Whenever a story about games age ratings hits the news, it's usually because of some incredibly gory game that's been refused classification, or because a retailer's been selling violent games to underaged children. In fact, this story's almost the exact opposite.
When Mary Portas, TV's Queen of Shop's son went to GAME on Oxford Street, he attempted to purchase several games that were rated as 15s. He can't have been expecting any problems, seeing as he was 17 years old, but when he came to purchase the games, the cashier asked for some form of ID. Luckily for him, he happened to be carrying ID in the shape of his 16+ Oyster photocard - the only problem being, it wasn't a form of ID GAME would accept. For the record, GAME would have accepted a passport, driver's license, or "Prove It!" card - although the number of children and teens who have these forms of ID is debatable.
As he couldn't prove that he was over 15 years of age, GAME declined to sell him the games he chose - which, by law, it has every right to do. As a leading customer service advocate, Mary Portas is presumably aware of both the legislation surrounding the sale of video games, and the controversy GAME would court if it were to sell games to under-aged people without asking for ID. It's illegal to sell a film to a child who's younger than the certificate on the film, and the same applies to games. Her problem, it seems, lies more with GAME apparently turning down what appears to be an acceptable from of ID.
Seemingly peeved with her son's embarrassment, Portas went to twitter, where she vented her frustration - "STILL holding on after 8mins to spk to a human at GAME Ox st where they refused to sell my 17 yr son a 15 + game. Now they've cut me off".
She later tweeted "he doesn't have a licence! He is 17. How many kids go out with their passport. We are not talking drink, but a 15plus video!" Of course, there's little denying Portas has a good point - many teenagers (and adults) don't carry their passport with them, and it's likely many may not even have one, yet alone a driving licence. However, the comment about it only being a 15+ "video" seems slightly misguided. Games have age ratings for good reasons. While Ms Portas's son was likely old enough to play practically any age of game, it's important that people don't trivialise the ratings of games because it's "only a game".
Thankfully, all has now been sorted, after Ms. Portas had a word with the CEO of the GAME Group. Whether GAME's going to change its policy on acceptable ID from the currently very restrictive selection, to something that more children and teens may actually have remains to be seen - but it would certainly make sense, for all parties involved, if something were done.
