As you might know, the Supreme Court could perhaps decide the fate of all video games this fall, when it rules on whether California was within its Constitutional rights when it passed a law requiring retailers to prevent minors from purchasing M-Rated games.
Now, other states are jumping on the bandwagon in support of California. Eleven states have joined a multi-state coalition is seeking to restrict the sales of violent games to kids. The latest to join the league of anti-gaming states: Connecticut.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, a democrat, filed amicus brief filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, in support of the measure. In a statement, Blumenthal said:
"Parents deserve tools to protect children from games that showcase digital decapitation and rape,” Blumenthal said. “Certain games dangerously desensitize children with simulated homicide and hate crimes, turning graphic executions into entertainment. In the face of continued industry inaction -- enabling unattended children to buy such games -- states must preserve their critical right to protect children."
Blumenthal believes the anti-gaming law is "critical to preserve the state’s right to impose" limits on game sales to minors.
A couple things. First: I don't understand why politicians always add rape to the mix when talking about video games. Other than a few very obscure Japanese games, there really aren't any commercially available games that allow players to rape women, and there hasn't been since the late 70s, maybe (correct me if I'm wrong, rape-game fans). There are a ton of games with "digital decapitations," however, and you'd think that would be shocking enough for non-gamers.
Secondly: One of the things that I love about America is the overriding authority of the Constitution. I have confidence that this fall will see the Supreme Court rule that games are speech and States can't restrict it. Then, I sincerely hope to never write or read another story about another dumb state wasting taxpayer money and time with laws aimed at restricting games.
I'd like our law-makers to focus on real problems in the actual world as opposed to turning their attention to fake problems in imaginary worlds. Imagine if law-makers in the 1940s tried to ban Bugs Bunny or the Three Stooges for encouraging violence? That's how silly these kinds of laws are.
Source: Game Politics
Comments are Closed
Comments
Displaying 1–20 of 109
1234562
danim89
Ok, so an M rated game is much like an R rated movie as far as ratings go. So this sounds like they want to raise the age to 18 over 17? It's not really that big of a deal. Sales are restricted for the most part anyway. And yes, I can honestly say, I would be pretty annoyed if my 12 year old sister was able to walk into a store and buy an M rated game on her own. I'm 20 years old and not a gamer so I suppose I may have some censorship biases, but I am not suggesting that gamer freedom is taken away. I'm suggesting that parents or guardians have a little more control over what their children are exposed to until they are 18. I mean, come on, how many kids/teenagers are there that have snuck things in from your parents? I'm sure that those who want it will still find a way to get it, much like cigarettes, alcohol and drugs, but at least this way you can't say that they aren't making an attempt.
GamerNx
I believe someone said most major retailers already adhere to this. Not only that, but I know most of them are required to read the contents on the back to the parent. My friend who works at wal-mart said he only had one parent in his entire 4 years working there reconsider the purchase of a game, not because of violence, or gore, the parent said nothing as he read that part off, it was the sex that got the parent. Really? Wow. Furthermore, a lot of parents adopt the attitude of "Well he or she is going to do it anyway, or find out about it anyway, might as well be me who they get it from." Even on the subject of under aged drinking that attitude is prevalent. "Well they are going to be drinking any way, so I might as well make sure its in a safe environment for them". Personally I think this bill is a waste of time and money due a gross misunderstanding of the medium from people who have not had any experience in it.
doomsdayas
I find it quite annoying how supposedly mature adults react to minors playing online. Sorry but I have never noticed a kid screaming obscenities while I'm playing online. As long as their parents are okay with them playing the game I really don't care if they play or not.
Now to the law. This is an entirely weird situation. You're able to play the game but not able to buy it. I just find this insane. Minors aren't allowed to be shown porn and aren't allowed to buy it, they are not allowed to drink alcohol or buy it but they can't buy the game but they can play it? Someone really needs to look at the hypocrisy.
I see if parents let their children play M rated games so be it. It isn't your child or even my child. Keep an eye on your child not others. If a parents decides there child is ready to play a game then so be it. It shouldn't be considered negative at all. The stereotype of those who are young being brain dead needs to be thrown out the window.
Ikarus
As long as it only affects minors it's not like this will do anything. It's up to the parents at the end of the day to make sure kids don't do/say/play/watch anything they shouldn't. And seeing from the response from the minors on this article, I don't think this will stop kids from doing anything.
Hurray lazy parents that shouldn't have kids!
Mr.Rager
I'm 15 and I really could care less about this anyway, every time I buy a game I just call my mom or dad to stand next to me while I buy the game and its all good.
SpicyGuido
The whole point of videogames is to experience a world in which we are not accustomed to. Whether we're running from the cops in GTA or chasing down Shephard in MW2. its meant to be fun, exciting and above all fake.
Kyte17
It irritates me that so many people think that kids can't handle mature themes. Kids aren't the helpless morons the media makes them out to be. Plus half of the people commenting probably started liking games when they were still minors. How would you like it if this had happened when the new law would still apply to you? The point is that parents don't need other people policing their kids, it's their job not the government or the businesses.
