to respect the age limit better – and if you're over 18 you can do what you want. No-one wants to stop you playing your games."

The Leicester East MP then drew attention to the recent, controversial Panorama documentary on games addiction, adding: "What is important is that people enjoy games but not spend their entire lives playing games".

Which is the same as any other hobby? "Indeed," he admitted.

Picture of Johnny.

About Johnny Minkley

Johnny Minkley is a veteran games writer and broadcaster, former editor of Eurogamer TV, VP of gaming charity SpecialEffect, and hopeless social media addict.

Read more articles from Johnny by visiting the Johnny Minkley archive page.

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Comments (35) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • X201 #1 1 year ago

    /Tin helmet on

  • dufftownallan #2 1 year ago

    loved the loaded question at the end...

  • Bitkari #3 1 year ago

    Godwin's law in effect in 5, 4, 3...

  • Razz #4 1 year ago

    Seems like he's calmed down a bit.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #5 1 year ago

    Don't be such a Nazi, Bitkari.

  • thenastypasty #6 1 year ago

    Should have got Ellie to do an interview!

  • Toothball #7 1 year ago

    Sounds like his new position on this is much more promising. I guess we'll see where he goes with it.

  • patch #8 1 year ago

    His argument is a valid one, 18 rated games shouldn't be played by kids. Unfortunately the way he's put this across in the past has probably done more harm than good. Maybe this is the start of a more concordant discussion on age ratings in games (and that goes for both sides).

  • Captain_Jono #9 1 year ago

    "When we started this campaign the age limit was the size of half a, I think, a 5p coin, which was very small," he explained.

    A quick comparison is in order I think.

    Game: "The Warriors" by Rockstar Games. Released in 2005.

    Size of bbfc stamp: 22mm

    DVD: "Rome: The Complete First Season" by HBO. Released 2006.

    Size of bbfc stamp: 16mm

    Too small? I think not.


  • MaybeLater #10 1 year ago

    How stupid do the Labour party think we are? Keith Vaz is only ever for or against whatever will make him popular with the Daily Mail readership. He's a reactionary, populist fuck- wit lacking any integrity or principals. You can be sure he was ordered there by the Whip to pad out the inevitable attempt by Labour to further their own agenda- probably by claiming it was his work which led to the impending changes by PEGI.
    Still, it's only natural for a party blinded by idealism to the fact that they betrayed their country and left it in the shit.

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #11 1 year ago

    This is the same Keith Vaz who tabled this early day motion on the end of Oct 2010:

    That this House notes with concern that the recent race shootings in Malmo, Sweden have been associated with the violent video game Counter-Strike; further notes that the internet-based, first-person shooting game that pits a counter-terrorist team against terrorists was previously banned in Brazil and in 2007 was associated with US College Campus massacres; recognises the potential impact of violent video games on those under 18 years; and calls on the Government to ensure the purchase of video games by those under 18 years is controlled and that parents are provided with clear information on the violent content of certain games.

    VIDEO GAMES AND SHOOTING

    No-one wants to see young people getting their hands on material unsuitable for their age, however Vaz is a scare-mongering, publicity seeking, ill-informed band-wagon jumper. Hopefully he's finally listening to the industry, rather than pronouncing on it... but that's what he should've been doing from the very start.
    Edited by Pac-man-ate-my-wife at 13/01/11 @ 14:52

  • MikeP #12 1 year ago

    "I've never been against games. I've been against violent games that are able to fall into the hands of young people who are perhaps not able to understand the implications of what they're doing."

    It would have been clearer if he'd just said "I want to make sure that retailers are held to account for the sales of age-restricted items, just like alcohol and knives." This isn't a problem with the content, it's a problem with the channels of distibution.

  • Discalceaterabbit #13 1 year ago

    There have been age restrictions on games in this country for over a decade, its a non issue (idiot parents not using them is another issue).
    That this corrupt, self serving slime of a man is still a sitting MP is one of the greatest arguments that can be made against democracy.
    The people of Leicester should be ashamed.

  • GundamJehutyKai #14 1 year ago

    Sounds like he's lowering his tone but that doesn't change the fact that he did a lot of ill informed scare mongering in the past. Also, let's also not forget that he called for a ban of the sale of modern warfare 2 due to the "no Russian" stage, regardless of the fact that the game was destined to be rated 18 almost instantly. if he admits that he was wring, that's one thing but he better not be thinking that he Canadarm the past under the carpet and pretend to be all fair and buddy like now!
    Not quite as entertaining as the bobby kotick interview, but close.

