U6 Lesson 6

Labasrytas!
Kaipgyvuojate?
Nekalbiu [laisvai] lietuviškai.

Japanese Word of the Week (1)
O genkidesu ka?
[Oh GEN-keedess-ka?]

EXPO ROX!!!

Introduction to Ethics & Law in Games
2nd November 2009

Aims and Objectives
Aims
Students should be able to differentiate between acceptability and inappropriation in games and gaming
Objectives

All students will be able to discuss 3 aspects of media and video games
Most students will be able to identify all regulating bodies for video games
Some students will be able to identify 2 positive or negative ethics in media (video games)

Part I: Ethics
CanisCanem Edit

What Are Ethics?
?

eth⋅ics
–plural noun
1. (used with a singular or plural verb) a system of moralprinciples: the ethics of a culture.
2. the rules of conduct recognised in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics.
3. moral principles, as of an individual: His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence.
4. (usually used with a singular verb) that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.

Who Cares About Ethics?
BAN THESE EVIL GAMES
Murder by Playstation

These Guys Do

Activity
Can you tell me anything about the responsibilities of 1 or more of these bodies?

Introducing ELSPA
A professional association of gaming software publishers dealing with issues of anti-piracy, codes of practice, accreditation, and professional development.
Source: www.elspa.com / www.google.co.uk

Introducing BBFC
The British Board of Film Classification is an independent, non-governmental body, which has classified cinema films since it was set up in 1912, and videos since the passing of the Video Recordings Act in 1984.
Source: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/about/index.php

Introducing PEGI
The Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) age rating system was established to help European parents make informed decisions on buying computer games.
Source: http://www.pegi.info/en/index/id/511

What’s Missing?
Each country has its own system for reinforcing ethics with law. Our country uses the might of ELSPA, BBFC and these guys:
Source: http://www.videostandards.org.uk/

Ethics V Law
Can you think of the key differences between ethics and law?
Reminder: Some of the words we have already used include -

Morals
Culture
Conduct
Values

Word By Word
The word ethics is derived from the Greek word ethos (character), and from the Latin word mores (customs). Together they combine to define how individuals choose to interact with one another. In philosophy, ethics defines what is good for the individual and for society and establishes the nature of duties that people owe themselves and one another.
Law can be defined as a consistent set of universal rules that are widely published, generally accepted, and usually enforced. These rules describe the ways in which people are required to act in their relationships with others in a society.
Source: http://ansteadsue.tripod.com/ethics.htm

Ethics V Law – Who Wins?

Ethics V Law – What About Games?
Activity:
Make a short list about the games that best fit into the ethic / moral value category

Ethics V Law – What About Games?
Did Any Of These Games Make Your List?
GTA: IV – Ballad of Gay Tony
GTA – Vice City
Killer 7
Leisure Suit Larry
Manhunt
Dexter
Thief: Deadly Shadows
COD: World at War
World of Warcraft
Age of Empires 2: King of Kings
Bully
24: The Game
Death Race
Custer’s Revenge
Soldier of Fortune II
COD: Modern Warfare

Ethics V Law – Who Fought The Law?
And the law won

Next Week: Law Takes The Stand