Contemporary Media Regulation:

Video Games

Comparisons in media forms:

• Differences in consumption between film and video games?

• Why study them for this topic?

Same Debates:

Active versus Passive

For and Against Censorship

Ethnic Cleansing (2002, Resistance Records)

Manhunt (2003, Rockstar North)

Tomb Raider (1996, Core Design)

Same Issues:

• Fear of Technology• Class• Freedom of the Individual• Moral Panic• Scapegoat• Adults or Children

Roles of:

• PEGI (Pan European Game Information): A games content rating system since 2003. Ratings were simply advisory until July 2012. Now their ratings are legal requirements and they are the sole organisation for rating video games in the UK. Games are not longer submitted to the BBFC.

• BBFC (British Board of film Classification): Before July 2012 the BBFC gave legal ratings/censored controversial video games. They hoped to be given the responsibility all games ratings. As a result of the change in law, the role of the BBFC has been diminished.

Case Studies:

• Case studies will be studied in class

• You will choose your own contemporary case study to work on outside of lesson.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009, Infinity Ward)