Ratings for Video Games in Singapore by End April

[Miavi]

Sauce

Ratings for new video games by end April
By Alfred Siew, Technology Correspondent

THE long-awaited video game classification system will kick into action by end of the month, giving gamers here more choices, including games that were previously banned in Singapore.

Titles that contain possible objectionable content will come with stickers to warn buyers.

Those that have realistic violence, drug use, nudity and frequent use of coarse language1 will be rated M18, for a mature audience that is 18 and older.

Games that have moderate level of violence, portrayal of implied sexual activity, nudity without details, coarse language and depiction of drugs will be rated 'Age Advisory' and restricted to those 16 and older.

Announcing the ratings for new video games on Monday, the Media Development Authority (MDA) said the scheme would give adults more choice while giving parents more information about the games that they may buy for their children.

It said it was adopting a 'light touch' approach and will gather feedback from the industry and public before coming up with more detailed rules in future.

Game wholesalers and retailers may also be licensed in future, so as to ensure that they do not sell mature games to the underaged.

The video games rating system was developed over a two-year period involving detailed research and extensive consultation with members of MDA's advisory committees, representatives from the video games distribution and retail sectors, as well as parents, academics and gamers.

The new guidelines build upon the interim M18 rating, which was introduced in November 2007 to prepare the industry for the video games classification system.

Since then, eight games, such as Conan and God of War: Chains of Olympus, have been brought into Singapore under the interim M18 rating.

Said Ms Amy Chua, Chairman of the Board of Film Censors (BFC) on Monday: 'The new ratings will provide more choices for gamers. The games distribution and retail industry will also benefit from having a rating system that allows it to make available more games targeted at the different groups.'

'At the same time, the age-appropriate ratings and consumer advisories will help parents make informed choices about the games their children play. This represents a balanced approach in enabling more media choice for Singaporeans while protecting the young.'

In line with the BFC's practice of co-regulating with the industry, the classification system requires companies to declare all games meant for local distribution and sale via an online questionnaire.

Companies will be required to submit physical copies of the titles only when the game contains mature content. In addition, the BFC will conduct periodic checks on games declarations to verify accuracy of declarations.

On the benefits of such a co-regulatory system, Ms Chua said: 'Getting the industry to declare information about the games will speed up the classification process and facilitate time-to-market for new titles.'

'Such industry involvement is crucial to the classification of video games due to the amount of time required to assess each game. This will also help BFC to focus on content that is not suitable for the young and keep compliance cost affordable.'

Under the system, it costs S$50 and takes six to 10 working days to rate a M18 game.

A premium service is available for companies looking to shorten the processing time.

To help the public understand the video games ratings, MDA is organising a series of outreach initiatives targeting gamers, parents, teachers and retailers, from end April.

In addition, an informational brochure on the video games ratings will be made available at games distributors' and retailers' outlets, LAN gaming centres, as well as at other community events.

MDA will work with game retail shops and LAN gaming centres to display in-store signs that explain the games ratings. MDA will also partner parenting and gaming publications and online portals to hold promotional activities aimed at increasing awareness of the video games ratings.

More information on the video games classification system can be found at www.mda.gov.sg/videogames.

Views from MDA's Film Consultative Panel, industry experts
Views from MDA's Film Consultative Panel (FCP) members:

'As a father of three teenagers who are gamers, I have many times looked at the covers of games packages but was not able to tell the nature of their content. All I see are life-like models, with graphics so good they look almost real.
... more

LOL.

So, now what? As if ratings given by those old fogeys actually apply correctly, seeing as how they could actually fine a certain company for displaying a music video which just contains a simple kissing scene between two females, just because it supposedly promotes lesbianism, as defined by their narrow mentalities.

1: Holy fucking cow shit nigga, am I seeing things? That if that's the case, GTA would be brought in under M18 instead? Holy motherfucking nigga blazing asshole. Now excuse me while I go smoke my motherfucking bong of weed.

[Botak_Ahpek]

MDA is simply epic phail . So now we'll maybe see games like the so called controversial Grand Theft Auto series being totally banned off the shelves in Singapore ? MDA already had a fucked up rating system for movies TV shows . Now that it goes into place in games , i can see Singapore gamer's choice are getting narrower and lesser day by day .

