Games Toaster

In Ireland only children play video games

Above is how Toyota created an SUV television advertisement using the World of Warcraft game. That was in the US. In Ireland, only children play computer games.

Manhunt 2 banned in Ireland

Manhunt 2 has come under a prohibition order by the Irish Film Censor's Office, effectively  banning the sale of the game in Ireland. The moves follows a ban by the British Board of Film Classification.

Youth Council of Ireland wants boycott of “shocking" game, Canis Canem Edit

The National Youth Council of Ireland wants Irish shops not to stock what Ireland’s newspaper of record describes as “A new computer game that depicts a schoolboy tormenting a homeless man and throwing eggs at other children”.

The NYCI wants shops and consumers to boycott ‘Bully’, renamed ‘Canis Canem Edit’ (Dog Eat Dog) for Europe. The game holds a 16+ advisory label (pictured right) in the Republic and a 15 certificate in Northern Ireland. Bully is made by Rockstar, the publisher of the controversy Grand Theft Auto games.   

Gearóid Ó Maoilmhichíl, child protection co-ordinator at the NYCI told the Irish Times (sub req) “The release of this game is an insult to the many children who are victims of bullying, and will bring back tragic and disturbing memories to thousands of adults and their families who have lived with the consequences of such bullying,"

"This game glorifies all that is unacceptable about bullying. It sends out the message to young people that the only way to stop being bullied is to become a bully yourself" said Ó Maoilmhichíl.

Rockstar says the game uses “humorous tongue-in-cheek storytelling”, explaining what the game involves they say “you’ll stand up to bullies, get picked on by teachers, play pranks, win or lose the girl, and ultimately learn to navigate the obstacles of the worst school around, Bullworth Academy”.

Before its release, UK retail giant DSG, owner of PC World and Currys, had said they would not stock the game, saying it “is not appropriate for Currys' family-friendly image".

Games events at the Digital Hub

On Thursday, computer games events planned for this month start in the Irish Government’s Digital Hub in Dublin. Exhibitions, debates, and a ‘Careers Expo’ are pencilled in from May 5 to May 18.

The Digital Hub is home to a number of games industry companies, including middleware company Havok, and mobile games developers TKO, and Eirplay Games. As we reported recently, games developer DC Studios are in the process of moving into the Hub.

The Hub’s latest exhibition, ‘Exhibit8: New Frontiers in Gaming’ is open office hours, 9.30am-5.30pm, from Thursday, with the official launch of the events on the same day, incorporating the announcement of the winners of the student games competition Dare to be Digital Ireland.

On Friday (May 6) a public talk titled ‘Censorship in the games industry’ is set to debate censorship in games, chaired by the journalist and critic, Medb Ruane, the panel is to include Ger Connolly, the Duputy Irish Film Censor; Dr Mary Corcoran, Professor of Sociology, NUI Maynooth; and Paul Hayes, a games marketing consultant. Other panel-based discussions lined up are ‘Game Design - Responding to New Interfaces’ (Monday, May 9), ‘Mobile Gaming: Successful Business Models’ (Wednesday, May 11), and ‘Learning Through Gaming’ (Wednesday, May 18).

To guide those looking into a career in the games industry, the Gaming Careers Expo takes places 11am to 5.30pm, on Monday, May 9.

For full listings of venues and times, as well as registration for some events, visit the Digital Hub’s website.

Edited 03/05/2005: changes to the panel of the ‘Censorship in the games industry’ debate.

Irish Film Censor, possible extended remit - Justice Minister

Cian Ginty, GamesToaster.com
18:51 GMT, Sunday September 05, 2004

Talking at the publication of a survey on parents’ views of film age ratting, Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, said he was examining the Irish Film Censor Office’s remit of the classification of games. The survey by the Ifco and the market research company Lansdowne revealed that parents are most concerned with ‘drugs/drug taking’ with 83 percent saying it ‘very’, and 14 percent saying it was ‘fairly’ important in the rating of films. It was followed by violence (75/20), racial reference (65/25), underage drinking at school (59/35), sexual activity/dialog (57/35), and anti-social behaviour (55/37) – “bad” language, horror, nudity, drinking, and smoking, all fell below 50 percent in the ‘very’ important range.