US Politician Lyndon LaRouche (info) has launched a scathing attack on Microsoft blaming them for the latest US university shooting claiming that (and I quote) International Fascism: Microsoft Will Kill More Youth than Hitler and for some strange reason, only known to himself, says that Microsoft were behind Counter-Strike, a game made by Valve.

LaRouche and his cronies take their lead from the sensationalist New York Post article which also blamed the Northern Illinois University killings by Stephen Kazmierczak on Counter-Strike while giving little mention to the fact that he stopped taking prescribed medication for an undisclosed medical condition.

In further evidence of LaRouche’s mad conspiracy theories read this;

The intended effect, to foster an environment of mass suicide terrorism in the U.S.A., is a by-product of the ‘Revolution in Military Affairs’ policy, organized by Felix Rohatyn and George P. Shultz; the same individuals, who not only helped to install the fascist Pinochet into the Chilean government, but are the prime backers of a fascist Bloomberg Presidency.

Getting such basic facts as tying Microsoft to Counter-Strike, making outlandish claims about other US politicians and giving little credence to what was the probably cause of this tragedy, the fact that Stephen stopped taking his medication.

Politicians like this make me sick, people in positions of credibility need to take a stand against this. Microsoft should reply and set the record straight and distance gaming from this awful event.

[Kotaku

A report by the Guardian newspaper says that UK ministers are discussing plans for introducing a cinema like age rating system for all games sold in the UK.

At the moment only games showing sex or “gross” violence to humans or animals require legally enforceable age limits. Ministers plan to impose measures requiring all games to carry a legally binding age restriction rating. Ministers also are thought to make a recommendation to parents that games should only be played in the kitchen or in an area where parents/carers can view and manage what is being played.

Ideas are also being discussed regarding enforcing filters on internet sites that are deemed unsuitable for children.

Hugo Swire, a former shadow culture secretary, has suggested that the default setting for internet content would be for children, with a password or pin needed for unfiltered material.

Finally it is expected that Tory MP Julian Brazier will launch a private members bill aimed towards setting up a new body to assess and appeal against BBFC classification of games and DVDs.

The Guardian.

Quick heads up, Rock, Paper, Shotgun have a good article here talking about the Byron Report and its impact on the games industry.

Following recent moves by the Entertainment Software Association to gain political support (link) the Parent Television Council have slammed the ESA for setting up a Political Action Committee. This is part of the PTC statement

“The video game industry continues to fight meaningful accountability for selling inappropriate material to children. The industry has been exposed repeatedly for its reprehensible behavior and now they are looking for ways to buy friends in the government,” said PTC President Tim Winter.

“Let me be clear of our intentions: Any public servant who cashes a check from the video game industry will be exposed by the PTC as taking a stand against families, and his or her actions will be communicated to constituents in his or her congressional district.

They claim that the ESA and the games industry are seeking political support to cover and protect themselves from recent events and to counter efforts being made to further restrict the games industry.

It is sad to see the PTC come up with these claims, and I hope that they lose credibility for making such claims. Read their full statement here.

Thanks to Shacknews.

I haven’t had time to cover this for a few days but there has been a whole heap of new stuff that has come to light regarding the Fox News and Mass Effect debacle. We have had G4TV talk on the issue, Cooper Lawrence retract her statement and now we have the Entertainment Consumer Association weighing in on the issue.

Hal Halpin, president of the ECA has called for Fox News to apologize for the false reporting carried out regarding Mass Effect. Hal has written to the producer of the controversial Fox piece.

Your show’s reporting was irresponsible and incorrect. Your own “expert” Cooper Lawrence has subsequently disclaimed her misstatements… In the future, we ask that you book real gamer and industry experts on your show…

GamesPolitics.

Read the rest of this entry

It has emerged (according to GameSpot) that the release of Manhunt 2 in the UK has been put on hold again following a High Court Ruling. Judge Mitting overruled the Video Appeals Committee decision to allow Manhunt 2 to be released.

Following the VAC’s decision to allow the game to be released the BBFC took the case to the High Court and this led to the ruling from Judge Mitting. He said that the VAC had to judge whether Manhunt 2 could cause ‘potential harm and risk of harm’ to children rather than basing their judgment on actual harm.

Mitting then went on to say that the VAC must reclassify the game based on the new factors that he has brought to their attention.

It seems that this protracted case is drawing to an end and will most likely result in Manhunt 2 not being released in the UK. While the game may not have received great critical response it will be a shame for the game not to appear on UK shelves.

Finally the thought must be raised that this ruling is going to have an effect on many future releases. If the VAC and BBFC have to classify games based on potential harm to children I expect to see many future games be banned from release in the UK. Time will tell whether a dangerous precedent has been set.

Kotaku Australia has revealed that the upcoming Battlefield Heroes will only be available in the US and EU..’for now.’

Interesting to see this move by EA, maybe they want to see how their new free-to-play model works before going world wide? Who knows, but I am sure we will hear more on this in the coming months.

The second piece of news for the day comes by way of GamesPolitics and reveals that the Sierra Club plans to place a 1% sales tax on TV sets and Video Games. The plan is to raise $4 million to go towards funding programs to give kids an outdoors education.

I have my reservations on this, surely parents should be able to give their children this education themselves by taking them for a walk in the park or forest. I don’t see how this is going to have any real effect on anything apart from to line a few peoples pockets.

Finally CVG has unearthed some new Far Cry 2 screens, and they do look very very nice!

Michael Gallagher, the Chief Executive of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is determined to gain the support of US politicians in an attempt to gain support for the games industry.

The ESA, the association represents the big movers in the games industry; Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, EA and the new kids on the block Disney. Last year it set up a political action committee (PAC) which Gallagher says in the New York Times will donate between $50,000 to $100,000 this year to national candidates in a move similar to actions already carried out by the film and music industries.

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According to an interview with the shitrag Sun newspaper our Prime Minister Gordon Brown is calling for a ban on knives in the real world…and the gaming world!

The PM went on: “I am very worried about video and computer games.

“No one wants censorship or an interfering State.

“But the industry has some responsibility to society and needs to exercise that.”

Read on for my full thoughts