the dead is rising again or the specifics of the german rating system markus wiemker
DESCRIPTION
Regular there are popular, sometimes commercially also very successful games, which are the focus of a critical discussion about possible harmful content for minors in digital games. These games are often used as examples for the negative impact of the gaming industry, such as in the case of Dead Rising 3 the gross depiction of violent executions or in The Binding of Isaac the debate about controversial religious content. This speech will therefore discuss in general the logic of the various classification processes of the dominant rating systems (like ESRB, PEGI or CERO), their underlying cultural norms and values and in particular the specifics of the German system (represented by the USK, BPjM and FSM) like the banning of games which contains swastikas or extreme violence. Intended audience & prerequisites: Game Designer & producer. Session takeaways: - The important role of game rating (costs & values) - Knowledge of the underlying different cultural norms and values - Deeper understanding of the rating systems...TRANSCRIPT
“The Dead is Rising Again!”
or
Some Specifics of the German Rating System
Markus WiemkerMHMK Stuttgart
www.wiemker.org9. April 2023 1Censorship and Regulation in
Games
VIDEO GAMES WEEKGAME CONNECTION EUROPE 2014
29. – 31. October 2014, PARIS EXPO
ContentsCensorship & Rating Systems
Regulation Goals
Video Game Censorship
Kinds of Censorship
Worldwide Rating Systems
Rating in Praxis
Violence
Sex
Religion
National Sensitivities
Outlook
Future Trends
9. April 2023 2Censorship and Regulation in Games
Censorship & Rating Systems
9. April 2023 3Censorship and Regulation in Games
Regulation Goals
For Youth Protection
To provide information to restrict the
access to harmful content
For Game Designer
To get knowledge about the relevant
parts of the law
To develop a feeling which norms and
cultural values are important for game
ratings
Learn how to modify or cut out content
to get a “better” rating or to avoid a
selling ban
To wage between economic & creative
costs9. April 2023 4Censorship and Regulation in
Games
Video Game Censorship
EVERYONE 10+ (E10+): Titles rated E10+ have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language, and/or minimal suggestive themes.
9. April 2023 5Censorship and Regulation in Games
Video game censorship is defined as use of state or industry power to
control the playing, distribution, purchase, or sale of digital games
based on an evaluation of the game's content. Digital games have
been the subject of controversy and censorship, due to the depiction
of graphic violence, sexual themes, consumption of legal and illegal
drugs, criminal behavior, the discrimination of groups (e.g. because
of their religious beliefs), national sensitivities or profane language
for a long time. These regulation systems try to protect the youth
through the restriction of access to harmful content by the cutting or
modifying of content and in some cases even by the banning of games
(cf. Wikipedia “Video Game Controversy”).
Kinds of CensorshipDifferent Kinds of Censorship, Regulation and
Classification
1.Pre-, post- and self-censorship
2.Private-regulated and state-controlled
classification agencies
3.Rating systems that are voluntarily, mandatory
or legally binding under certain conditions
9. April 2023 6Censorship and Regulation in Games
Worldwide Rating Systems
EVERYONE 10+ (E10+): Titles rated E10+ have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language, and/or minimal suggestive themes.
9. April 2023 7Censorship and Regulation in Games
Rating in Praxis
9. April 2023 8Censorship and Regulation in Games
Violence: Dead Rising 3
9. April 2023 9Censorship and Regulation in Games
Violence: Dead Rising 3
9. April 2023 10Censorship and Regulation in Games
Sex: “Princess Robot Bubblegum“
9. April 2023 11Censorship and Regulation in Games
Religion: The Binding of Isaac
9. April 2023 12Censorship and Regulation in Games
Religion: The Binding of Isaac
9. April 2023 13Censorship and Regulation in Games
National Sensitivities: South Park
9. April 2023 14Censorship and Regulation in Games
National Sensitivities: South Park
9. April 2023 15Censorship and Regulation in Games
Outlook
9. April 2023 16Censorship and Regulation in Games
Future TrendsNew and current challenges for game
regulation/developers & publishers
1. the handling of mobile, online and user
generated content
2. the evaluation of the potential of games to
cause addictive play behaviour
3. the necessity to take into account different
forms of play, like a multitude of play and
interpretation practices or the significance of
contexts that frame the game play experience
4. Monetization models in Free2Play games (e.g.
item selling)
5. Data protection/user rights
9. April 2023 17Censorship and Regulation in Games