Media Development Authority's video games classification

=Introduction= 1 Video  Games  Classification  is  introduced  to  protect  the  young  while  allowing wider choice  for  adults. The system  also  aims  to  reflect  community  standards  while ensuring that due consideration is given to a video game’s educational and artistic merit. 2 In  assigning  a  rating,  the  system  takes  into  consideration  various  concerns, including theme, violence, nudity, sex, language, and drug use. 3 The classification system includes the highest rating of “M18” (Mature 18) which will indicate that the title is for persons 18 years and above. This rating is enforceable by law. Video game retailers should ensure that the age restriction is enforced at the point of sale. 4 For game titles with some contentious elements, the Board may require that an Age Advisory label carrying the words “Suitable for 16 & above” be affixed. 5 A video game, in the most extreme cases, may be disallowed for all ratings (NAR) when the game contains content that exceeds acceptable social standards and could be potentially harmful to society. 6 Games need not carry any classification rating if, upon declaration to the Board, they are not issued a M18 rating, Age Advisory, or disallowed for distribution. =General Principles= 7 When making a classification decision for a video game, the Board takes careful account of  the  game’s  content  as  well  as  all  other  relevant  factors  and  concerns. In general, the decisions are guided by the following principles/considerations: a) Generally accepted social mores Video games must be sensitive to community standards of morality and decency, and be acceptable to its intended age group. b)  Need to protect the young A M18 rating or an Age Advisory will be given for content which could be harmful or unsuitable for the young. c) Racial/religious harmony As Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-religious society, video games should not cause offence or create misunderstanding or disharmony amongst any racial or religious groups. d)  National Interest Video games should not undermine public order, national interest and/or stability. e) Treatment of Theme and Content The acceptability of a theme depends on its treatment and the presentation of the content. The context in which a scene occurs is also considered when deciding on the suitability of a game. f)  Evaluation of Impact The impact  of  a  video  game  will  be  evaluated  based  on  the  presentation, duration, frequency,  degree  of  visual  and  audio  details,  and  their  cumulative effect. The impact  may  be  stronger  if  the  game  contains  scenes  that  are  more realistic, detailed or uses special effects to heighten emotions. Scenes which are more explicit, prolonged and/or frequent or set in a context which local audience can identify with easily will also have a greater impact. g) Creative/ Educational Merit Due  consideration  will  be  given  to  the  educational  and/or  artistic  merit  of  the game. =Player Control= 8  The  choices  made  by  a  player  may  cause  a  game  to  perform  in  ways  that  a game  publisher  or  developer  cannot  control  or  adequately  anticipate.  For  instance,  a player may choose to repeat a brief section of the game over and over again, or cause onscreen characters to behave out of character. 9  When  assessing content  in  games,  the  Board  will  consider  the  net  effect  of the game as a whole. The Board does not take into consideration the repetitive potential of any part of the game that the developer did not anticipate. =Third Party Modification= 10  Third-party  modifications  are  outside  the  control  of  a  game  publisher  and developer.  Practices  of  third-party  modification  are  commonplace  among  game-playing audiences but do not need to be considered by the Board in the classification of a game, even if the game includes tools for third-party modification.

=The Video Game Classification System= 11 All video games that are to be sold in retail will need to be declared to the Board via the use of an online declaration system.

Age Advisory – Suitable for 16 & above
12 The  Board  may,  in  its  discretion,  require  selected  games  to  carry  an  Age Advisory. 13 An  advisory  label  indicates  that  the  game  contains  some  contentious  elements that are  not  recommended  for  the  young. Games that  contain  the  following  elements may be required to carry an age advisory label. a) Violence ·  Moderate  level  of  violence.  This  refers  to  realistic  but  not  excessively graphic  violence  with  depiction  of  blood  which  may  be  included  in  the gameplay. b)  Sex · Portrayal of implied sexual activity. c) Nudity ·  Nudity without details, e.g. no nipples, genitalia or pubic region (includes hair). · Still or moving images which may be mildly suggestive may be featured, e.g. scantily-clad women in bikinis or lingerie. d)  Language · Coarse  language  should  generally  be  limited  to  the  use  of  words  like “fuck”. e) Drug Use ·  Depiction  of  illegal  drug  use  which  is  incidental  to  the  game  and  not realistic. Content of the game does not encourage drug use. 14  The age advisory label should carry the words “Suitable for 16 & above”. The text of the advisory label should be black on a white background. Specifications of the label is available on MDA’s website. 15  In  accordance  to  the  Films  Act  (Video  Games  –  Exemption)  Notification  2008, video  games  with  the  following  content  should  be  submitted  to  the  Board  for classification. Upon assessment, the Board may classify a game M18 or disallow it if it does not meet the Board’s guidelines.

