Videogame Regulation Is Everyone's Business

Thanks to the International Game Developers Association for their editorial discussing why game developers should collectively take a stand against negative views of gaming. The writer, IGDA program director Jason Della Rocca, suggests: "The perception that games are 'bad' for us stubbornly persists, and we have yet to find effective ways to change people's minds on this issue. Game makers may be biased toward games' 'good' qualities, but you'd be surprised how many developers simply don't care about the issue of public perception, don't have an informed opinion, or believe it is all a big waste of time - even to the extent of questioning the need to fight government regulations." He concludes with a message to game developers: "In the bigger picture, resolve to push boundaries and innovate... We need not put a stop to games with violence, but we need other avenues beyond violence as a design crutch."

Comments

Same thing, different product.

[Sylver Dragon]

This type of thing has happened over and over again. Some new form of entertainment comes along, the current generation loves it, but the older generation does not understand it, and blames it for all the evils of society. In the end, the old people die off, and the form of entertainment becomes validated as the generation, who grew up with it, take over the control of society; only to repeate the same mistake with the new form of entertainment their own kids play. This is one of the problems with the long life spans we have now, the older generations get to hold on to the reins of power for too long, there is no way to take them from the older generation, and they don't die off soon enough to get out of the way of the progress of the younger generation. Or maybe I am just bitter because I think that 80 year old senators don't have a clue about video games, and are just knee-jerk reacting to the problem.