[Miavi]

Originally Posted by Agony_Ah Pek

MDA is simply epic phail . So now we'll maybe see games like the so called controversial Grand Theft Auto series being totally banned off the shelves in Singapore ? MDA already had a fucked up rating system for movies TV shows . Now that it goes into place in games , i can see Singapore gamer's choice are getting narrower and lesser day by day .

Refer to edited initial post

[ReinhartX]

they still got a long long way to go

[YuShenLuo]

somehow i think they are epic fail

i mean is it seems like they indirectly encouraging ppl to go download again liao lol

scenario1
PersonA :"hey i got money i wanna go buy that game XYZ "
PersonB:"dude wake up that game is ban and u cant buy it in singapore!"
PersonA:"then how the hell can i get it siao is it?"
PersonB:"buy by importing yourself lor"
PersonC:"hey noob just go download it la,if PS2 then download and burn to DVD then also can play liao ma"
PersonA:huh sui then i no need waste money liao hahahahha"

scenario2
PersonA :"hey i got money i wanna go buy that game XYZ "
PersonB:"dude wake up u are underage to buy that original game man"
PersonA:"then how the hell can i get it siao is it?"
PersonB:"buy by importing yourself lor,or go JB buy lor,then bring in LOL"
PersonC:"hey noob just go download it la,if PS2 then download and burn to DVD then also can play liao ma"
PersonA:huh sui then i no need waste money liao hahahahha"


no matter how i see it,the implementation still dont seems to have any beneficial things at all.....

i guess they are simply too free

[Miavi]

They did the same to movies.

But Singaporeans can live without movies.

However, can the gamers live without their games?

[YuShenLuo]

Originally Posted by Miavi

They did the same to movies.

But Singaporeans can live without movies.

However, can the gamers live without their games?

dont worry
movies also cant die liao le

games sure no problem de
if they know how to get the source for movies,they should know how to get for games too.

kekekekekekekek
XD

[Vectors]

bukit timah~~

[YuShenLuo]

Originally Posted by Vectors

bukit timah~~

E
L
A
B
O
R
A
T
E

PLS

=.=V

[Miavi]

The first letter of Bukit and first letter of Timah

Let's all go Bukit Timah

[YuShenLuo]

Camping ah?

or hunting for 3rd dimension thingy ah?

or be papparazi?=.=


anyway i guess he means that place got sell .....games la

ps2 games i normally buy from JB
cheap cheap
=)


I will be speechless if next time SCV shows/movies/programmes also tio rated

[Miavi]

No la *facepalm.jpg*

You take a trip down to HardwareZone.com's Eat Drink Man Woman section then you will know what is Bukit Timah already

[YuShenLuo]

Originally Posted by Miavi

No la *facepalm.jpg*

You take a trip down to HardwareZone.com's Eat Drink Man Woman section then you will know what is Bukit Timah already

Enlighten the noob pls

[Vectors]

i help you a big ho Bukit Tmah

if you still dun understand then..then i deduce your a computer noob liao~~

[YuShenLuo]

Originally Posted by Vectors

i help you a big ho Bukit Tmah

if you still dun understand then..then i deduce your a computer noob liao~~

LOL-ed*99999999999999

i got it liao

very innovative term LOL

[SpikeOut]

That ugly official rating sticky spoils the cover. =/

[Botak_Ahpek]

Somehow later all go Bukit Timah , BayTSP's business gonna bloom again

[SpikeOut]

Originally Posted by Miavi

1: Holy fucking cow shit nigga, am I seeing things? That if that's the case, GTA would be brought in under M18 instead? Holy motherfucking nigga blazing asshole. Now excuse me while I go smoke my motherfucking bong of weed.

Well its quite obvious GTA series is known for that kind of theme, sex, drugs and violence and other kinds of s*** is known for.

[simply_zakie]

Who cares? Go Malaysia buy and come back play

[simply_zakie]

Who cares? Go Malaysia buy and come back play

[Botak_Ahpek]

Originally Posted by simply_zakie

Who cares? Go Malaysia buy and come back play

Singapore and malaysia customs not stupid ,sooner or later maybe they'll touch on this issue and maybe disallow you guys to bring in any form of media or games from there .It seems impossible for now but let's just say that anything can happen and never say never.