  • MiniAmin #15 1 year ago

    Vaz: "I’ve never been against board games"

  • arcam #16 1 year ago

    (idiot parents not using them is another issue)

    It's exactly the same issue. People already understand the importance of not selling knives and alcohol to under-18s, but when it comes to games, many don't know or don't care.

  • midnight_walker #17 1 year ago

    It's exactly the same issue. People already understand the importance of not selling knives and alcohol to under-18s, but when it comes to games, many don't know or don't care.

    To be fair, I'd rather my kid play an 18-rated game than play with a knife or bottle of Jack. A better comparison would be to movies. You wouldn't let your kid watch an 18-rated movie, (would you?) or piss in a dead policeman's hat before presenting it to his traumatised widow so why let them play an 18-rated game?

  • FogHeart #18 1 year ago

    I think 18-rated films should have trailers that state that if you wouldn't want your child to watch this film, you shouldn't be happy for him to play 18-rated games either.

  • Golgo #19 1 year ago

    This guy's a very smart operator. Whenever he's under investigation for fraud/financial wrongdoings, which is most of the time tbh, he jumps on whatever tabloid-friendly bandwagon happens to be rolling by and shouts loudly to draw attention away from his own murky affairs. Met him once in Leicester. Pompous, superior twot of a man, of the kind one wishes one had had the chance to bully at school.

  • arcam #20 1 year ago

    My point isn't that video games are more dangerous than knives, it's that everyone knows you shouldn't give a knife to a child. If you've ever worked in retail, parents almost take it as an insult when you tell them their 12 year-old child can't buy that game. You wouldn't get that from the kid's mum if he tried to buy a can of Kestrel.

    For what it's worth, I'd be happy for my (imaginary) child to play an 18 game or watch an 18 film if I thought he could handle it. But I am aware that video games contain lots of content unsuitable for children, and I would make an informed decision. Lots of parents don't even realise there's a question there. For that reason, I think raising awareness about the different types of games out there is a worthy pursuit.

    It's also the reason I think going with the PEGI system rather than the widely-recognised BBFC ratings was monumentally stupid.
    Edited by arcam at 13/01/11 @ 16:12

  • obidanshinobi #21 1 year ago

    Keith Vaz is a dodgy cunt and the kind of politician this country needs to get rid of if we can hope for a fair and peaceful society in the future.

    Nothing but a scare mongering, greedy,corrupt, publicity seeking spunk bubble that pushes the politics of fear and widens the gap between the rich and poor, government and the people.

    People go into politics now to get rich, not for the good of their country and a wanting to help people.

  • Cronan #22 1 year ago

    The man is an attention whore. We shouldn't be giving him any here.

    And with all due respect to Patch, we already have a mandatory age ratings system, laws in place to prevent under-age distribution, and a tabloid press (and idiots like Vaz) that constantly remind parents that little Johnny shouldn't be capping mother-flippers in the head. I'm not sure what more there is to discuss.
    Edited by Cronan at 13/01/11 @ 17:00

  • Redeye #23 1 year ago

    Wholehearted agreement with MaybeLater - highly surprised it got voted down the way it did.

    Vaz is just jumping aboard another bandwagon like the hyprocrite he is, in order to present himself (and in turn, his party) as eminently electable, when they've just spent thirteen years shagging this country into the floor like a five-bob whore.

    Politicians...execute every single last one of them.

    EDIT: And already voted down by some half-wit...truth hurt, does it?
    Edited by Redeye at 13/01/11 @ 17:14

  • mcmothercruncher #24 1 year ago

    Glad we're all agreed then- Keith Vaz is an ignorant populist tossbag. A perfect example of the kind of poitician we need less of since he appears driven by no principled agenda save which way the wind is blowing this week.
    500 years ago Vaz would have been right at the head of the head of a pitchfork weilding mob asking "who was it we wanted to burn again?".

  • Harmonica #25 1 year ago

    ""When we started this campaign the age limit was the size of half a, I think, a 5p coin, which was very small,""

    This is bollocks on two accounts. Firstly because the stamp has never been that small, so he's being purposely misleading. Secondly because I'm sure he well knows that the size of an age limit stamp on a box is not exactly going to be a large factor in helping ensure that young kids don't play games that are too old for them.

