Transcript: Call for review of game classification guidelines

This is a locally hosted version of the 7.30 Report transcript, Call for review of game classification guidelines.
The story appeared on ABC TV on the 16th September 2003.

KERRY O'BRIEN: As if there's not enough violence in the real world, imagine one where you can kill with impunity and even earn bonus points for maximising the massacre.

That's the world inhabited by many thousands of young people who are devotees of violent computer and video games.

The gamers, as they're known, say games of this type are pure fantasy.

But one of the world's leading experts on the topic - who's currently visiting Australia - claims there's now enough research to prove the games can cause very real harm.

His warnings are endorsed by some medical professionals and children's advocacy groups, who say Australia's new classification guidelines for video games are failing.

Michele Fonseca reports.

And we must warn - this story contains some images unsuitable for younger viewers.

ANDRE FONTANINI: I don't play it for the violence.

I play it for the thrill of the game.

PROFESSOR CRAIG ANDERSON, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY: We have some reason to believe that violent video games will have an even bigger impact, a bigger negative impact, than violent television.

We may well be creating a larger group of essentially non-functional adults.

MICHELE FONSECA: Professor Craig Anderson from Iowa State University is a world renowned expert in computer and video game violence.

PROFESSOR CRAIG ANDERSON: This idea that somehow if you can tell it's fantasy it's not going to have any negative impact on you, there's no evidence that that statement has any validity whatsoever.

MICHELE FONSECA: He admits to receiving piles of hate mail from 14-year-old boys.

But, in this room, the professor, currently on tour in Australia, is getting a grilling from teenage girls at Melbourne's Methodist Ladies College.

LILLEY STALEY, STUDENT, MELBOURNE'S METHODIST LADIES' COLLEGE: My brother and I, we're not violent in the slightest.

And, so how can you sort of get conclusive evidence when it's just people in different circumstances?

PROFESSOR CRAIG ANDERSON: First of all, how do you know that you're not more aggressive now than you would have been had you not had a different environment?

There's no way that you can know.

MICHELE FONSECA: In Australia, young people like Lilley Staley and her friends are fuelling a boom economy.

Last year, sales of computer and video games hit $825 million.

But, as their popularity grows, so too does concern about the potential impact of games with violent content.

BARBARA BIGGINS, YOUNG MEDIA AUSTRALIA: We are raising the risk that more people -- children when they've perhaps even grown up -- will be more inclined to use violence when put in a conflict situation and they're more likely to become desensitised to the use of violence by other people.

MICHELE FONSECA: In between their studies, sport and socialising, the Fontanini brothers spend up to 10 hours a week playing video games, with their parents' consent.

ANDRE FONTANINI: It's not just about the violence in the games.

I mean, there's a lot of aspects of the game and, I guess, there's a sense of accomplishment that you get at the end that you've beaten the computer.

MICHELE FONSECA: The boys aren't at all concerned about any potential for harm.

In fact, 14-year-old David often feels better for playing them.

DAVID FONTANINI: I'll use it as means of letting off a bit of steam, a bit of tension, after a hard day.

MICHELE FONSECA: But psychologists, paediatricians, researchers and children's advocacy groups are worried on their behalf.

DR ANNIE MOULDEN, PAEDIATRICIAN, ROYAL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: Children actually come in and describe to me their newest game and how real it is and that they can actually see blood.

They actually don't discern that there's anything wrong in it and it actually becomes a reality of their life, and that's a real issue.

MICHELE FONSECA: Because it's a relatively new form of entertainment, no long-term research into violent computer and video games is available.

But children's advocate Barbara Biggins and Professor Craig Anderson say short-term studies prove a gamer's behaviour can change immediately after playing.

PROFESSOR CRAIG ANDERSON: We're most concerned about children and youths, of course.

Increased aggressive behaviour, increased aggressive thinking are probably the two biggest problems.

MICHELE FONSECA: Barbara Biggins believes Australia's classification guidelines are a big part of the problem.

She thinks the guidelines are failing because they're too focused on blood and gore while overlooking what she regards as the real danger.

BARBARA BIGGINS; It's the glamorised violence that's the big problem.

And by "glamorised violence" I mean the violence is performed by a hero, it's done in a good cause, it's justified, it's applauded, it's rewarded, and there are very few real-life consequences.

MICHELE FONSECA: Six months ago, the Office of Film and Literature Classification introduced new guidelines for games, bringing them into line with film ratings.

Unlike film, R-rated games are banned.

But, within the MA category, which children under 15 can access with parental consent, gamers can embark on random shooting sprees and decapitate their onscreen enemies.

Not all researchers think that's a problem.

PROFESSOR JEFFREY BRAND, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA, BOND UNIVERSITY: The evidence that exists, if we take a pyrotechnic scale, the evidence is a spark, not an explosion.

MICHELE FONSECA: Professor Jeffrey Brand was a consultant to the review of classification guidelines.

PROFESSOR JEFFREY BRAND: The preponderance of evidence in the bulk of the community actually weighs on the side of saying that there isn't a very serious concern.

We don't have an epidemic here.

MALE GAME CHARACTER: Now I'm really pissed off!

BARBARA BIGGINS: There's a myth out there that the jury is still out on media violence.

I can tell you the jury is not out.

The jury reported back years ago.

We just refuse to accept the evidence.

MICHELE FONSECA: But Barbara Biggins is unlikely to see her wish for tougher, more prescriptive guidelines granted any time soon.

The games industry and the Office of Film and Literature Classification think the system is working very well.

DES CLARK, OFFICE OF FILM & LITERATURE CLASSIFICATION: In the advice we give, most of it is directed at parents and saying, "Look, here we've made these recommendations to you. It's up to you how you are going to use them and interact with your children in applying that advice."

DR ANNIE MOULDEN: Parents actually take much more attention to what their children are watching on TV and perhaps hiring from a video shop rather than games.

They see games as being games.

They're promoted as games, and I think they pay very little attention to the classification of games, because that's how they're sold.

MICHELE FONSECA: So, as the offscreen debate continues, in this household at least, the Fontanini brothers will continue waging their celluloid battles.

ANDRE FONTANINI: There's still just as much violence on the football field, if not more, than there is on the computer games.

So I really think that their fears and concerns are pretty much unfounded.

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Original story: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2003/s947262.htm