My life as an Edwardian

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 25594

Ah, see, I worked there in the university breaks, in 2001 or 2002 so maybe this was before what you are suggesting.

Dudley · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8679

To MrD - The most liberal remotely sensible option is to leave it to parents, if you let kids buy games without them knowing you're not doing that.

And again, if the PEGI/ELSPA systems aren't enforced, a much more draconian one will be. If you're VERY lucky that'll be expensive BBFC certification for all. If you're unlucky, there's going to be a lot more bannings, the Manhunt 2 one was ALREADY defended as "Oh well kids will play it anyway".

Dudley · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8679

Mimi wrote:

Ah, see, I worked there in the university breaks, in 2001 or 2002 so maybe this was before what you are suggesting.

If guessing from context here the change came with the move to PEGI. I suspect it was a condition of signing up.

Zio · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6093

Dudley wrote:

Back them possibly not, by 2003 certainly every retailer I'd ever heard of was in the credits for the training video that made precisely that point.

We had to watch that video every 3 months (IIRC) at GS. It does indeed state in that video that the ELSPA / PEGI rating is legally enforceable, at which point someone in the room would always shout "Wrong!".

Dudley · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8679

I don't remember it specifically doing that, but then I only ever bothered watching it once, but it certainly has them TREATED as legal which a different thing.

That's the kind of crappy procedure I always cut through as manager. I'm not going to make my staff sit through that shit every 3 months, they're not idiots.

devilman · **Posted:** Wed May 28, 2008 15:00

Dudley wrote:

BMX XXX, which really WAS a poor game.

If even the promise of some fmv tits can't keep you playing a game, there's something wrong with your game.

Tmuk · **Posted:** Wed May 28, 2008 15:22

Devilman, I thought your avatar was following my cursor around the screen for a moment there. How cool would that be?

AceAceBaby · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 15:57

I think Dudley is right. While ESLPA/PEGI ratings may not be legally enforceable, it shows a lack of concern, if not outright contempt, for self-regulation of age appropriate ratings to ignore them.

I can easily see how a responsible games retailer would make it a matter of policy to adopt and adhere to voluntary ratings systems, and to discipline staff who don't follow them. I don't see anything wrong with that. It's the attitude of selling anything to anyone without any consideration that lead to increased censorship laws. The law only usually steps in when people have proven they can't be trusted to behave appropriately. In the case of video games retailers not being able to stick to their own industry's ratings systems, of course that results in more calls for BBFC legally enforced ratings. A system which no doubt delays production and increases costs.

I was in my local games shop last week or so looking for some Wii bits, and I watched a young boy ask his (I assume) dad to go to the counter and ask if they had "Gee Tee Ey Eye Vee" in stock. I couldn't decide whether to be offended by the request or the way it was said.

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 16:07

DISMAY AS BOY, 11, IS REFUSED SALE OF SUN IN HELSTON SHOP

SteONorDar · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 16:26

MaliA wrote:

DISMAY AS BOY, 11, IS REFUSED SALE OF SUN IN HELSTON SHOP

That's fucking ridiculous.

AceAceBaby · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 18:18

I can't say I'm against people not being allowed to buy The Sun.

SteONorDar · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 18:37

AceAceBaby wrote:

I can't say I'm against people not being allowed to buy The Sun.

But kids are normally allowed to buy comics.

CUS · **Posted:** Thu May 29, 2008 18:40

Better The Sun than The Mail or Express. At least one is obviously comical, as Ste said.

MrChris · **Joined:** 1st Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 30498

The comment on that story is great.

Quote:

The selling of of pornography is illegal. It has nothing to do with age or what shelf it is kept on.
Vincent Smith, Cornwall

Except that, y'know, it's not. Or is that what your mum told you so that you wouldn't look at the pictures of the nuddy women?

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My life as an Edwardian
Me... yesterday

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My life as an Edwardian
Me... yesterday