An industry organization representing UK game studios has noted that Canadian aid allowed to its thriving game industry is against fair trade practices, prompting the UK Ministry of Culture, Media and Sport to institute a formal probe into the Canadian government’s trade practices. The investigation will channel through the European Union and verify these claims.

Moreover, it appears that the investigation will compare policies put forth by the World Trade Organization with that of aid programs that several federal organizations in Canada offer to budding game development firms. This practice has brought many potential UK-based firms to look to Canada for a more promising begin.

And though the Canadian government does allow multiple incentives to constituents of the game industry, the interactive entertainment segment continues to thrive – and exponentially in most cases. In contrast, game development firms still based in the UK have complained that their own government is not only indifferent to the local game industry, but the government also “strangles” them. More updates in the worldwide game industry as we get them.

source pc.qj.net

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A short look into the gaming industry thoughts of the day gave us a opportunity to look deeper into Dr. Tanya Byron’s review of the ratings system for video games. And as the Interactive Software Federation of Europe’s (ISFE) secretary general opines, not all is agreeable with the recommendations for industry-wide rating improvements.

Though the ISFE previously found many things appreciative in Byron’s in-depth review, Patrice Chazerand doesn’t think well of a couple of Byron’s recommendations – especially one that affects their own rating system: the Pan European Games Information system or PEGI.

In Byron’s report, the researcher suggested that the British Board of Film Classification take a much bigger role in the ratings system of video games in Europe. And part of the recommendation said that it might be better if the BBFC ratings badge was put in front of the game packages, while the PEGI ratings badge was put at the back of the box.

This wasn’t taken so well by ISFE or PEGI – and for obvious reasons, too. Chazerand said:

Our first reactions, you won’t be surprised – you don’t like to go from front to back, so the fact that the BBFC would be on the front of the box, and PEGI on the back, we didn’t take it really as an improvement.

He later added that while it’s not demeaning to be put at the back of a game box, they did wonder what it would take to be worthy of being posted on the front.

Chazerand then noted how the BBFC rating would take prominence over the PEGI rating system in an video game package. In essence, a passive media ratings system would be used to classify a box containing interactive entertainment media.

He surrendered to the idea that the BBFC badge had more chance of being recognized than the newer PEGI, but it leaves you wondering how Byron’s recommendation would improve the recognition of the PEGI badge. Chazerand then concluded:

I’m sure Dr. Byron understands that, but at the end of the day, the recognition of the PEGI as a good ratings system beyond the lower two classes we got sort of short-changed, and I don’t think this is good for the education of the public.

Of course, the suggestions jotted down in the report have still to enter a review period, and before changes are instituted by fall of 2008, there’s ample time to ponder over the kinks. What’s your take?

source pc.qj.net

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A press announcement from Paul Davis heralded the second installment to the Last of the Patriots series, and like its predecessor, Last of the Patriots II is available free of charge. The level designer behind GTA: San Andreas and the two Manhunt games, plus Grand Theft Auto IV, is using the fact that LotP is free in order to promote games of deeper, more involving plots against just graphics and the inclusion of popular intellectual property.

The sci-fi adventure, action video game took players to a distant future where a powerful military entity known as the Space Corps took to the stars and came to possess 24 various territories across known space.

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