INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER GAMES

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INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER GAMES

• Dr Manolya Kavakli
• Department of Computing
• Macquarie University
• Sydney, NSW 2109
• Australia

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Topics

• 1.What is a computer game?
• 2.Definition of a computer game
• 3.Classification of a computer game
• 4.Legal position of computer games in
  Australia
• 5.Censorship in computer games

3
What is a computer game?

• computer games games played on the computer from
  a
• floppy disk
• CD-ROM
• e-mail
• online via BBS
• Internet.

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Official definition of Computer GamesThe
Commonwealth Classification (Publications, Films
and Computer Games) Act 1995

• "computer game
• either
• A computer program and associated data
• Or
• A computer generated image
• Problems in definition!
• Any computer program and data?
• Any computer generated image?

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Computer Games as Computer programs

• computer program and associated data
• capable of generating a display
• on a computer monitor,
• television screen,
• liquid crystal display or
• similar medium,
• that allows the playing of an interactive game.

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Interactive games Films

• If a product appears in a computer generated form
  
• and it is not an interactive game,
• the product will be classified by the
  Commonwealth as a
• "film".
• Any differences between games and films?
• Any differences between interactive games and
  interactive films?
• Not clear!

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Interactive Films

• There are some products on the market
• that are "interactive films" and
• which appear in computer generated form.

• Interactive film
• a film which allows the viewer to choose the
  ending of the film.
• because they are interactive,
• they are classified as computer games.

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Film

• Films which are not interactive
• will continue to be classified
• under the Classification of Films Act 1991.
• Further problems in legal definition
• If a film is a "PG" film for the Commonwealth,
• it will be a "G(8)" computer game for
  Queensland.
• What does this mean?
• You cant sell this product to people under 8.

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Interactive Game

• "interactive game
• those computer generated images
• which are not films
• will be classified as computer games
• under this Act.

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Classification ofComputer games as computer
generated images

• a computer generated image
• but does not include-
• a bulletin board or
• a business, accounting, professional, scientific
  or educational computer program or computer
  generated image,
• other program or image containing a computer game
  
• Anything other than that would, if classified,
• be classified as
• an MA(15)computer game,
• or be refused approval for classification.

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What is a Computer generated image?

• "computer generated image
• electronically recorded data capable,
• by way of an electronic device,
• of being produced on a computer monitor,
  television screen, liquid crystal display or
  similar medium as an image
• (including an image in the form of text).
• Problem in definition
• Any graphics?

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What is a Computer Program?

• "computer program"
• a set of statements or instructions
• to be used directly or indirectly in a computer
• to bring about a certain result.
• Problem in definition
• Any computer program?

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What is an Objectionable Computer Game?

• "objectionable computer game"
• an unclassified computer game,
• or
• an unapproved advertisement for a computer game.

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unapproved advertisement for a computer game

• describes, depicts, expresses or otherwise deals
  with matters of
• sex,
• drug misuse or addiction,
• crime,
• cruelty,
• violence,
• or revolting or abhorrent phenomena,
• in a way that offends against standards of
  morality, decency and propriety generally
  accepted by reasonable adults or

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unapproved advertisement for a computer game

• -depicts a minor
• (whether engaged in sexual activity or otherwise)
  
• who is, or is apparently, under 16 in a way
  likely to cause offence to a reasonable adult or
  
• promotes, incites or instructs in matters of
  crime or violenceor
• has been refused classification or approval.

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Our definition of a computer game

• a computer game
• a computer program and its associated hardware
  and software
• capable of generating an interactive virtual play
  environment.

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Virtual Environment

• Cyberspace
• A metaphor for describing
• the non-physical terrain created by computer
  systems.
• Online systems, for example, create a cyberspace
• within which people can communicate with one
  another
• (via e-mail), do research, or simply window shop.
  
• The term was coined by author William Gibson in
  his sci-fi novel Neuromancer(1984).
• Neuromancer is a computer adventure game created
  by Interplay Productions in 1988
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromancer_(video_ga
  me)

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Cyberspace Real space

• Like physical space,
• cyberspace contains objects
• (files, mail messages, graphics, etc.)
• and different modes of transportation and
  delivery.
• Unlike real space,
• exploring cyberspace does not require any
  physical movement
• other than pressing keys on a keyboard or moving
  a mouse.

