Plans to widen the use of cinema-style rating for computer games are at risk of failing, amid predictions that soon there will be too many for the censors to regulate.

Games industry bosses told MPs on the Culture Select Committee, who are examining harmful content on the internet and in video games, that an explosion in online gaming would mean up to 100,000 games appear a year – far more than the 1,750 titles produced today.

Paul Jackson, director-general of Elspa, the games industry trade body, said it would need to “fill a tower block with censors” to make the system work. He was responding to questions from John Whittingdale, the Conservative chairman of the committee.

Concerns about violence in computer games were in the spotlight again with the launch of the 18-rated Grand Theft Auto IV. The highly popular game is part of a franchise well known for its casual violence, but it remains popular with consumers.

Mr Jackson’s comments mean that government plans, announced this month, to introduce compulsory rating for all games that would attract a 12 certificate and above would collapse because the British Board of Film Classification could not cope.

“We are concerned about plans to introduce a hybrid system,” said Mr Jackson. “On the face of it, it means classifying another 500 games a year. But will they be able to rate 100,000 games and game elements in five years’ time?”

Tanya Byron, the Times columnist and TV psychologist, has recommended that the Government lowers the requirement for the rating of games from 18 to 12.

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