Gamertell

According to the European Commission survey, Ireland is now banning violent video games.

The European Commission has published a Communication on the Protection of Consumers, in particular minors, in respect of the use of video games. The revenue prediction for for the video game sector is a revenue of 7.3 billion Euros by the end of 2008. The publication also asserts that internet and mobile phone games will make up 33%  of the total revenue by 2010.

The reason for banning violent games, according to the EU’s study of the implementation of Pan European Game Information ratings, is that many of the EU nations are not enforcing the age limits on the games identified by PEGI. PEGI is a rating system similar to the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) that quickly indicates the the amount of violence, sexual contents and bad language in a game.

The only game currently known to be banned in Ireland is Manhunt 2 following the Irish Film Censor’s Office finding that the content of the game as gross and unacceptable. Ger Connolly, deputy Irish censor for IFco, told the Irish Times that Rockstar Games has yet to appeal the decision and the ban will remain in place. He also told Irish Times that IFco officers will often check game shops to insure the game was not being stocked for sale and anyone who purchased the game via online from another country will be considered as the person committing a criminal offense.

Read [Irish Times] Site [European Commissions] Site [PEGI online]