Another Filipino here. As the other pinoys have stated, there really aren't much violent video games in the Philippines (cuz we can't afford them huhu). The most violent ones are probably Counterstrike, and though MMO's are flourishing here most of them range from cartoonish (like Ragnarok) to decent graphics that still doesn't really have much gore and violence (Lineage 2). Most internet cafes have already put a limit on when H.S. students can play, but really what stops them from still playing hookie and going to the mall to watch a movie?

Sounds right for the Philippines.

On the bright side, at least he's saying "ban the minors from playing violent videogames" as opposed to "ban violent videogames from minors"

There's a difference. The former keeps the minors away from the games, the latter keeps the games away from the minors. In addition, the latter screws the rest of us the most.

Besides, it's the Phillipines, so why should we get worked up about it?

Suddenly, games have become more dangerous than porn in the Philippines.

I wonder what their regulations on Movies and TV are. Does anyone know?

"...banning minors from playing violent games in arcades."

Arcades? Then, we're talking about coin-op games, not retail sold games?

I don't know of any other country (and I welcome being wrong as I only know for sure that this applies to the US and the ESRB) that sets ratings for coin-op games.

Anyone else know?

Nightwng2000
NW2K Software

[...] In Manila, Mayor Wants Minors Banned from Violent <b>Games</b> [...]

gee, why does this sound familiar?
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=5273

I still don't like this. Shouldn't it be up to the arcade owner's who can and can not enter?

I have 3 words to say to this: What the hell?

I'm from Manila.

Mayor Lim's quite the hardass, but he means well - our country's education has been in the pits lately, and one thing that's becoming pretty prevalent is that a lot of highschoolers play truant to play at the local net cafes.


But yeah - this news is pretty old - most of the cafes near the major schools I know don't allow minor in at school hours.

As with regards to the MTRCB, however, they're notoriously conservative. They've barely touched on the topic of video gaming, and it's pretty hypocritical of them to say games are more dangerous...have you seen the sort of trash they allow on our local airwaves?

As I was saying, the PAAP and MTRCB have, as far as I can tell, been limited to handling films here in the Philippines. Them handling videogames is pretty new, and - IMHO - is going to be very, very troublesome.

Jeezus - you know it's bad when nanny-mentality groups like these start moving into territory they know diddly squat about.

Uhh, dude, I just said I'm from Manila.

And I voted for Lim...for better or for worse...

Videogames are the least of Manila's problems.

ZippyDSMlee

As far as I can remember, we don't have an equivalent to the ESRB, which is both a good and a bad thing. The problem is that the MTRCB is directly under the office of the president, so it's pretty much a government agency. Censorships galore.

I just hope they don't decide to dip their hands into the whole thing - a lot of groups here in the RP have a pretty strong leaning to Catholicism and Christianty; I've got nothing against the religion, it's just that a large demographic of our population tend to be of the more convervative crop, and they're pretty easy to sway to with sensationalized media...

Alvin
You got that right. Rising food prices, a recent Dengue outbreak, some new (surprise, surprise) political scandals involving 200 million pesos worth in taxpayer's money...and the oft-hyped Desperate Housewives "racial slur incident" to name a few.

You know, Lim is just barking up the wrong tree.

I'm from the Philippines, and I know Lim is the frontliner type of mayor. I mean, he hates drug dealers to the point that he always starts a smear campaign to kill them all.

But the anti-videogame movement? This is very reminiscent of Ferdinand Marcos.

I mean, what's worse? Violent video games, or ILLEGAL DRUGS?

Violent video games, or TERRORISM?

Violent video games, or CORRUPTION?

Violent video games, or that GOD DAMN ZTE BROADBAND SCAM?

Violent video games, or CHILD PROSTITUTION?

Violent video games, or SQUATTERS LIVING IN ILLEGAL TERRITORY?

Violent video games, or THE 'KOTONG' COPS?

Violent video games, or COLONIAL MENTALITY?

Violent video games, or THE POLLUTION IN MANILA?

Violent video games, or GAY MARRIAGE?

Violent video games, or ABORTION?

Violent video games, or ATHEISM?

Violent video games, or JACK THOMPSON BEING THE MOST IRASCIBLE LAWYER IN THE WORLD?

Violent video games, or GLOBAL WARMING?

You decide.

P.S. IF ANYONE, ANYONE AT ALL, COULD FIND A VERSE IN THE BIBLE (ANY VERSION) THAT SAYS "THOU SHALT NOT PLAY VIDEO GAMES", THEN BY ALL MY LOVE TO THE LORD, I WILL GIVE UP PLAYING VIDEO GAMES.

I CHALLENGE EVERYONE TO DO THIS.

@Twin-Skies

Ahh WoW...currently the best MMO out there...

And yeah the fee is the reason it isn't that hot here in the Philippines. 15 dollars a month isn't easy for average pinoys to shelve out. So far, I've only seen WoW available in 3 net cafes, two in Katipunan and one at Greenhills. And who knows whether or not they have keyloggers within them XD.

And as you said the only gore in WoW is that you can slaughter cows, sheep, chickens, and rats to your hearts content.

You have been debating on a simple gimmick of an old man. He came out in the news saying all that not to do what's right but rather to earn from it! Ask all internet cafes that we given a letter by a person named Roland Lim.

The next day, the police asked for five thousand a month retainer's fee. Can you imagine how much money they made and some of you to even like him for his gimmick! There are around 2000 internet shops and game shops in the city. That's around 5-10 million a month!

I hope you guys learn to read between the lines. The guy is a liar, a thief, a drug pusher, and he is everything except right! Although what's really painful is he's a very rich liar, thief and pusher!!!