[YuShenLuo]

Originally Posted by Agony_Ah Pek

Singapore and malaysia customs not stupid ,sooner or later maybe they'll touch on this issue and maybe disallow you guys to bring in any form of media or games from there .It seems impossible for now but let's just say that anything can happen and never say never.

they dont bother lor

some of my friends get check a few times liao
as long as u dont bring in XXX or dont bring in 20-30-40 discs will do

if scare custom check just get a taxi from kotoraya taxi stand straight to bugis will do.

$2.50-$3sgd per discs wor
where to find such kan tao
XD

[Vectors]

you have to take into account the expsense you take to go malaysia

[YuShenLuo]

Originally Posted by Vectors

you have to take into account the expsense you take to go malaysia

true
but still alot cheaper ma

dont go in buy 1-2 ma
long long time go once and buy many many 10-15 come back already liao.

=)

[Botak_Ahpek]

But come to think of it , They apply labels , restrict ages and so on , What's the use ?? Some game sellers are just going to go ahead and sell the games to someone under the age even if it screams a bold " M18" label .As long as they have the cash flowing in , the party just goes on . Unless someone suay suay rat you out .

[ShiosakiHaruto]

Bukit Timah for the win XD
Odex is going to license games now @_@?

OHOHOHOHOHAHAHAHAHAO LOLROARUJAWOJFKAHFROFLROFLROFLLAOLOLAOLOLOLURHRHUHRUHRUHRUHRUHRUHRUHOAHAOAHOAHOAHAOAAAHAHAHA

[YuShenLuo]

Originally Posted by Agony_Ah Pek

But come to think of it , They apply labels , restrict ages and so on , What's the use ?? Some game sellers are just going to go ahead and sell the games to someone under the age even if it screams a bold " M18" label .As long as they have the cash flowing in , the party just goes on . Unless someone suay suay rat you out .

thats why i comment "they" are just too free to do so

everyone knows no one will give a damn

Originally Posted by ShiosakiHaruto

Bukit Timah for the win XD
Odex is going to license games now @_@?

OHOHOHOHOHAHAHAHAHAO LOLROARUJAWOJFKAHFROFLROFLROFLLAOLOLAOLOLOLURHRHUHRUHRUHRUHRUHRUHRUHOAHAOAHOAHOAHAOAAAHAHAHA

u think they still got the cheek to re-appear again ah?
=.=

if they wanna poke nose into games then find who to tag along ah?
squaresoftenix konami or etc?

LMAO

[Botak_Ahpek]

Later when the rating scheme kicks in Gahmen see high rate of ppl DL-ing games online.....

" We decide to engage the help of BayTSP to help us track and locate online illegal downloaders and bring them to justice "

And now , let the gaming saga begin

[Vectors]

Well i would have to say that rating systems are implemented so that the over sensitive people and more conservative people can see that MDA is doing something

[YuShenLuo]

Originally Posted by Agony_Ah Pek

Later when the rating scheme kicks in Gahmen see high rate of ppl DL-ing games online.....

" We decide to engage the help of BayTSP to help us track and locate online illegal downloaders and bring them to justice "

And now , let the gaming saga begin

if that really happens
i think the hu-ha game saga will be even on a greater scale than this anime odex saga.

the % of ppl playing those BukitTimah games ....erm erm,u know i know we know....

Originally Posted by Vectors

Well i would have to say that rating systems are implemented so that the over sensitive people and more conservative people can see that MDA is doing something

more wayanging in a diff form FTW?

i can sense those game shops selling orginal games will whine or complaint soon

Shop attendant:"why my original games not selling !!!!"
passer by:"........"grinning while walking pass the shop ......

[Botak_Ahpek]

One thing for sure from day one most of you would know , our gahmen REALLY likes to wayang

[Vectors]

original games will still sell...dun worry about it...esp PS3 and Wii...

[YuShenLuo]

Originally Posted by Vectors

original games will still sell...dun worry about it...esp PS3 and Wii...

