Interviews// Tanya Byron, Head Of The Government's Gaming Review

Posted 26 Oct 2007 18:00 by
Games: Manhunt 2
SPOnG: Yeah, but do you really think that current parental controls on consoles are an effective way of restricting kid’s access to something? Surely most children are more tech-savvy than their parents when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of games consoles?

Tanya Byron: I think it’s one way. And I also agree with you that children, if they want to, might find a way around it. I mean, that’s part of being a kid isn’t it? You know, the higher you build a wall, a lot of kids will want to climb it really, won’t they? But this review is about looking at all those different options and all those opportunities.

Your readers are older and experienced gamers, many of whom are feeling probably concerned and possibly a bit cynical about this kind of review. But I want them to understand that this is about kids, and helping kids enjoy gaming and growing into being sensible gamers. If your readers can engage with me and tell me about their own experiences that would be invaluable. I think the gaming community has a lot to tell me and to contribute to making this review the success I hope it will be. And I hope that many of your community will want to do this.


SPOnG: You made quite an important point in your talk earlier, talking about tabloid ‘scaremongering’ relating to games and game culture. Certainly amongst our readers there is this perception that The Daily Mail brigade are out to demonise violent games or adult-themed games. There are a lot of sensationalist tabloid stories, just not based in any kind of fact, running down violent games. One of the concerns we have is that this review is part and parcel of that more general misunderstanding of games. Does that make sense?

Tanya Byron: Yes, it does make sense. And I actually think this review is about addressing that misunderstanding. I’ve actually met some of the big stakeholders in the videogames industry, the main designers, publishers and retailers across the industry. I now have a really good relationship with all these people across the industry who are all very keen to work closely with me to see the best recommendations come out of this review. The industry instinctively knows that because of this misunderstanding that exists, that something needs to be done to address that.

And I think what needs to be done is a sensible, well-thought-out review of the evidence, of the available literature, of the experience of gamers, experience of consumers, experience of industry, to try for once to bring it all together in a way in which we can think about it rationally and sensibly. Rather than cracking off all these hysterical, emotional, rather knee-jerk responses. I mean, where does that get us? That gets us nowhere. It just makes the argument more polarised.

Meanwhile you have kids in the middle who are still playing games which are possibly classified in a way that’s a bit confusing and we need to think about playing games in a way in which parents aren’t currently monitoring well because they don’t understand them and all those other points you’ve already mentioned.


SPOnG: Talking about words such as ‘violence’ and ‘gamers’ – these are catch-all terms. Often when we use these words we don’t really think about what they mean, what it is we are actually talking about. There’s clearly lots of different types of violence in games for various reasons…

Tanya Byron: And also one person’s violence might not be another person’s violence, it’s also very subjective…
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Games: Manhunt 2

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Comments

tyrion 26 Oct 2007 17:56
1/11
She does seem to ave a fairly balanced view of this review. Let's hope the people who receive her recommendations are similarly balanced!
config 26 Oct 2007 20:06
2/11
I've seen a few of her "House of Tiny Tearaways" - I'm a parent, so I'm interested to see how bad it can get with kids (and to tackle fixing the problem)

The most encouraging thing about the show (in the context of games/internet content and kids) is that 9 times out of 10, when these kids go off the rails it's the parents that are to blame.

I'm in no doubt that this is the case with kids playing mature games. Tanya's suggestion that the rating system is confusing is interesting, though I'm more inclined to believe that many parents just don't care, at best because they still think games are aimed at kids, at worst because they don't give a fsck
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tyrion 27 Oct 2007 11:45
3/11
config wrote:
Tanya's suggestion that the rating system is confusing is interesting, though I'm more inclined to believe that many parents just don't care, at best because they still think games are aimed at kids, at worst because they don't give a fsck

Well, we both know someone who was of the opinion that they were a difficulty rating, not a content rating. And she's a loving, caring mother.

Her: "He's so smart, he's on to the 18 games already and he's only 13!"
Me: "Umm, you do know that's a content rating like on DVDs?"
Her: "What?!?!?"

When you think about it, it's not too strange a conclusion to come to, all the time they have been buying entertainment for their kids, the toys, board games, jigsaws and whatever are rated by age on difficulty or small parts. Now videogames are rated on content and age suitability? It's a bit of a leap if you don't realise.

Of course there are those parents who think "He's quiet, I don't care what he's watching." They are the ones who should be slapped with a £5K fine, and not just for giving age-inappropriate games to their kids.
hollywooda 28 Oct 2007 01:05
4/11
i would.... non violently....of course..hee hee....
zoydwheeler 28 Oct 2007 09:52
5/11
Thanks for that contribution there! Really enlightening...
hollywooda 28 Oct 2007 11:14
6/11
sorry, i didnt think of those people out there without a sense of humor, its called a little joke, look it up....
zoydwheeler 28 Oct 2007 11:35
7/11
It's just a s**t and old joke, is all. And, for the record, probably would.
hollywooda 29 Oct 2007 11:59
8/11
But!...you said?... whatever.....



(yer, i do like a Milf)
Andronix 30 Oct 2007 22:39
9/11
Well done Spong for a genuine and interesting exclusive.

So much gamer news is recycled PR crap. This was a good interview that asked some pertinent questions.

I remember feeling sick of hearing Tanya's name because there was a few weeks when BBC Three seemed to be showing her programme non-stop.Anyway she sounds fairly balanced. She says her kids play games.
From what she said, It may be that she just has a universal age rating system (BBFC) and tries to make parents more aware of their responsibilities. Although games for adults might no longer be called games?!

well done.

Andronix
Playthree.net
Peej 6 Nov 2007 14:05
10/11
Nice to see Dr Byron putting her side of things and not being misquoted and reported as head nanny in a nanny state looking to impose harsh restrictions on the games industry.

Time and time again the interview mentioned the most important point in all this, that responsibility lies with parents to actually make sure that they know and understand what games are about, how the ratings work, and if need be, tell their kids a firm "no" when it comes to them wanting to play games or access internet sites that are unsuitable for their age group.

With consoles (the 360 in particular) soon being patched to limit time children spend playing games, it does at least look like the industry is trying to do its bit. The weak links in all of this are still largely the parents.

pjmaybe - allaboutthegames.net
reddawn 28 Nov 2007 21:02
11/11
Could all this just be a front? It sounds mightily political to me. Looking into my crystal ball I see little positive result. Besides what can England do, when the virtual world is global?

The Byron chick could be well cast as a sorcerer's apprentice in a modern video game!

Pretty face, media savvy, the instrument of some gov PR initiative or other, (echoes of "Yes Minister") and some hidden agenda ... somewhere? Where I wonder? Who wants to do what and to whom? Could there be scope for some kind of tax? A sinecure in the shape of an online video Game Tsar?

It would be interesting to take a closer look?

The risk is not that dangerous games exist but rather that upstart initiatives irrupt, run out of control and wind up threatening or actually damaging fundamental liberties.

The online world is a new model, using outdated tools to try to measure it is an anachronism. The phenomenon is too young, it needs to evolve, and that may well be one of the key findings of Doc Byron's review. It is like trying to control the telephone! Daft! It is up to parents. She might usefully set up compulsory evening courses for recalcitrant parents. Now there's a thought!
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