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Computer Games, Cyberspace Virtual Reality

• Some programs, especially computer games
• are designed to create a special cyberspace,
• one that resembles physical reality in some ways
  but defies it in others.
• In its extreme form, called virtual reality,
• users are presented with visual, auditory, and
  even tactile feedback that makes cyberspace feel
  real.

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Cyberspace
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Avatars

• A graphical icon
• that represents a real person in a cyberspace
• When you enter the system,
• you can choose from a number of fanciful avatars.
  
• Sophisticated 3D avatars even change shape
• depending on what they are doing
• (e.g., walking, sitting, etc.).

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Virtual Reality

• An artificial environment
• created with computer hardware and software and
• presented to the user in such a way that
• it appears and feels like a real environment.
• Virtual reality systems require extremely
  expensive hardware and software
• and are confined mostly to research laboratories.

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VR tools

• To "enter a virtual reality,
• a user dons
• special gloves,
• earphones, and
• goggles,
• all of which receive their input from the
  computer system.
• In this way, at least three of the five senses
  are controlled by the computer.
• In addition to feeding sensory input to the user,
  the devices also monitor the user's actions.
• The goggles, for example, track how the eyes move
  and respond accordingly by sending new video
  input.

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Classification of Computer Games

• If a computer game
• is not an objectionable computer game and
• is not unsuitable for viewing or playing by a
  minor
• It is classified
• as a "G" computer game,
• where the officer is of the opinion that the
  computer game is suitable for all ages
• as a "G (8)" computer game,
• where the officer is of the opinion that the
  computer game cannot be recommended for viewing
  or playing by persons under the age of 8 years
  or
• as a "M(15)" computer game,
• where the officer is of the opinion that the
  computer game cannot be recommended for viewing
  or playing by persons under the age of 15 years.

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• as an "MA (15)" computer game
• where the officer decides that the computer game
  depicts, expresses or otherwise deals with
  sex,violence or coarse language in such a manner
  as to make the computer game unsuitable for
  viewing or playing by persons under the age of 15
  years.

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Refused classification

• The computer games classification officer shall
  refuse to approve the classification of a
  computer game where the officer is satisfied that
  the
• computer game depicts, expresses or otherwise
  deals with
• matters of sex,
• depicts a child (whether engaged in sexual
  activity or otherwise) who is, or who is
  apparently, under the age of 16 years in a manner
  that is likely to cause offence to a reasonable
  adult person
• promotes, incites or instructs in matters of
  crime or violencel
• promotes drug misuse or addiction,
• promotes revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such
  a manner that
• it offends against the standards of morality,
  decency and propriety generally accepted by
  reasonable adult persons to the extent that
• it should not be classified

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Legal Position of Computer Games

• Commonwealth parliament and the Commonwealth
  Government has set up a number of committees
• to investigate various aspects of IT,
• including the alleged problems of controlling the
  Internet's content.
• The reports which have been produced so far have
  been met with varying degrees of derision.
• The only one that seems to have met with any
  approval is the one recent report of the ABA
  (American Bar Association).

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Situation in Aus in 2001

• First attempt at doing something about the first
  manifestation of IT
• The Commonwealth has made its move on
  classification of computer games.
• The Commonwealth and States were trying to unify
  classification laws.

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New South Wales

• The provisions will cover all transmissions which
  use a public telecommunications system and will
  prohibit
• material that would be refused classification
  (RC)
• material that would be unsuitable for minors of
  any age
• a publication that includes explicit sexual or
  sexually related material
• material unsuitable for minors (MA).
• no details available yet
• (except on the level of sentences - 10,000 for
  individuals, 25,000 for corporations, one year's
  imprisonment).
• in March1997 Jeffrey Shaw was making speeches
  saying that there was too much censorship going
  on.