    Vaz is one of those politicians where you need to have a shit-filter running when you listen or read what he says because it's all clouded in rhetoric, hyperbole and ulterior motives.

    edit: also, you think he could give a toss about turning upto a games event? His PR bod told him to. He did it through clenched teeth. He thinks games are for indolent students. He'll never change.
    Edited by Harmonica at 13/01/11 @ 17:26

  • Twin_snakes #26 1 year ago

    I don't care about his opinion on games, I'm more concerned by the fact that he's a Corrupt Bastard.

  • local_celebrity #27 1 year ago

    I was just about to post the same thing!

    The cunt's got a lot of form, that's for sure.

  • TRUTH #28 1 year ago

    Vaz is corrupt and a cheat - he should get a real face to face with people, jumps on the bandwagon and plays the race card at every opportunity(Like the Pakistani incident lately in the UK).

  • Sonic_D #29 1 year ago

    He is an attention whore, his comments on violent computer games are just one area he likes to get TV and article space for. Please EG ignore him from now on.

  • FogHeart #30 1 year ago

    @Harmonica: I raised an eyebrow at that and decided to dig out old games to see how the age stamp has changed over time. As a measure of context, a postage stamp is 2.2 cm by 1.8 cm, and a 5p coin has diameter 1.7 cm

    Clive Barker's Undying (2001): an 'ELSPA' rectangular certificate, the box is 1.8 by 1.2, the '18' is just 0.5 cm high. Unless you looked for age rating, you wouldn't notice it.

    Max Payne (2001): Now it's a BBFC cert, diameter 1.5 cm, the '15' is still 0.5 cm high

    Deus EX IW (2003): All of a sudden it's PEGI: box is 2.2 cm by 1.8 (stamp!), '16+' text is a meaty 1.2 cm high.

    Quake 4 (2005): A round chunky BBFC cert, 2.2. diameter, '18' is 1.1cm high. This one is easily the most eye-catching in the collection.

    Red Faction Guerilla (2009): PEGI square box, 1.8 cm by 1.8 cm, text is 1.2 cm high. Remains that way til today.

  • shen #31 1 year ago

    He has also tabled early day motions in favour of Homeopathy.
    I think the fact he believes in Homeopathy is all you really need to know.

  • crazycris271 #32 1 year ago

    Just read Twin_Snakes link.
    I'm not too fussed about what he has or hasnt said , I am mature enough to ignore his crackpot views. What I am concerned about is quite why he felt it appropriate to spend "£173,937" of tax payer money in 2008/2009 on expenses as well as over 20 grand on 2nd home expenses - when his 1st home is just 45 minutes away from Westminster.

    HOW IS THIS GUY STILL AN ELECTED OFFICIAL?!

  • RodHull #33 1 year ago

    @crazycris271

    Because the public voted for him and as we all know the public can't be trusted to vote for anything.

  • TRUTH #34 1 year ago

    Spread the word VAZ is corrupt and a robber of the tax payer, then lies about it!

  • RealityCheque #35 1 year ago

    I emailed him about his comments in 2006 when he tried to get violent games banned, and got the usual politician non-response:

    Sent: 19 October 2006 15:15
    To: VAZ, Keith
    Subject: Canis Canem Edit
    Mr Vaz,

    While I appreciate your concern over violence in computer games, it is of my opinion that the almost entire legal framework needed to protect children is already in place. Games are given age ratings; shops are not allowed to sell games to those under that minimum age, so therefore if children are playing 18-rated games then it must be adults who are buying them.

    Rather than a knee-jerk reflex to ban any games that you do not agree with, perhaps it would be an idea to educate parents so they no longer purchase adult rated games for their under-age children. It is illegal to buy cigarettes and alcohol for minors; if the a similar law was in place for violent games and films then you might find this also would keep the games and films from minors without having to resort to what amounts to state censorship.

    I mention films, for if games can cause violent behaviour, the same can be said for films – although I hasten to point out that no link has ever been verified despite many years of research into the effect of films on minors.

    Reality Cheque (obviously signed with my own name on the original)

    His response:

    Mr Cheque,
    Thank you for your email of 19th October regarding the regulation of Video Games.
    This is not a issue of censorship but to ensure that young children are unable to get access play these types of games. With research on the negative effects on such games, such as that published by the University of Missouri-Columbia, I am glad that a summit is being arranged between the Government, representatives of the Games Industry, parents groups and other key stakeholders in the issue.
    I am hopeful that this will provide a productive platform for discussion, and that a consensus between the interested groups can be achieved, one which will safeguard children from exposure to games which have more graphic depictions of violence.
    With best wishes,
    Yours sincerely,
    Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP


    Notice the complete lack of response to my actual points raised. No mention of parental education from him at all...