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Game Industry Fights Violent Game Ban
sietekk writes "The video game industry told a federal appeals court on Wednesday that it has the same rights to free speech as moviemakers and publishers and urged the court to overturn a local government ban on the sale of violent video games to minors. Appearing before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, attorneys for the Interactive Digital Software Association, which represents the video game industry, argued that a lower court ruling upholding St. Louis County's restrictions on game sales should be overturned as unconstitutional."
by having stores not be permitted to sell M-rated games to under 17'ers, Y-14 to under 13ers, etc. (iirc - WalMart does this)
The MPAA already does (voluntarily, not by law) this with movies rated NC17, R, PG-13, etc.
Flaws exist in both (just ask the many 12 year olds who have slipped into R movies), and not all video stores honor those ratings when kids check out movies (and for that matter, games, should such be implemented). But it's a lot better than having the feds regulate it.
The One Rule Of Chess You'll Ever Need: Don't play someone who carries a kit in their bookbag.
From the county prosecutor:
"The government shouldn't have to wait to develop a record of harm," he said. "While the First Amendment is important, the county can't wait for scientists to provide evidence."
Translation: Of course video games cause an increase in violent behavior. We don't need evidence of that, and can ignore any scientific evidence that might cast doubt on our beliefs. We've found one guy in Iowa who'll support our claims, and that's all science is for anyway.
Bleh. It drives me crazy that there are people in our culture who doubt the value of funding research and then don't even use the research results available.
Why the fuck can't you keep an eye on your brat? Why the fuck do they have $70 to go to Funcoland to get a game? Why the fuck don't you tell the morons at Blockbuster not to rent 'M' games to your kid? Why do you have to fuck it up for everyone? You stupid damn whores! Just because you can't parent your kid is no reason to take it out on me.
Take some responsibility for a change.
Wow - hate women do we? Where is the Dad in all this? For as much as we bitch about how stuff like this is the parents responsibility, it's time to get over the fact that most parents are not that responsible when it comes to this kind of stuff. They are spending their time getting their kids off to school, feeding them, paying the bills, etc, etc, etc. How many older Aunts/Uncles/Grandparents do you know who purchase such things for the kids anyway? A lot of adults are very ignorant when it comes to violent electronic games, they simply are not aware.
Parents of 13+ year-olds frequently just drop them off at the mall. Have you ever met a teenager who wants to go shopping with their parents, and be seen with them in public? That is a rare thing indeed. I don't agree with laws being forced in this issue, but I do agree with clear labels and that stores should adopt their own age policies, like Walmart. As usual though, just like ignorant parents/relatives, their are many stores who really don't care what affect they have on kids as long as they get their money. This is a social, community and education problem - and those are usually tougher to solve.
Just my 2 cents.
I agree that no one should tell game publishers what they can or can't sell.
I agree that adults should not be prevented from buying it.
I agree that parents should have a right to restrict their children from material the parent finds objectionable, as much as possible.
I DON'T agree that Blockbuster should have to keep a list of individual minors and check it for parental permission before selling a game to a minor. That would never work because it's too much of a burden on the retailer and too easy to make a mistake. (What! You sold Johnny DOOM3? He's on your list! I'll sue!!!)
I DON'T agree that there should be legislation making it criminal to give an "M" rated game to a minor, or otherwise let them see it or play it, at least in a private home.
So, a law that doesn't allow "M" game sales to minors, but that doesn't criminalize "M" games use by minors, would be fine by me. Buy your kids DOOM3 if you think they're ready for it.
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