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Victoria

• have passed a Classification (Publications,Films
  and Computer Games) (Enforcement) Act 1995,
• which presumably, falls into line with the
  Commonwealth legislation
• but also seems to do other things.
• the Act was drafted taking into consideration all
  the recent government reports and had been
  drafted "to ensure the information technology
  industry will continue to flourish in Victoria".

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South Australia

• The Classification (Publications,Films and
  Computer Games) Act 1995 is in line with the
  Commonwealth legislation
• though it provides for Commonwealth
  classification decisions to be overridden by the
  SA Classification Board or by a single SA
  minister.

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Northern Territory

• Northern Territory's Classification of
  Publications,Films and Computer Games Act 1996
  seems to be
• based on an early draft of WA Act and
• has much the same provisions.

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Queensland

• passed the Classification of Computer Games and
  Images (Interim) Act 1995.
• This seems to have been based on the WA
  legislation,
• muddled up with
• the NSW proposals and
• the Commonwealth classification legislation.
• The definition of computer games is so wide that
  it seems to cover anything sent over the
  Internet,
• even though the Government had declared that it
  was not intended to cover the Internet.

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Western Australia

• The Censorship Act 1995 is in line.

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Tasmania

• No news

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Censorship in Computer Games

• Computer Games are subject to censorship in
  Australia.
• The Censorship Act 1995 creates two offences
• using a computer service to transmit, obtain
  possession of, demonstrate, advertise or request
  transmission of "objectionable material
• transmitting restricted material to a minor.

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Objectionable material

• Objectionable material
• RC films, RC computer games,
• child pornography,
• promotion of crime,
• violence, incites or instructs in matters of
  crime or violence, or
• describes or depicts in a manner likely to cause
  offence to a reasonable adult
• violent or coercive sex,
• necrophilia,
• bestiality,
• torture,
• extreme violence or cruelty,
• use of urine or excrement in association with sex
  or with degrading or dehumanising conduct.

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Restricted Material

• Restricted material
• an article that a reasonable adult,
• by reason of the nature of the article,
• or the nature or extent of references in the
  article
• to matters of sex,
• drug misuse or addiction,
• crime,
• cruelty,
• violence or
• revolting or abhorrent phenomena,
• would regard as unsuitable for a minor to see,
  read or hear.

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Law

• The law is
• a) the general law
• about indecent and obscene publications
• b) the specific classification legislation
• The Classification (Publications, Films and
  Computer Games)Act 1995 (Cth) sets up a scheme of
  classification and a Classification Board.
• The idea is that all states and NT will pass
  similar legislation (which will include the
  enforcement and penalties provisions) and
  thereby there will be one board with one set of
  standards applicable across Australia.

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Problems in legislation

• seems to treat computers as being in a discrete
  world and
• fails to recognise that publications and films
  can appear on the Internet.
• classification is allowed only up to the M level
  not to the RC level -
• which means that you can get films and videos
  showing the same thing but not the computer game.
• Descriptions

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Problematic descriptions

• "publication"
• means any written or pictorial matter ....
• "film"
• a cinematograph film, a slide, video tape and
  video disc and any other form of recording from
  which a visual image, including a computer
  generated image, can be produced ....
• but both of the above exclude "computer game".

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• "computer game"
• a computer program and associated data capable of
  generating a display on a computer monitor,
  television screen, liquid crystal display or
  similar medium that allows the playing of an
  interactive game ....
• "interactive game
• a game in which the way the game proceeds and the
  result achieved at various stages of the game is
  determined in response to the decision, inputs
  and direct involvement of the player they may
  live to regret some of those ends".
• "Game" is not defined.

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Effect of the legislation

• Whatever the effect of this on the Internet,
• it now seems to operate in respect of computer
  games.
• The OFLC annual report
• 3 games out of 365 submitted were refused
  classification
• Dream Web
• a scene of male and female animated characters
  engaged in intercourse - the player enters the
  room, shoots the man, blood pours out.
• Voyeur
• contains a full motion video of uncle and niece
  discussing the sex they had when she was a minor.
• Strip Poker
• showed female actors bare breasted.

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Rates of classifications

• Of the rest
• 56 G
• 27 G8
• 14 M
• 2 MA
• you can now get an R rated video game.