ELSPA responds to Boris Johnson

ELSPA director general Paul Jackson has called on Boris Johnson to take a closer look at videogames following the Tory MP's outspoken criticisms of the medium.

In a statement issued to GamesIndustry.biz, Jackson said he respects Johnson's opinions but warned that the MP for Henley may be "painting his picture with too broad a brush".

"The games industry is often a scapegoat for many problems society encounters with youths. But instead of placing blame where it should not lie, we need to educate parents and carers of the 21st Century child," he continued.

According to Jackson, computer games can be "a great source of education in their own right". He cited Nintendo's Brain Training as a title which provides "mental stimulation, memory and reaction improvement, and entertainment and enjoyment in equal doses", and observed that some games, such as Myst, are used to teach problem solving - while the Civilisation and Total War series offer historical lessons.

"These games offer the modern child more interactive and exciting methods of learning. Whilst games have by their very nature been about interaction, they now challenging us in ways we could never have dreamed of," he stated.

Jackson went on to dispute Johnson's assertions that children become speechless, motionless "blinking lizards" when playing games, arguing, "A large quantity of games that children play require a huge amount of movement and social interaction."

These include, Jackson said, dance mat titles, EyeToy, Guitar Hero and the new Wii games, which also promote family interaction.

"Rather than criticising the medium as a whole, weâd encourage Mr. Johnson to maybe take a closer look at how modern games differ from the age-old stereotypes. We would be more than happy to show Mr Johnson examples of the types of games I am referring to and we think he would have a lot of fun finding out more," Jackson concluded.