‘Torture’ game for PS2 sparks EC outrage

The European Commission (EC) is mulling a pan-European games rating system following the release of a new Sony Playstation game featuring the sadistic treatment and torture of a teenage girl.

The Rule of Rose game has been attacked by EC Justice Commissioner, Franco Frattini. In a letter to the other 25 EU commissioners, Frattini said he was shocked by the level of cruelty in the game.

“An increasing number of such games display and even glorify violence, sometimes extreme violence,” he said. “[Rule of Rose is] about a young girl who is submitted to psychological and physical violence. This has shocked me profoundly for its obscene cruelty and brutality.”

He added: “This is a frightening example of how violence may become the law between children.”

The console game is due to be launched in the UK on 24 November 2006 but has already sparked outrage in other European countries, with the Mayor of Rome calling for it to be banned.

Rule of Rose currently carries a 16+ rating from the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) body, but some in the EC feel a harsher line needs to be taken and are looking for a pan-European games standard. The issue will be discussed at the next EC home affairs meeting on 5 December 2006.

The Rule of Rose debacle follows on from recent controversy over the PS2 game Bully and stretches back to the ‘Hot Coffee’ incident in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.