75 replies to this topic

[smash ball]

So if I'm a thirteen year old living in UK, my parents have to buy an ID so I can buy video games. If I'm correct in assuming the ID is not free, this is a great way for the gov. to rack up some cash. Parents could just as easily buy the game as a gift or walk with the kid in the store to pick out the game.

Might I also ask how this law is ever being enforced? Police officers can't always tell if a person is texting or dialing on their phone. They can't always tell if a person is 17 or 18 for purposes of driving past the legal time.

[halfmaster1]

What kind of game is to bad of a 12 year old to play, but fine for a 13 year old to play?

[ugriffin]

What kind of game is to bad of a 12 year old to play, but fine for a 13 year old to play?

It's just the way the law works. One day, you're 17, and you can't drink or gamble. Next day, you're 18 and you can drink and gamble. The line has to be drawn somewhere.

[Keypress]

Unless you don't draw the line at all, and trust the parents to properly raise their children. You know, considering they're expected to cloth, feed, and keep the child alive but they're unable to handle the matter of videogames.


Just kidding. Legislate the **** out of them.

[commander of games]

Finally, no kids playing Manhunt or Call of Duty anymore!

And that would be a good thing, why?

Not like it even matters though. In this day and age with steam and all, I can just put "January 1st 1950" whenever I want to look at/buy an M rated game. Oh, the glorious age of digital distribution, how I love you! No, I really do, this paragraph isn't sarcasm.

[Druid TC]

Does this apply to 7 and 3-rated games as well? I know it specifically mentions 12s but surely by extension they must have to restrict 7s and 3s as well? Surely they can't be prosecuted for supplying a copy of Nintendogs to a 2-year-old?

[Rusty]

What kind of game is to bad of a 12 year old to play, but fine for a 13 year old to play?

It's just the way the law works. One day, you're 17, and you can't drink or gamble. Next day, you're 18 and you can drink and gamble. The line has to be drawn somewhere.

Yes but the line has to be justifiable, you can't just set random rules up and say it's for the good of mankind.

[makerofthegames]

Surely they can't be prosecuted for supplying a copy of Nintendogs to a 2-year-old?

Now you're suggesting a 2 year old walking around with no parental supervision into game stores.
Is Europe just this blissfully ignorant of, you know, terrible people out there..and you should probably occupy kids if they're walking around on the street outside?

[Druid TC]

Surely they can't be prosecuted for supplying a copy of Nintendogs to a 2-year-old?

Now you're suggesting a 2 year old walking around with no parental supervision into game stores.
Is Europe just this blissfully ignorant of, you know, terrible people out there..and you should probably occupy kids if they're walking around on the street outside?

The word is hypothetically.

[Keypress]

Your hypothetical scenario had an obvious flaw that had to be pointed out.

[makerofthegames]

OK so hypothetically an alien, from some distant planet, comes down to earth in the UK and completely understands English and has 100 pounds to spend, but he's only 2 and wants to buy a 3+ game...

..I prefer my hypotheticals to be at least slightly based on reality.

[Keypress]

Maker, your scenario is ridiculous. Aliens don't use pounds, they use pesos.

(It's a double entendre! Ahahahaha. Hahaha. Ha.)

Edited by Keypress, 11 August 2012 - 08:49 PM.

[Cakefish]

How does a 12 year old, or 16 year old for that matter provide proof of age?

What does this mean for digital distribution platforms such as Steam?

Edited by Cakefish, 11 August 2012 - 10:52 PM.

[makerofthegames]

How does a 12 year old, or 16 year old for that matter provide proof of age?

(emphasis mine)
I have a learner's permit in my wallet with my age. Although, I don't live anywhere that PEGI is used..

[Cakefish]

How does a 12 year old, or 16 year old for that matter provide proof of age?

(emphasis mine)
I have a learner's permit in my wallet with my age. Although, I don't live anywhere that PEGI is used..

Let me guess - ERSB yes? Which is even more tyrannical than PEGI - 17 to buy Half Life 2?! You can drive and marry before you can buy that game - one word - RIDICULOUS!

Wow so so glad I'm through all the age restrictions nonsense being so old at 20 and all that haha

[Rusty]

OK so hypothetically an alien, from some distant planet, comes down to earth in the UK and completely understands English and has 100 pounds to spend, but he's only 2 and wants to buy a 3+ game...

..I prefer my hypotheticals to be at least slightly based on reality.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think the law actually states the purchaser must be human for the laws to apply, so technically, you could get punished for selling a 12+ game to a 5 year old gorilla. Also, 3+ games aren't enforced, so selling the 3+ game to an alien would be fine, however, with an alien species, we would have to research their maturity rates and cultural tendencies for us to accurately rate games for them.

Also, most the 16 year olds I know do carry ID on them, they use it to purchase pornography, alcohol and cigarettes.

EDIT:
Also, digital distribution usually requires the use of a credit/debit card of some form (although MMORPG's such as Runescape have been known to use phone payments). Credit/debit cards are usually age restricted anyway.

Edited by Rusty, 12 August 2012 - 12:39 AM.