[News] Xbox Showcase Overload

I've just posted over on Gaming Unity and Blast Process about the news coming out from the media following on from the Xbox Showcase last week in San Fransico.

Impressed with the behind the scenes look at Halo 4, however, I'm still a little skeptical. I really like the Halo games, but the change from Bungie to 343 Industries could go ether way. On one hand they may impress me with the changes made to the Halo series, while on the other hand they could 'break' what has been so far an impressive series of games.

You can tell by the folk interviewed in the video that 343 wants to make Halo 4 there game, and not just a carbon copy of Bungie's work. I applaud them for that, I hope their passion shines through when we get to finally play Halo 4 at Christmas time.

You can see a number of videos shown from the showcase here on Blast Process.

I've never been that big on the Assassin's Creed games. I don't know why, although perhaps its due to me playing a heap of other games whenever a new AC game lands. Well..for whatever reason I've never really played enough of one.

Saying that though, I have been increasingly tempted to pick up a copy of the latest one, Revelations, mainly after changing to a number of people..including a couple from work. The latest game is to be set during the American Revolution, and it's first trailer is set to hit the internet at around 5pm today.

I'm really looking forward to it. Perhaps its just my mind jumping on the hype train. It wouldn't be the first time.

[Old News] Vaz Statement

This was originally written for a gaming website, however...although it was meant to appear online at some point...it never actually did.

And so, after digging it back up, I figured why not post it on here anyway. So here it is.

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Violent Videogames + Kids = An Issue.

I've just been reading about Keith Vaz, a UK politician who is one of those people who have an issue with videogames. He's recently put together an 'Early Day Motion' which states the following:

That this House welcomes the call by Shigero Miyamoto, creator of Super Mario, for people to drop their joypads and venture out into the sunlight once in a while; recognises that video games have addictive properties; notes that children flourish when they undertake a variety of extra-curricular experience; further notes the current Hungarian EU Presidency priority of protecting minors from harmful audiovisual media content in media legislation; is concerned about the potential impact of violent video games on those under 18; and calls on the Government to ensure the purchase of video games by those under 18 is carefully controlled and that parents are encouraged to limit the amount of time children spend on video games.

Keith has been in the headlines before in regards to gaming. He was against the release of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, Manhunt and Bully. His motion can be found here.

OK, so yes, people need sunlight. And yes, I know a few people who'd rather spend most of their life in front of gaming consoles. I don't  have an issue in encouraging kids to get outside and have some real fun (even if it is running around with fake guns acting out Call of Duty). That's not the issue I've personally got a problem with. Its the violent games bit...

Mr Vaz calls upon the government to ensure that the purchase of 18+ games are being carefully controlled, which is fine, if it weren't already for the fact it is being controlled.

I've been selling games for years, and during which time I've had to read and sign countless of documents in relation to selling games to minors. Anyone who purchases alcohol will be aware of the Challenge 21 policy, which is now in place when selling games. The whole weight of the law can come crashing down upon me if I were to sell an 18 to someone under that age without I.D. There are already people out there watching us covertly to ensure we stay true to our training, and god help us if they see us not doing this.

Not only that, and I know this can't be said for everyone...but I've worked with a large number of fellow employees who all agree with me when I say its morally wrong to be selling GTA to Little Timmy anyway. We're not all bad people who don't give a walnut about who buys the game as long as its cash in the till, which makes Mr Vaz's statements about making sure the purchase of games is being controlled feel a little like being slapped in the face. I know of course that some people don't care who they are selling to, which is a real shame...as it is those people who make the rest of us look bad.

So, how can we control what kids are playing?

Education.

Not education for the kids playing them, but education for the parents buying them.

I've lost count on how many times I've gone through a conversation similar to this...

Oh, they'll only go and play it at their friends house anyway!
Perhaps you should chat to their friends parents then? Just because they are playing it elsewhere doesn't mean they have to play it at home too.

But it's only a game!
Correct, but he/she will be blowing heads off. Drug running. Stealing cars. Listening to a swear word after every other word. This isn't Mario you know.

Well I can't stop them playing it eventually
YES YOU CAN! Just don't buy it!

