If my sub-standard blogging brings in world class comments like yours, I rather be a sub standard blogger.

@gamerchick, you raised an interesting point about how it will raise the cost of gaming and this also include the delays.

Yes, I used to be a gamer but now my consumption of games have been limited to WOW and the Burning Crusade. I think my next game purchase would be Wrath of the Litch King.

As for kids, you wouldn’t know how smart they can be to get what they want. Yes, as a parent, the responsibility should be on the parents, but there are some who rather leave it to third parties, like the government, to handle their kids.

and why does mass effect have to drive singapore digital media?

does watching M or R rated movies drive singapore digital media? its called entertainment. a sticker doesn’t prevent a kid from obtaining mature games?

but the same can be said about dvds i don’t see you complaining about that.

its seems like you are not a gamer because there are negative impacts of the new rating system but none of them are covered by you, e.g. mda taxing retailer up to $200 to rate a title, the delays in getting games, increased prices of games.

But your post reads like a typical knee-jerk reaction. You really have to see the bigger picture here. Letting in mature titles means that the country is loosening up. To attract gaming bigwigs, we need a market that can let in any title. If not, how can developers even start to make those titles here?

The ratings system is more of a symbolic move. Of course there are ways for kids to view these things or even porn on the Internet. But it shows how the government is taking the industry very seriously. It’s very mainstream now and the authorities recognise that. I’m no supporter of the government , btw. They seem open to feedback too, so why don’t you email them at their website?

Downloads are tricky. Because technically, servers that hold the downloads reside in other countries. So it’s hard to pass legislation across borders, unless those servers reside here. We’ve seen this happen with torrents and sites that host the torrent files. That’s probably why they’re careful about it.

You have to look at how they’ve developed the movie ratings system. It’s very comprehensive now and it’s implemented in retail outlets too. Movie downloads aren’t available here yet but I’m sure they’ll have to do something abt movies and games once it becomes widespread.

Woot!! Rockstar games will be coming thick and fast!

I don’t care if under-aged kids play it or if “Singapore becomes a key player in the digital media scene” (whatever that means).