LOLed


As for wayangness
i know that dont know at which year(ages ago liao)
>our dear Mr Mas is still so called hiding in Singapore(as per experts beliefs)

[Botak_Ahpek]

Originally Posted by YuShenLuo

LOLed


As for wayangness
i know that dont know at which year(ages ago liao)
>our dear Mr Mas is still so called hiding in Singapore(as per experts beliefs)

No he was stuck in the jamban trying to escape , they forgot to check the pipes nia

[Vectors]

dun forget...he may be hiding in the dustbin..arrr

[YuShenLuo]

NO
he decides to live in Singapore in an unknown place happily ever after


happily ever after<<< Fairy tales well known phrase

[Miavi]

Guys, back to topic please.

Mr Mas is in another thread.

[yuuji-kun]

lols...47 days and counting for dear Mr Mas(who's supposedly still in Singapore)

anyways MDA is a joke. what are they going to label next...lemme guess...popups saying this website is not suitable for your age..implemented across all ISPs?

[ref]

wait wut, ESRB rating is not good enough? wtf?

[Miavi]

Apparently Singapore wants to do it their way, aka "wayang" as mentioned.

[ref]

diaoz, this is just redundant work....

you already got this ESRB rating thing that are specialize in Game ratings then u add extra work only to come up with your own rating?.... wtf...


Redundant stuff is redundant, and also makes the game look like VCD with that rating tag sticker

[Zich]

If you look at this way, by having the labels, the responsibility is pushed to us buyers. Meaning no MAPC can tell off the MDA that they are allowing violent games to be bought by kids.

Well you know, even with ERSB, some people are blind. With that familiar sticker on, there is no excuse for them to be blind. Even if they are, it's not MDA's problem anymore.

[Vectors]

working in a shop that sells games. i've met both kind of parents...one that "buys violent game" for their kids and one that tries to avoid it as much as possible...both have their reasons...

[Miavi]

It's just a game, seriously.

If people are going to blame a game for its violence (and lack of rating), why not blame the people who rate those games for the fault of committing dictatorship?

[devilf91]

doesn't matter to me.

i'm 21 this year

[Botak_Ahpek]

Maybe ESRB will say : Are you Singaporeans trying to challenge or doubt our judgment and decisions on the ratings towards the games ??

Then Singapore GG-ed liao

[YuShenLuo]

later they anyhow rate and fighting games become NC16 and ResidentEvil+horror games become m18 or R21
i really LMAO


seriously PSP PS2 PS3 wont even make any R21 games that have love making scenes.


sooner later maybe tv programmes also get rated if they happen to be too free and nothing better to do


and today i saw newspaper,by rating it $0.80 is to be charged.
An increase of price for the extra redundant piece of work.

"mei shi zao shi zuo"
What a clown.

[Botak_Ahpek]

Originally Posted by YuShenLuo

later they anyhow rate and fighting games become NC16 and ResidentEvil+horror games become m18 or R21
i really LMAO


seriously PSP PS2 PS3 wont even make any R21 games that have love making scenes.


sooner later maybe tv programmes also get rated if they happen to be too free and nothing better to do


and today i saw newspaper,by rating it $0.80 is to be charged.
An increase of price for the extra redundant piece of work.

"mei shi zao shi zuo"
What a clown.

Whut !?! 80 cents for that piece of BFC rated sticker thingum !?! No wonder our state coffers are getting richer than Swiss banks day by day ~! MDA do the right thing ! i know you guys CMI make it in terms of games rating ,You guys need someone like US , game otakus who knows the in and outs of gaming to help you do the rating ! That way , even taxpayers will feel the money spent is justified !

[reize]

AH HA! I just thought of a new business then, maybe i will create an entirely new ESRB-esque company label and start randomly rating games for an extra $0.50 per copy! Ill strike it rich then no?

This is bullshit, i spend 80 cents more on games for ratings that dont concern me. I mean, fuck la, im 20 i can practically buy every game on the shelf be there ratings or not.

Last time when i was still 14, the uncles also sell me porno even if im not 21 yet. So what makes MDA think we care? Cannot buy? Lan jiao, we just get our friends of age to buy for us la!

[givemechancela]

game rating good biz for game distributors here. they sure try put everything mature and parental guidance to make it more controversial and drive demand up as people curious and buy to see why so controversial. the consumer thinking is - if governmt ban, must be very violent or got sex right?! if game companies smart, they take advantage of this game classification.

look at mass effect, very few ppl hear about the game before but when at first ban and the news of ban came out, very good publicity for the xbox game. the lesbian scene is a small part of the game anyway.