Violent Video Game Restriction Struck Down

Nutsquasher was the first to submit news that a ban on selling violent video games to minors has been struck down, reversing an earlier decision in this case that held that video games were not a constitutionally protected form of speech. The decision (pdf) is available. Since the Federal government has been considering a national law along these lines, these decisions on local laws may be important soon.

Comments

And the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals scores a

[j0nkatz]

FATALITY!

Whew. I was worried about my niece.

[Unknown Poltroon]

She keeps playing minesweeper on my computer. Thats pretty violent, i mean with all the dead happy faces and all.

That's good

[PS-SCUD]

Because I swear, I was gonna kill someone if it didn't.

Re:That's good

[sshannon]

Hello, I'm Special Agent Shannon from the FBI. Under the PATRIOT Act, your recent post to slashdot.org threatening to "kill someone" is a First Degree Felony. Agents should be arriving at your place of residence at any moment to take you into custody. Have a nice day.

Re:That's good

[Anonymous Coward]

Because I swear, I was gonna kill someone if it didn't.

Don't you mean frag?

original judge

[sweeney37]

In April 2002, U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh rejected a request by a video game industry group to invalidate the ordinance.

Judge Stephen Limbaugh first cousin to, none-other than everyone's favorite Rush Limbaugh....

Mike

The Fat Idiot's Brother

[bstadil]

Just in case you wonder. Yes Judge Limbaugh is the Fat Idiot's brother.

Re:Video games don't breed violence...

[Anonymous Coward]

christ, you wouldn't say that if you knew my kids. They are demons....I work late just to _avoid_ seeing them, let alone speaking with them for prolonged periods.
Frankly, if they went on a killing spree it would be a relief...the authorities would finally remove the mad little fuckers from our house...

Re:The ball is not in our court

[rifter]

So unless Kyle's mom hates the DMCA, nothing can be done?

If a parent doesn't know what games their kid has

[teamhasnoi]

than that's a crappy parent. At least Mom. Dads usually don't know quite how old you are, or even if you're really his kid.

I didn't get to play Operation (the Wacky Doctor Game) or Clue until I was 18. I can see why, now that I am older and wiser.

I could at any moment tried to extract the funny bone from a schoolmate, or hit my sister with a candlestick in the study.

Thank goodness for calming coloring books and play-dough. Well, time for lockdown, night...

If violent video games made for violent people

[fobbman]

Damn, I used to play a lot of Unreal Tournament while working tech support. If violent video games made for violent people, it wouldn't be called "going postal" it'd be called "going technical".

Re:Pre-emptive strike

[Yet Another Moron]

Before Yet Another Moron gets on here and starts ranting about how it works for the movies, why not for the games...

Oh, come ON, I don't deserve this. What have I ever done to you?

Awful...

[TallEmu]

First Minors, what's next? Pensioners?

... according to a story in todays Sydney Morning Herald they are violent enough already

Theres that FF theme again!

[bludstone]

Am I the only one who had the Final Fantasy battle victory music pop into their heads after seeing this headline?

bumbumbumbum baaabaaa BUM BUM BUMmmm!

Re:Video games don't breed violence...

[Anonymous Coward]

Bragging about us again? Well fuck you too, Dad!

Ignotance begets ignorance.

Escargot

[Scrameustache]

when I accidentially step on a snail, I get bummed out.

Of course you do! You just wasted a prefectly delicious entrée!

Hmmm...snail

Re:How is this different from porn?

[Tackhead]

> > [...] > If I take 'Debbie Does Dallas 24' from a DVD, add some interactive components, like some sort of with-your-mallet-hit-the-boobs thing, can I suddenly go out and sell it to minors?
>
> Hence why the law was struck down on the fact that it also outlawed violence. The judge (imo correctly) ruled that violent images are not obscene, and thus protected by the 1st amendment.

So the solution to the poster's problem is not to make a game of "with your mallet hit the boobs", but "like a mallet, hit things with the boobs."

Super Mario playing whack-a-mole with a mallet on Fay Wrae's b00bies after rescuing her from Donkey Kong - obscene!

Lara Croft using her pair of s00pa-b00ba 48-BFTs to club Donkey Kong like a baby seal, while Mario kicks back in anticipation of Lara and Faye whomping each other with their b00bies in the bone-us round - cool!

And now the Supreme Court agrees with me!

Re:Video games don't breed violence...

[Tackhead]

> I have killed probably millions of digital people in my game playing days,

Me too.

First-person-shooters are for wimps.

Let's hear it for turn-based strategy games! Body counts in the billions!

Re:Anyone have a link to the actual opinion??

[Scrameustache]

it appears that Judge Limbaugh doesn't know what he is talking out.

He's a Limbaugh, what did you expect? ;- )

Re:Of course!

[Imperator]

Unfortunately the Iraqis trained on GTA3, which is why the United States is having so much trouble occupying their country.

Re:I am a minor...

[Scrameustache]

I'm 17 [...] I played a Ferrari racing game in an arcade yesterday, and 10 minutes later I was in my car peeling out at red lights and red-lining in every gear.


yup, you're 17 allright.
There's a reason why car insurance cost more for 17 year olds...

Don't worry, if you survive you first crash, you'll learn to slow down and be more carefull...I did.

Re:How is this different from porn?

[Pharmboy]

I believe it was Jack Nicholson who said "Only in America, if you suck a tit, its rated R, if you shoot it off with a shotgun, it's rated PG".

If my behaviour in video games....

[CaffeineAddict2001]

reflects my behavior in real life, for your sake, let's just hope I don't become a god with a giant animal friend.

*SMACK* Did I tell you to feed the hungry? Now go fetch the ball I threw at the creche.

Re:Of course!

[The Creator]

Training in video games whould explain that guy who tossed a grenade into a friendly tent, he had obviously just saved, and just wanted to see if the game allowed damage from friendly fire.

Everyone's ducking responsibility

[double_plus_ungod]

i like how everyone is ducking responsibility for everything:

1.) my child's not doing well in school - it's a disorder--ADD. 2.) i can't control how i like to physically harm myself--it's some sort of mental disease. i guess i need drugs. 3.) my child cut a jock's throat today - it's a violent video game that made her do it.

c'mon everyone! grow some balls and admit there's actually something wrong with yourself or your child. it's not just something that needs medication and a school counselor (mm'kay). i like violent video games. dismemberment distracts me from the silly cut scenes.