Today’s video games tend to be complex and graphically realistic. They are not just for kids anymore, with more game-playing adults among their intended audience. Hence, some games nowadays may contain mature themes.
In light of this, the Video Games Classification system was introduced in April 2008, with the aim of providing more choices for adults, and at the same time protecting the young from games that are unsuitable for them. As such, classification ratings serve as a tool for consumers and parents when choosing games for their children. Read how the community's advice helped in the rating of the video game Dante's Inferno.
While some may know Dante’s Inferno as part of a 14th-century epic poem, The Divine Comedy, gamers see it as a virtual world in which the hero kills monsters and travels through the nine levels of hell in search of his heroine’s soul.
“When MDA received the game for classification, we found that its content raised some difficult issues," said Ernest Khoo, Deputy Director of Video Games Classification at the Media Development Authority. “In addition to violence and gore, the game contains nudity and potentially controversial religious imagery and situations”
For this reason, MDA decided to turn to the Films Consultative Panel (FCP) for its input on the appropriate age rating that should be given to the game. The FCP is an advisory body with 65 members drawn from all walks of life, age groups, religions and occupations so as to represent the full spectrum of Singapore society.
Upon watching gameplay videos from Dante’s Inferno, the FCP recommended an M18 rating for the game. Mr. Albert Tan, an FCP member who participated in the review, acknowledged that while the game is certainly for mature players due to the violence and nudity, the religious elements are set in a historical context. “Since the background is based on the Crusades, I don’t see any contention over religion, even though there are images of war between Christians and Muslims. Furthermore, no judgments were passed relating to religion in the game.”
MDA agreed with the FCP’s recommendation and gave the game a M18 rating with the consumer advice of “Violence, Nudity and Some Sexual Content”. |
For a start, always refer to the rating symbol and consumer advice to be found on the packaging. This will help you select the most appropriate game for your child. Visit the MDA Video Games ratings database to search for classification information before you head to the stores.
The Video Games Classification system consists of the following ratings:
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Age Advisory “Suitable for 16 & above”
Games in this category will carry an age advisory label with the text “Suitable for 16 & above”. Such games usually contain some controversial content and are not recommended for the young. Age Advisory is an advisory category, so companies are encouraged to exercise responsibility and not sell such titles to those below 16. |
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Mature 18
Restricted title, suitable for those 18 years and above. Such games will be required to carry an M18 sticker and consumer advice (e.g. Violence & Gore) highlighting the contentious areas for which the rating was given. Businesses are to conduct point-of-sale checks to ascertain customer’s age. |
Games that are approved for general distribution will not carry any indicative labels.
For more information on video games classification guidelines, please visit here.
A large number of games sold in Singapore are imported from overseas. These game boxes may carry the ratings issued in by the country of origin. The common ratings found on boxes may be from:
Apart from the ratings and consumer advice issued by MDA, the other ratings could also provide information about the game. You can find out more about these rating systems on the respective organisations' websites.
- Carefully read and look at the package containing the video game. Game content is usually described in detail on the back of game packages, accompanied by graphical representations of the game play.
- Monitor your child’s video game play habits. As with other forms of media such as television and the internet, it is good to be involved in and aware of your child’s usage of video games.
- Understand your child’s personality and habits. Understanding your child’s character and tendencies will help you better select video games more suited to his/her unique nature and level of maturity.
- Read up on other sources of game reviews and ratings. Apart from the rating symbol on the package, you can find out more about a particular game through game reviews, demos and trailers, all easily available in magazines or the internet. These provide you additional information on game content, which can help you decide which games are appropriate for your family.
- IGN
- GameSpot
- 1UP
There are also a number of sites that review games from a family perspective.
For more sites please see our Helpful Links page here
Learn about and use computer / console parental controls. All of the newest video game consoles and handheld hardware devices, as well as the new operating system, such as Windows Vista onwards, offer parents the ability to limit what type of content their children can access by activating built-in parental control features. By activating parental controls you can ensure that your kids only play games that carry ratings you deem appropriate for them. Below are links to information on parental controls for specific devices:
For information on other consoles and operating systems, please see our Helpful Links page.
Exercise caution with online enabled games. Some games allow players to interact with other players on the Internet. It is important to be aware that these games may allow live-cast features as well as user-generated content including character models (“skins”), settings (‘maps’) and other content that are not part of the rating given to the game.
Be aware of downloadable ‘mods’ which can significantly change game content. Most computer games can be altered through the use of downloadable programs called “mods” which are broadly available on the Internet and can change the content of the game. Since players create them, mods are not considered in video game ratings. It is important for parents to be aware that some mods can alter a game in ways that may not be appropriate for younger players and may be inconsistent with the rating given to the game.
Are you worried about that your child might be addicted to video games? Or do you wish to find out about cyber bullying? Please visit out website dedicated to cyber wellness.