Their Lust For Control Doesn’t Stop At The Real World…

…it now encompasses Norrath and Northrend, among others:

Online computer games like Second Life and World of Warcraft face cinema-style age classifications under new Government plans.

And why?

Margaret Hodge, the culture minister, said ministers want to see new rules put in place to cover children's access to games. She spoke as she published a consultation document setting out the options for a new system of age classifications.

Of course. It’s ‘for the children!’, yet again.

That one never gets old, apparently…

"For children under 12 who cannot make the distinction between fantasy and reality, we need tough regulation," Mrs Hodge said. Under the current rules, the BBFC's legally-enforceable age limits only have to applied to games containing violent or sexual content.

And has the current system not worked? We aren’t told.

Mrs Hodge also revealed that ministers are looking closely at online games amid growing concerns at Westminster about their use.

Multi-user internet-based games such as World of warcraft and Everquest allow players to share a virtual world with thousands of other people from around the world.

You can see why they’d be concerned, can’t you?

We can’t have people logging on and freely mixing with their fellows around the world, harmlessly co-operating to slay a pixillated demon. Why, all sorts of things might happen. They might…

…

Well, what?

The growing popularity of such games has sparked calls for new regulation.

Anyone surprised to see the spectre raised in order to promote this?

The Culture Committee of MPs this week raised fears that paedophiles are making growing use of virtual worlds for activities including simulated sex with children.

Of course! It’d have to be, wouldn’t it?

And don’t bother asking what evidence there is for this. There’s nothing whatsoever in the article, of course.

Far be it from me to suggest the ‘Telegraph’ journalist who regurgitated this government press release should have asked for some…

Mrs Hodge told BBC Radio Four that the growing popularity of online games required new rules.

"We are moving into an internet world - half of under 12s are playing their games online, so we have a whole new set of challenges with regulation," Mrs Hodge said.

You can’t deal with the real-world problems, Hodge.

What on earth makes you feel competent to start in on the unreal world ones?