violent videogames....again

[Zimbacca]

Maybe we should just make a sticky for this kind of topic.  

http://www.cnn.com/2005/T...o.games.ban.ap/index.html

The measure now goes to Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who proposed the ban late last year after hearing about the video game "JFK Reloaded," which puts the player in the role of President Kennedy's assassin.

"In today's world, parents face unprecedented challenges in monitoring and protecting their children from harmful influences. This bill will make their job easier," Blagojevich said, praising the House's 106-6 vote. The state Senate approved the bill earlier this month.

Now granted JFK Reloaded was a horrible game idea but a single game should not bring laws like this into affect.  

But supporters insisted the government has a duty to help parents shield children from violence and sexuality. "Don't let them become the monsters that we see in these violent games," Democratic Rep. Monique Davis said.

I don't think it should be up to the government to decide what's appropriate for children to see.  That's the parent's job, it really isn't that hard for a parent to monitor what games there kid is playing if they would just use the rating system or sit there and watch about twenty minutes of the game.  

[den68]

Lawmakers voted to ban the sale of violent or sexually explicit video games to minors in Illinois

If the game has an "M" rating for this kind of content isn't it already illegal to sell them to minors? I know at certain stores, Target for example, the register will not allow the sale until ID is checked and a driver's liscense number is entered. At places like EB and Gamestop I've been asked if the game was for my child as they are required to point out the "M" rating.



How can you ban something that's already not allowed? Even so this still won't stop some parents from ignoring the ratings and buying inappropriate games for their children.

The legislation leaves it to stores to determine which games are too violent or sexually explicit for minors, and retailers have argued it turns them into violence and sensitivity police.

again, the ratings are already there for what???

But supporters insisted the government has a duty to help parents shield children from violence and sexuality.

uh why? if an adult wants the responsibility of raising a child they should have enough of a clue to know what's appropriate for a child. sadly though it seems many don't.

[Arrrhalomynn]

I thought the ratings you have now are only an advice (at least in some states).

I agree it's the parent's responsibility, but they can't keep an eye on their kid 24 hours a day, so shopkeepers do have some responsibility. It'll suck though when you sell a 17 year old grand theft auto and end up having to pay a fine of a thousand bucks.

[Izret101]

I don't think it should be up to the government to decide what's appropriate for children to see.  That's the parent's job, it really isn't that hard for a parent to monitor what games there kid is playing if they would just use the rating system or sit there and watch about twenty minutes of the game.  

I agree that the gov is stepping in places it should not tread.
It is my fundamental right as a US citizen under the constitution to be able to go out and buy any game i want.
Well maybe not under the constitution. But the gov. definately should not be getting as into this as it is.

[Tynstar]

I thought the ratings you have now are only an advice (at least in some states).

I agree it's the parent's responsibility, but they can't keep an eye on their kid 24 hours a day, so shopkeepers do have some responsibility. It'll suck though when you sell a 17 year old grand theft auto and end up having to pay a fine of a thousand bucks.

BINGO!!!!!

Selling a "M: rated game to someone under 17 is not illegal .....yet.

[den68]

I thought the ratings you have now are only an advice (at least in some states).

I just called EB Games and talked to a manager. On all new "M" rated games they are required by law ask for ID. Not so on used games. That seems odd.

[Izret101]

I think alot of places on enforce that rule on modern consoles only anyways.

The Mature games of today have change ALOT compared to the mature games for every system before it.

[Zimbacca]

Its not a law in Washington but most stores have a policy that they won't sell M rated games to people under 17.  The EB here doesn't have that one though..  

[Mike Leon]

I don't know what state the EB you called was in, but it sounds to me like the manager was just giving you some kind of line. I work in a video game store here in Ohio, and we can sell anything to anybody. I generally try to put the kabosh on things if they're too ridiculous though. If a 6-year old is buying GTA: San Andreas for instance, I'll tell him to come back with his parents. I don't do that because I have to. I do it because I've had too many parents come in screaming at me 2 days after I sold their kid a violent game. You should see them. My favorite is when they threaten to "tell the authorities". We give them a store credit refund and let them pick out another game.

[s1lence]

Ok, on the news this morning the media has made another attempt to put causation on violent games. In 2003 there was a shooting at a school in a same minnesota town, where two kids died. They made note on the news that the kid played GTA 3 and that his revenge behavior followed the lines of playing GTA 3. WHAT!!!???!  Why does the media do the because of a , b happened. And of course the news people have no idea what the hell they are talking about. More reason for me to pick out 25 to Life now.

[TraderJake]

I worked at a Best Buy as a cashier down the street from where the Evil One worked, and while the register always prompted to make sure people were at least 17 or older to by M-Rated games, I don't think anyone did. It's a total bitch fest when you don't sell them the game, and when you don't, you know they'll only go to Media Play where the fine, upstanding sales clerk there will hastily sell the game. I can assure you that during the Christmas rush, the last thing on a cashier's mind was checking age.