UK Government Forms Byron Review Action Plan

Britain's Byron Review, in which the big-smiling Dr. Tanya Byron made a series of measured, generally reasonable findings and recommendations regarding children's use of video games and the internet, has now produced an "action plan" from the UK government.

Starting in July, the government will work on proposing Britain's classification system, and propose changes by 2009. Another phase of the plan will involve agreeing on a classification for online games, launching an awareness campaign for game ratings, developing appropriate parental controls in conjunction with the industry, and working with Trading Standards to ensure that games don't get sold to kids of an age inappropriate to the ratings.

Guardian Warns Politicians, Columnists: Gamers Are Taking Over, Deal With It

Richard Bartle, co-author of the original MUD, as MTV Multiplayer's Stephen Totilo was kind enough to remind us, has a warning for UK politicians—and, we assume, the other silver haired no-funster luddite types—that their wrinkly old asses are about to be in the minority. That is, the minority of the population who have grown up with computer games in their lives. The best part, according to Bartle? "They aren't addicted, they aren't psychopathic killers, and they resent those boneheads - that's you - who imply that they are addicted and are psychopathic killers," he writes.

Bartle smugly namechecks Tanya Byron's level-headed report on the plight of raising children in a digital age, with access to realistic, sometimes violent video games. He finally warns "Gamers vote. Gamers buy newspapers. They won't vote for you, or buy your newspapers, if you trash their entertainment with your ignorant ravings." Yeah! Get 'em, Rich!

We've won: get over it [Guardian]

What's Next For Dr. Tanya? We'd Like To Know!

The dust has settled on the gaming and internet review from game playin', booze drinkin', clinical psychologist Tanya Byron. Now that it's finished, what is Dr. Tanya going to do? First up, she's going on vacation with her family. But after that...? Will she be returning to the gaming industry? Dr. Tanya seems reasonable enough, we'd love to have her back! Says the good doctor:

I will always — whether informally or formally — be very clear about how much I enjoyed working with the video games industry. And I will always talk about how much I enjoy playing games with my kids. You've got a friend in me. But how that is formalised in the future, who knows? I don't know if the industry would want me. But never say never.

I've spoken about my own love of gaming with my own family. My son, when I was given this job last year, said to me: "Mummy, please do not ban video games because I will have no friends.' He literally said on the morning the Review was published: "Thanks mum. Phew!"

Tanya Byron Still Likes To Play Games, Possibly When Drunk

I have talked about the fact we play Nintendo Wii with our kids, and we have all sorts of consoles in the house. And my husband and I, at the end of the day, quite like trying to play tennis on the Wii with our mates who've had a few drinks.

Read The Byron Review Yourself