Mayor Lim Wants Violent Video Games Banned

October 7, 2007 · Filed Under General, MMORPG News, Infotech, Musings, MMOments, Gaming 

Newly elected mayor of Manila, Philippines - Mayor Alfredo Lim, wants “violent video games” banned from minors.

In a report at Libre, the Mayor, nicknamed “Dirty Harry” due to his rough stand against crime, is planning to prohibit minors from playing these games inside amusement centers and arcades.

This was apparently done on the behest of the Philippine Alliance Against Pornography (PAAP).

“While the usefulness of the Internet in cyber education is imperative, what bothers me is the cutting of classes by students and the playing of war games, which is not good in the proper upbringing of our youth,” Lim said.

Lim had previously prohibited elementary and high-school students from playing computer games in mall arcades and computer cafes in the city between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

I totally support the mayor on this. But here are some of my unsolicited thoughts and advice:

  • Define what “violent” truly means - the problem here is we DON’T have a video games rating system. Perhaps the MTRCB or any government body adopt the US ratings system - the ESRB
  • Children may see more violence in movies and TV. I hope they also look into that fact. There’s a study showing that the effects of violent games are tiny.
  • What titles are considered violent? Lim stated an FPS shooter. There are worse.
  • What’s to stop a kid from playing a “violent” game at home? or a friend’s house? This is where parenting comes in.

The Manila city council is currently drafting laws for this to be enacted soon. I sure hope they seek the advice of gaming experts before they do.

Just my 2 zennies worth…

GM T

Via Inquirer Libre

Photo by Malaya

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Comments

7 Responses to “Mayor Lim Wants Violent Video Games Banned”

  1. Games » Mayor Lim Wants Violent Video Games Banned on October 7th, 2007 3:20 pm

    […] Leon Prower wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIn a report at Libre, the Mayor, nicknamed “Dirty Harry” due to his rough stand against crime, is planning to prohibit minors from playing these games inside amusement centers and arcades. This was apparently done on the behest of the … […]

  2. Video Games » Mayor Lim Wants Violent Video Games Banned on October 7th, 2007 3:30 pm

    […] Lara Kulpa wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptNewly elected mayor of Manila, Philippines - Mayor Alfredo Lim, wants “violent video games” banned from minors. In a report at Libre, the Mayor, nicknamed “Dirty Harry” due to his rough stand against crime, is planning to prohibit … […]

  3. joel on October 7th, 2007 7:16 pm

    hmm i wonder if mabaBan din ung pRO? @_@

  4. sylv3rblade on October 8th, 2007 8:48 am

    unang matatanggal sa PC shops:
    GTA (all derivations)
    Need for Speed (all derivations)
    CS
    Quake
    Halo (meron ba naglalagay nito? o.O)

    tapos ang ieendorse ng City Halls is:
    Tetris! ^^

  5. Blackwolf on October 8th, 2007 11:40 am

    I’d like to see how they’re going to enforce this. True, internet cafes are going to be the target of watchdogging, but what about buying games in Greenhills for private play at home? Heck, Edu can’t do diddly about the piracy problem (NO ONE CAN) so what makes them think they can police the videogaming industry?

    It’s all a pipe dream.

    As for the rating system, the MTRCB rates things on a whim as dictated by its draconian rabidly-Catholic leaders. You can bet that there will be a lot of controversy and free-speech issues that will fuel future bouts of mud-slinging if the MTRCB becomes the moral compass of the videogame industry.

    It’ll be a compass with a demagnetized needle.

  6. issai on October 8th, 2007 11:58 pm

    one word… ouch!

  7. [video] Moral Kombat | gmtristan.com on December 2nd, 2007 3:01 pm

    […] about violence in video games is nothing new. But here’s something interesting from independent American filmmaker Spencer Halpin – It’s […]

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