EU: The European Commission is proposing a new code of conduct to protect children from an increasing number of violent video games on sale.
Justice commissioner Franco Frattini said yesterday he was shocked by the obscene cruelty and brutality in some of the latest video games being played by young people in Europe.
"One of the latest games recently available on the European market relates to a young girl who becomes submitted to psychological and physical violence," said Mr Frattini, who was referring to a release for Sony popular PlayStation console called The Rule of Rose. The horror genre game depicts a kidnapped girl caught in a bizarre orphanage.
Sony was not available for comment on the criticism of the video game or the new EU proposal.
Mr Frattini outlined his proposal in letters sent to all 25 EU justice ministers and has asked the ministers to discuss the issue at a meeting in Brussels on December 5th.
"These types of 'recreational games' are dreadful examples for our children and may provoke or encourage violence or bully behaviour," said Mr Frattini, who added that a voluntary code of conduct for interactive games for children could be a step forward.
A commission spokesman said Mr Frattini did not want to ban violent video games but was considering a pan-European rating system for games to help parents.
The Irish film censor retains the right to ban unsuitable video games but relies on the PEGI rating system, which is supported by console manufacturers and software firms.
The PEGI system proposes age classifications of three, seven, 12, 16 and 18. Most EU states, but not Germany, use the PEGI system.
The National Parent's Council Primary welcomed the initiative by the commission but stressed that parents had to take action themselves.
"I have seen for myself children being refused certain video games in shops because they are too young but then parents going in and buying them the game themselves," said Philip Mudge of the council. "No amount of EU-wide legislation can stop this."