Games not linked to violence, says Govt.

By Robert Purchese Published 17 March, 2008

Staying out of Manhunt 2 debate.

The government has said it has no plans to intervene on the planned release of Manhunt 2 in the UK.

A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport told GamesIndustry.biz there was no evidence linking violence and videogames, and left the debate in the hands of the VAC / BBFC.

"The classification of Manhunt 2 is a matter for the BBFC and the Video Appeals Committee," said the spokesperson.

"It is important to note that there is no conclusive evidence of any link between playing computer games and violent behaviour in real life. Our concern is to make sure that inappropriate material is kept away from children."

The British Board of Film Classification was forced to issue Manhunt 2 with an 18 rating on Friday, after the Video Appeals Committee re-examined the game and deemed it suitable for sale.

The government will be publishing the results of a Prime Minister-issued review into videogames "shortly", in an effort to establish if they do have a detrimental effect on our behaviour.

"The Prime Minister asked Dr Tanya Byron to lead a review to assess the effectiveness and adequacy of existing measures to help prevent children from being exposed to harmful or inappropriate material in videogames and on the Internet, and to make recommendations for improvements or additional action.

"Dr Byron's review will be published shortly and Ministers will give careful consideration to any recommendations then."

GamesIndustry.biz - where rumour is sent straight to the naughty step and news and fact are crushed together like a child to Tanya Byron's bosom.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (20) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • peterfll #1 4 years ago

    Tanya Byron also writes sitcoms.

  • Nylkran #2 4 years ago

    Hmm... the goverment being sort of sensible, who knew they could?

  • asphaltcowboy #3 4 years ago

    "It is important to note that there is no conclusive evidence of any link between playing computer games and violent behaviour in real life. Our concern is to make sure that inappropriate material is kept away from children."

    Exactly as it should be!

  • wattoo #4 4 years ago

    Pleasantly surprised about this.

  • zuljin #5 4 years ago

    @peterfll
    "Tanya Byron also writes sitcoms."

    No she doesn't. Shes a psychologist that also appears on various parenting shows. Besides, are people not allowed to be multi talented?

  • Mr_Brown #6 4 years ago

    increase in alcohol consumption and binge drinking and an increase in violent crime and assaults. No way they could be directly related right? No must be Games thats doing it.

    Why the hell is anyone researching this? It's obvious that if you reduce binge drinking, you will radically reduce violent crimes.

  • Toothball #7 4 years ago

    @Mr_Brown:

    Yeah, but they already give booze an 18 rating. What else can they do?

  • keyboardmonkey #8 4 years ago

    Good news, i think, until they totally ignore the report if it doesn't find what they want or they get the recommendations and go way over board with them.


    I wish one of the lines would read

    The government will be publishing the results of a Prime Minister-issued review into tabloid journalism "shortly", in an effort to establish if they do have a detrimental effect on peoples behaviour.

    Then maybe the press witch hunts would stop.

  • InsoFox #9 4 years ago

    @Toothball

    Well, they could make the blood green...

  • Eighthours #10 4 years ago

    Good indication of what the Byron report will say, methinks. Excellent news.

    Now, can someone shut that tit Vaz up, please?

  • kangarootoo #11 4 years ago

    Holy cow! To see this statement from the goverment...

    "It is important to note that there is no conclusive evidence of any link between playing computer games and violent behaviour in real life. Our concern is to make sure that inappropriate material is kept away from children."

    is pure gold.


    "Why the hell is anyone researching this? It's obvious that if you reduce binge drinking, you will radically reduce violent crimes."

    Because we certainly can't legislate based on what is apparently "obvious". Changes in law and government policy have to based on evidence. Thing being "obvious" is not evidence, and I've heard some bonkers crazy assumptions delivered under the tag of obvious in my time. Didn't make them any less ludicrous (in this particular case I mostly agree with you on the connection you make, but that isn't the point).

  • Nero85 #12 4 years ago

    GamesIndustry.biz - where rumour is sent straight to the naughty step and news and fact are crushed together like a child to Tanya Byron's bosom.
    What's with Eurogamer and Gamesindustry?
    Is EG making fun of GI or are they just joking around?
    I've been seeing stuff like that in one or two articles..

  • TheNinkyNonk #13 4 years ago

    Praise the lord of common sense

  • Mr_Dodger #14 4 years ago

    Is EG making fun of GI or are they just joking around?
    I've been seeing stuff like that in one or two articles..

    They're both part of the same group, so it's just sibling japery :)

  • Mashum #15 4 years ago

    I'll pledge allegiance to that!

  • FatsoJetson #16 4 years ago

    @zuljin
    "Tanya Byron also writes sitcoms."

    "No she doesn't. Shes a psychologist that also appears on various parenting shows. Besides, are people not allowed to be multi talented?"

    Yes she does. She co-wrote The Life and Times of Vivienne Vile, the Jennifer Saunders programme that was on BBC2 a few months ago.

  • Moz #17 4 years ago

    Bloody hell!!! A Govt spokes person actually talking sence for once!!

  • Tweakmonkey #18 4 years ago

    Yay for the truth! \0/

  • Kami #19 4 years ago

    And this is how it should be.

    Give it 12 months however and the government line will change once more...

  • Trikk #20 4 years ago

    Anyone who believes the myth that games aren't the cause of violence have obviously never played Dragon's Lair on NES.