The games industry launches the website ‘Rule the game’

Today the Dutch games industry is launching the website ‘Rule the game’ for parents who are going (slightly) crazy from all the banging and shooting in the living room. Isn’t that a bit hypocritical? Nine questions for Anne de Jong, director of the Dutch industry association NVPI Interactief.

There are already all kinds of websites for parents, such as ‘www.mediawijsheid.nl’. Why another one?

“Most of them are run by the government and rather traditional. We wanted to add to what already existed: a somewhat more playful site, featuring, for example, a Dutch celebrity like Tanja Jess explaining how she handles it as a mother.”

The games industry itself launching a website to limit gaming: isn’t that a bit two-faced?

“Why? I think it shows that we are taking our responsibility and taking parents and their questions seriously. We know better than anyone that it is sometimes hard to keep up with everything, especially if you grew up without games yourself.”

But surely you don’t advise parents on that site to get rid of the games?

“No. We don’t see a game as a problem, but simply as a fun game. One that children, unlike a board game, often play ‘out of sight’ of their parents, which can make parents feel unsure.”

The games industry gets a lot of criticism. Is that also a reason to launch a site like this?

“I don’t think the criticism is that bad. There is now plenty of attention for the benefits. That children learn to work together through games, learn English and learn to make decisions.”

“Those complaints don’t apply to games in particular, but to all screen time put together. I think it makes sense for parents to limit screen time, but how is really up to each parent. I have a son of almost four who likes watching YouTube, and after a while I also say: now something else. You can’t start with that early enough.”

Another criticism: the violence in games.

“I think that criticism has died down since the introduction of the PEGI age ratings, the age classification for games. Anyone who looks at those ratings will see that there are a great many games without violence. Games that are suitable from the age of three.”

Plenty of 14-year-olds already play Call of Duty, even though according to the rating it is only for 18 and over. Do parents actually follow the ratings?

“Just as you can immediately see what age a film is suitable for, these days you can also see that for a game. On the packaging in the shop or before an online purchase. The question is: do parents look along? We certainly recommend it. Children love it anyway when parents show an interest in their world.”

There is currently a heated debate about so-called ‘loot boxes’ and other things children can buy in a game. Shouldn’t we get rid of those?

“If parents don’t want this, they can do something about it themselves. Every game has a setting that lets you limit or block spending. Moreover, games recently got an icon (a credit card with a hand) that warns parents when these kinds of purchases are included. Incidentally, you only find this kind of thing in one in four games, so it is not that bad.”

Addiction clinics are seeing more and more gaming addicts. Don’t you feel responsible for that?

“There is a whole scientific debate about whether gaming addiction even exists. We think not: children only escape into games when there are other problems. But we do agree that you should prevent a child from just sitting alone in the attic with a game. That is what we want to help parents with: make good agreements from an early age.”

Source: AD.nl