If a recent Microsoft-commissioned study is representative enough of the demographic, parents in North America and Europe more often than not might be turning their backs to whenever kids play games outside of their recommended age range. New Zealand won't be putting up with any of that, if the country's chief government censor Bill Hastings has his way with it. In an interview with local wire The Dominion Post, Hastings explained that parents caught knowingly allowing children under 18 years of age access to age-restricted games can actually be punished by New Zealand law with up to three months in jail or a fine of up to $10,000 NZD:
"There would certainly be some shock value to prosecuting a parent who gives their under-18 child access to a restricted game. It would send out a message that the enforcement agency means business."The fear of getting caught shouldn't be the motivating factor for you obeying the laws. It should be the pleasure in being able to sleep at night knowing that you have done the right thing by your kids. That should be the motivating factor."
Now entrenched gamers always saying that parents should be responsible for what their children has access to, but we'd imagine some wrangling over whether or not a parent "knowingly" allowed their child to play that 18+ game. Are laws promising jailtime or fines the best way to ensure safer gaming? Meanwhile, how will this affect the kids in turn?
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