Members of the UK games industry jeered when Keith Vaz MP failed to turn up to a Westminster e-Forum today - before mocking the famously anti-games politician's reactionary views.
According to MCV, Eidos life president Ian Livingstone got the ball rolling.
Livingstone, a late replacement for Vaz, took his seat and jokingly offered some Vaz-like soundbites, without missing a beat: "Games are evil, games are turning into killers."
I think Vaz literally just jumped on a bandwagon to try and get some headlines and appeal to a section of the public that generally believe this tripe. The fact that he didn't even bother to show just demonstrates the fact that he'll avoid having to discuss the matter, most likely because he knows there's literally nothing to justify his opinions.
Ultimately, there will have to be a good look at the way games are verified and how they can be kept out of the reach of minors (18 certificate games, of course), but you'd hope that would not involve someone like Vaz.
I think Vaz literally just jumped on a bandwagon to try and get some headlines and appeal to a section of the public that generally believe this tripe. The fact that he didn't even bother to show just demonstrates the fact that he'll avoid having to discuss the matter, most likely because he knows there's literally nothing to justify his opinions.
Ultimately, there will have to be a good look at the way games are verified and how they can be kept out of the reach of minors (18 certificate games, of course), but you'd hope that would not involve someone like Vaz.
It's an interesting point. But aren't we just supposed to post "c*nt" and be done with on these forums?
The anti gaming crowd really don't have a leg to stand on after the digital Britain report especially from a rating stand point. PEGI are a hell of a lot more harsh at rating games than the BBFC were for a start. It shows that we have made steps to take certification seriously. Even the part about banning games. Not that any ever will,
Turns out giving your kids gta is the same as letting them watch the exorcist. I think thats the campain that needs to be shown. comparisons to film classification, using actual films .
Now the governement just needs to give the industry the breaks it needs in order to grow.
You don't have to follow any Leicestershire local news story for long before he crops up!
He was probably too busy claiming more dodgy expenses!
Leicester East MP Mr Vaz was criticised for his expenses claims, which included claiming £75,000 expenses on a flat in Westminster, despite his family home being just 12 miles from Parliament, and spending £480 of taxpayers' money on silk cushions.
IMHO the only problem we've got is parents/relatives buying these games for children. i work in morrisons & am constantly having to tell them that the game has an age limit on it. unlike films they just dont get it because its a game.
Ahhh Keith Vaz! god bless him for his entertainment factor. I'd be more likely to kill someone after listening to him, not after playing the most violent videogame I could.
I find this fairly funny. The politician must've have bitten off far more than he could ever chew, and the circumstance less surprising if he hadn't sat down and played even a flash game. Or maybe he secretly likes them but he suppresses it because his peers hack at him for it.
I thought this was going to be an article about a group of people cooking Keith Vaz and eating him. Though I feel that would have been a bit extreme, I can only say I find this article disappointingly tame.
Also, if a group of games industry spokesmen were to suddenly resort to cannabilsm and start chewing the bones of a member of parliament, it probably would have made the ACTUAL news.
I'm afraid I am old enough (well, almost) to remember the same pathetic, uninformed and downright ridiculous protestations of the anti-fun brigade over music, films, videos.....and now video games. When Elvis first twirled his pelvis they cried 'he's the Devil incarnate' and it's the end of civilization. Corruption of the young was their claim when Life of Brian was released. I could go on and on and on and on....... Vaz is a sad little man who wants to make everyone's life as empty, unimaginative and sad as his own. With a full-blown economis crisis, the country at (a REAL) war and an election looming you would think he has more to do with his time.
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