gamePolitics has a list of 36 mainstream media channels which have headlined a fear of game-inspired cannibalism over the past week. The new approach to game slander comes in response to the US National Institute for Media and the Family's annual report card on negative values and harmful consumer goods in the run up to the year's consumer glut. The games industry in general received an "F" (ouch), scoring particularly low marks on Retailers' Enforcement of age ratings. The US games industry body's response is here.
The two games which the mongering press allege will lead to a rampant run on human-eating are F.E.A.R and the schlock-horror title Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse. Cannibalism-related games stories have since spread around the web.
Nice marketing, folks.
The games which the federal body doesn't recommend for children and teens are: 1. Far Cry (M) 2. F.E.A.R. (M) 3. The Warriors (M) 4. Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse (M) 5. True Crime: New York City (M) 6. Blitz: The League (M) 7. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (M) 8. God of War (M) 9. Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil (M) 10. Urban Reign (T) 11. Conker: Live and Reloaded (M) 12. Resident Evil 4 (M)
Yes, that's all but one with an M rating.
A parental education scheme is kicking off in the UK on Wednesday at the site AskAboutGames, but worryingly a recent MCV survey suggests that more than 65% of parents don't actually care about the ratings system.
EDIT: The MCV survey says that RETAILERS think that more than 65% of parents don't care about the ratings system (thanks Paul O)
Hmmmm. Food for thought. Hungry anyone?