Oh I'll just get it, I'll just watch him while he's playing it
But...he's six years old! *sigh*, that's £19.99 please.

I once had a guy say to me after a conversation similar to the one above, I'll just mute the TV. Great..that's just...great.

Thank goodness not every parent/guardian is like this however. A number of them, once I've explained the reason behind the age rating (or even in some cases pointed out what the 18 in the corner actually means) they've then decided to not go ahead and purchase it, which is quickly followed by evil looks from the kid who wanted to play it aimed in my direction.

I'm not saying it would be an easy task to educate parents/guardians about videogame ratings and content. A T.V advert perhaps, making people aware that the content in 18+ games are along the same lines as 18+ films. We've all seen the...

You wouldn't steal a car, you wouldn't steal a handbag, DOWNLOADING FILMS IS STEALING

...advert. It could be directed along the same lines. Maybe even something like a government backed day/week of awareness about gaming.

Anyone who is willing to buy a game with an age rating higher than the age of the child needs to be educated more in the content within these games. It's too easy to constantly blame retailers for selling these products, or even blame the developers for creating it in the first place. What older gamers don't want is to see less of these games being released due to kids 'possibly' getting their paws on it.

Developers create these games as there is a huge market for them, and millions of people have a ton of fun playing them. Retailers have procedures in place to prevent the sale of age related products to minors. The only variable which isn't currently being monitored is the people responsible for purchasing/choosing to let kids play these games.

The last sentence Mr Vaz put into his statement I can agree with...limiting how much time kids spend playing games. Perhaps he didn't realize the hint that the problem could lie with parents/general people who supply games to minors.

Perhaps my little rant here is a bit too critical based upon his short statement. I just find that a lot of people who don't understand gaming and indeed gamers quickly jump to the wrong conclusion.

GET 'EM EDUCATED!

[News] Tax Relief for the UK Games Industry

I was pointed in the direction of an interesting article over on The Guardian website the other day by fellow Processor Ben.

In said article, which you can read in full here, it covers this bit of news...

"Industry trade body Tiga has submitted a fresh report to the treasury claiming that tax relief for the games industry will create jobs and earn millions for the country."

The UK film industry already gets tax relief on its projects, while videogames do not. The report by TIGA submitted to the government uses strong evidence to press for a similar tax relief for games which would mean...

"...20% relief on the UK core expenditure for games costing over £3m to produce, and 25 per cent of the UK core expenditure for game projects budgeted at between £50,000 and £3m."

Game development provides this country with billions of pounds in income, with studios such as Codemasters, Evoulution Studios and Media Molecule turning out fantastic games such as LittleBigPlanet and the Motorstorm series. And thats not to mention the big daddy of sandbox gaming, Grand Theft Auto, which is also created here in blighty.

A tax relief would create more jobs and encourage more studios to set up business in the UK. Perhaps we may even see the return of old studios who have left the UK to re-set up shop in countries that already have tax relief, such as Canada.

"Tiga has estimated that 41% of the jobs lost in the UK games development sector between 2009 and 2011 relocated overseas"

That's lost revenue for the UK as well as jobs.

We've currently got  a growing number of un-employment in Britain, many of which are students fresh from university...who's skills could be adapted to the gaming industry.

Videogames such as Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 have outsold most blockbuster films, and a large number of popular musical artists. As a form of media, games have never been as popular as they are now.

Labour MP Tom Watson agrees with the report (see his own personal blog account on the situation here), and lets not forget that we almost had this relief before the government came into power. (But scrapped the plans once in power).

We already have a strong base of which to build on in this country with the studios we have producing games now. A tax relief would help to further cement the UK as a great place to do business, and would help those who are looking for work get involved.

You can read the whole report here.

[Prize] Blast Process Competition

Head over to this link over on BlastProcess.com to find out how you could win a tshirt from InsertCoinClothing.com, and an original piece of art created by friend and artist Mici Oliver.

GO GO GO!!

[Announcement] I'm a News Writer!

Yay! I have my first position outside of Blast Process...

I'm now a News Writer for upcoming gaming community site, GamingUnity.com.

I've already done a couple of news posts on there, so keep checking back.