Oh btw censorship is wrong no matter the circumstances.
WolfKrink
As both a gamer and an employee of a game retailer, I agree. Kids under 17 shouldn't be playing M rated games. But guess what. There's already a way for parents to protect their kids from playing games that are too violent. Look at the games rating. They're rated for a reason. I see parents come in day after day buying Call of Duty, Halo, Grand Theft Auto, etc. for their obviously underage kids. Every time I see a parent tell a child that they can't get a game because it's too violent, or they're too young, I think to myself "Good for you. Taking a stand and not letting your kid play games you don't want them too, rather than just blindly buying a game for your kid." These games are rated for a reason, and if a parent doesn't want to pay enough attention at what they're buying, then I find it hard to sympathize with them when they want to take a stand like this.
pigeye
I don't know about the rest of the country, but I live in NY and they ID you at every gamestore as well as the movies and they are real ball-breakers about it. The guys at gamestop will even go above the call of duty and describe the graphic levels in the games. Thankfully I'm 17. I think they should just prevent kids under 14 from buying M-rated games, because my little cousins really do try to mimmic the games. Not that they're going ot shoot up a mall, but they start thinking it's cool to talk and act like the characters from the games.
NiqqaWebbz
Like many people when i was 8 or 9 i was playing super nintendo, my mother wouldnt let me play T games until i was age or she read what was on the back i never threw a tantrum (whats wrong with kids these days ???) i just lived with it. My first T game was maximo (good game very comedic) and that wasnt even violent its self. My first M game was mortal kombat, that was a real game and i always had older friends with Next Gen who would play online with them and we'd the 10 yr olds spewing obsinities and it was annoying. so im saying the parents should monitor there kids better in this way we have less so called "violence" and less annoying people online. i wouldnt matter to me if the law passed because im going to be 18
Shazam King
Where does the government get off saying what's best for people? So it's okay for kids to go off to war and die for our country, but they can't buy a video game where there's FAKE violence? When did it stop being the parents' responsibility to know what their kid is doing and where their kid is?
TheCupcakeMan
I'm 15 and I started playing M games when I was 13. My parents actually watch4videos of the games and ask the employees at Gamestop whether the game has terrorism,drugs, etc. It hasn't changed me or my friends a bit because we're smart enough to know that it's just a GAME. 8-11 year olds may not know that, and that's what I think this campaign is targeting.
The_US_Assassin
I Live in California and agree that games with Nudity and Chainsaws ripping people apart should not be allowed to be soled to children.. Hell i would go as far to say that games like Red Dead Redemption and other games with nudity and sex... should have there own ESRB Rating... it's pretty Hardcore.. and though i know i would be pissed if i was 17.. and had to have an ID.. i think its fair, as long as they don't ban any games like Australlia.
michael32321
i argeed with what you all are but i think they should not aollow parents should not buy m rated games for kids in the first place
topgamer101
The first sentence alone from that guy in the article shows either he doesn't know what he's talking about or he has an agenda.
While we're at it why don't we ban R rated movies from minors, even if a parent or guardian gives them consent to see something. Let's ban and burn comic books for inspiring devil worshipping. Let's ban any music after the 1950's for their satanic rhetoric.
*random guy stands up* Uh, even at their worst, those things aren't that bad...
Shut up I'm on a roll here. I might even get a seat...
MartiansfromUranus
I think people are idiots for thinking M rated games will affect their child's personality. Because your kid plays a COD game and shoots people doesn't mean he will get a gun and shoot people later in his life.
King_Aaron_Moses
Yeah i hate this crap, i wish they could stop kids from playing online mature games, but they cant. Making a stricter law would be reached around by parents getting bobby the game he wanted for months. But when i think of when i was young i was playing mortal combat and if some who told me i couldn't play it and there was a law against it I would still play it.
My uncle is a cop in chicago and when he gets to a shooting and some punk ass 15 year old shot some 18 year old. Obviously over gang crap. He asks the kid why he did it the little prick says i saw in GTA. and my uncle reads Time magazine which has had a collection of how bad games are. And when he adds all this up he feels games are responsible for some of this violence. Its suck bullcrap.
We all know whats real and fake. And if you dont then take your med and get back in the loony bin
Prax150
Laws don't stop minors from buying alcohol. This is foolish and a waste of everyone's time and tax dollars.
kringie
Joseph Burstyn, Inc v. Wilson. Look it up. If movies are protected under the First Amendment, then there is no reason video games should not be.
xeltius
If you are a good parent, your kid will not be playing a game in your house that you do not want them to play, anyway. This comes down to basic parenting, which not many people study and which isn't taught in school. If you don't want your child playing certain games, don't buy them or take them away when if your child happens to get his hands on one. Plus, as stated above, most stores don't sell games to kids underage anyways. They never would when I tried to buy them.
Displaying 1–20 of 109
1234562