M18 – Mature 18
16 The  M18  rating  indicates  that  the  game  is  restricted  to  persons  18  years  and above. These games may contain the following: a) Theme ·  Treatment and exploration of mature themes appropriate to 18 years and above. ·  Content that requires the player to engage in illegal activities or play the role  of  a  criminal  so  long  as  it  does  not  contain  detailed  instructions  for committing crimes. ·  Some homosexual content, provided it does not glamorize the lifestyle or is exploitative. b)  Violence · Depictions of realistic violence, such as killing, maiming or causing other serious injury to humanoid characters if the violence is not sadistic, cruel and abhorrent. c) Sex ·  Portrayal  of  sexual  activity  with  some  nudity,  both  topless  and  frontal,  if not detailed. ·  Homosexual activity should be limited to kissing and hugging. d)  Nudity · Depiction  of  topless  nudity  or  occasional  full  frontal  nudity,  if  not exploitative. Nudity should not titillate or be the main feature of the game. · Still  or  moving  images  which  may  be  sexually  titillating  (but  does  not contain  nudity),  e.g.  scantily-clad  women  shown  in  a  manner  that  is sexually suggestive, if not excessive or gratuitous. e) Language ·  Frequent use of strong coarse language, such as “motherfucker", "cunt", and "cocksucker”. f)  Drug Use · There  may  be  realistic  depiction  of  illegal  drug  use,  but  portrayal  should not include instructive details. Games should not glamorise or encourage drug taking  or  the  primary  intent  of  a  game  should  not  be  to  encourage the consumption  of  drugs  to  achieve  success,  e.g.  kill  the  enemy  or complete a level. 17 When  a  game  is  rated  M18,  consumer  advice  may  be  included  to  highlight  the elements which  contributed  to  the  rating  of  the  game. Examples of  consumer  advice include “Violence”,  “Sex”,  “Nudity”,  “Sexual  References”,  “Coarse  Language”,  or  “Drug Use”.

Not Allowed for All Ratings (NAR)
18 Games  that  contains  the  following  elements  will  be  refused  classification  and should not be circulated: a) Content which denigrates any race or religion, or undermines Singapore’s national interest. b)  Content  that  glorifies  deviant  sexual  behaviour  or  activities  such  as paedophilia or bestiality. Games dealing with alternative lifestyles such as sado-masochism and group sex. c) Clear instructional details of criminal activities, such as step-by-step guide to making a bomb. d)  Detailed  and  bloody  depictions  of  sadistic  and  cruel  violence,  including horrific, brutal or repulsive depictions of death, injury, dismemberment or torture. e) Depiction of sexual violence, including rape. f)  Content where the primary purpose is for the players to engage in sexual activity. g) Detailed  and  frequent  depiction  of  sexual  activity,  such  as  depictions  of actual  sexual  intercourse  including  content  which  depicts  explicit  sexual  activity where genitals may not be visible. h)  Exploitative  and  excessive  depiction  of  nudity. This refers  to  male  and female nudity  where  genitalia  are  clearly  depicted. This would  include  content where the presentation of nudity is exploitative and nudity is a constant feature of the game. i) Coarse language which is religiously offensive and denigrative. j)  Content that glamorises or encourages the use of illegal drugs. Or serve as a step-by-step guide to preparing and consumption of illegal drugs.

=Implementation and Periodic Review= 19 This is not a legal document and is not intended to limit in any way the Board's exercise  of  functions  under  the  Films  Act  (Cap  107). In particular,  nothing  in  this document shall preclude the Board from classifying any video game in such manner as it may think fit. 20 The  Board  will  review  this  document  periodically  in  light  of  social  and  technical changes and public expectations. 21 This set of document takes effect from 28 April 2008.

=See also=

=References=