Gamers' Voice slams Keith Vaz

UK gamer rights group Gamers' Voice has attacked notorious anti-video game MP Keith Vaz for tabling an "amateurish" early day motion.

Vaz's early day motion, titled "Video games and young people", reads:

"That this House welcomes the call by Shigero [sic] Miyamoto, creator of Super Mario, for people to drop their joypads and venture out into the sunlight once in a while; recognises that video games have addictive properties; notes that children flourish when they undertake a variety of extra-curricular experience; further notes the current Hungarian EU Presidency priority of protecting minors from harmful audiovisual media content in media legislation; is concerned about the potential impact of violent video games on those under 18; and calls on the Government to ensure the purchase of video games by those under 18 is carefully controlled and that parents are encouraged to limit the amount of time children spend on video games."

"Our issue with the EDM is its amateurish delivery and reactionary tone," Gamers' Voice said in a statement issued this morning.

"To declare that the people who play video games are all pale skinned recluses who shun social interaction is both absurd and insulting.

"It is also an outdated way of thinking and a view we at Gamers' Voice have done our utmost to eradicate.

"Besides, would Mr Vaz be equally as critical of children who spent their days pouring through poorly written fantasy books about boy wizards and teenage vampires? Probably not. After all, reading fiction is an acceptable pass time. Spending similar amounts of time playing of video games however can only lead to ruin. That is if Mr Vaz is to be believed, at any rate."

Vaz is no stranger to video game controversy, and has long been a strong anti-video game campaigner.

He has criticised a number of video games, including Manhunt, Manhunt 2, Bully and Counter-Strike.

But in January Vaz told Eurogamer: "I've never been against games".

"I've been against violent games that are able to fall into the hands of young people who are perhaps not able to understand the implications of what they're doing," he said.

Gamers' Voice calls on its members to support a motion calling for the research and development tax credits allowed for the games industry to be widened.