Remember the big red button that would allow parents to immediately disable their child's video game console? Well, it's been through the European parliament and returned with 552 votes in its favour. i couldnt get rid od the add
At least, an exploration of the red button's merit was inclusive in a European non-legislative resolutionconcerning video games, titled "Protection of consumers, in particular minors, in respect of the use of video games."
The red button was the brain child of East Midlands Euro MP Glenis Willmott, who although highlighted the positives of video games, felt parents needed a way to immediately disable a console or PC in case their children were playing something they shouldn't.
The idea was submitted to the European Parliament and, along with other proposals, was adopted by 552 votes to 12 with 6 abstentions.
"Parliament calls on the Commission and Member States, in cooperation with the industry, to explore the merit of developing a 'red button' which can be included on (mobile) consoles or game devices and computers and which disables a certain game or which can control access to a game during certain hours or certain parts of the game," reads the document.
Instead of re-imagining a response to this, I thought it would best to simply quote my previous opinion on the 'big red button':
"Forgive me for being naive, but isn't this called the "Off" button? And controlling access to what your children play? Isn't that called "parenting"? Parents should not only know what games their children are playing before they buy them, but they should follow the well defined BBFC and PEGI age ratings," I commented on March 17th.
This is much the opinion of the rest of the non-legislative resolution, which highlights the protection of minors after first noting the great stimulant video games provide for both entertainment and education.
The European parliament calls for harmonised labelling rules and the promotion of EU-wide labelling and age verification systems, though self-regulatory systems are still endorsed.
Finally, the European parliament calls on its Member States to do the following:
Unless these bullet points weren't included with the 'red button' I'd have been up in arms with the European Parliament. Lets hope that they'll discover there's no merit in the red buttong after they've been able to explore its value.
i couldnt get rid of the add. sry so i deleted everything in it.
http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/formats/xbox360/special-red-button-legislation-passed-552-votes-12-$1289233.htm
