Stronger warnings for UK video games

"Not all parents have grown up playing computer games – it can be difficult to understand that you might be allowing your child to play the interactive equivalent of Kill Bill. Now there is no excuse," said Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell.From May, all newly manufactured computer games rated 15 or 18 by the British Board of Film Classification will carry a description of content on the back of the packaging. Age symbols will also double in size.The move follows a meeting between Government officials and the games industry to find ways of stopping 18+ games getting into the hands of children. According to Government figures, only 1.6% of games have this rating, but they account for 8% of sales.The voluntary measure has the approval of the Government, manufacturers, retailers and ELSPA (the Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association). However, as it is not a legal requirement, games which are still on the shelves in May but that do not carry the new symbols will not have to be removed.The Government and industry are currently exploring the possibility of a voluntary classification system for downloadable games, and a revised code of practice for retailers is expected to be published shortly.