Innocuous California Game Ratings Bill Passed

Thanks to GamePro for its article noting that a newly revised bill "that requires video game retailers to clearly display signs of the game ratings has been passed by the state senate in California." The bill, "now waiting to be signed by Governor Schwarzenegger", was originally paired with a more controversial bill which "called to define 'atrocious or cruel' video games as 'harmful matter to children'", but that pairing failed to advance, despite support from bill sponsor Leland Yee, leading to a straightforward "requirement to have game ratings clearly displayed, and also have information about the ratings system readily available to parents purchasing games."

Comments

govern^H^H^H^H^H^Hterminator

[madaxe42]

I wonder how games oriented around the govern^H^H^H^H^H^Hterminator will be rated.... This entire system is nothing new - it's been like this in europe a long while with ESRB ratings... You can't buy a game if you're underage, much like trying to rent porno. Not that I'd know. erm....

It seems reasonable

[fiftyvolts]

This seems reasonable enough to me. I am of the opinion that we don't need laws to ban kids from obtaining violent video games, but rather put the responsibility on the children's parents. However, even the most caring parents can be damn near clueless when it comes to games.

Putting big visible warning labels on packaging won't make won't reduce my enjoyment of that game. They'll give clueless parents a chance to raise their kids the way they want, and let those who think their kids are ready allow their children to play them.

It's a different world from where you come from...

[Mongoose Disciple]

I lived in California for a few years during the dot.com era, like probably a lot of people.

Legislation-wise, it's really different out there. California is often the first state to try a new law for something. As you might expect, some of those experiments work out pretty well, and some don't. It's the price you pay for innovation, so to speak.

I'll tell you this, though: I sure as hell miss the California smoking laws. I wish I could spend half an hour in any local bar or club and not come out smelling like an ashtray.

Re:It's a different world from where you come from

[MindStalker]

Well there are smoke free bars out there that are created by people who want that choice. But as they arn't public facilities I personally don't think its my place to tell a private buisness what they can do. Though we already tell them that what types of foods they can sell. How many exits they must have and so much other shit, so I guess its just more of the same.
(Note I'm not advocating the removal of all these laws, some of them are probably good, I think its just that we seem to always think we need these laws intead of really examining how nessesary they are.)

Re:Will somebody please think of the children!

[Anonymous Coward]

But this law isn't censoring and restricting games it just makes it so parents have information about the rating system. Therefore they can't bitch when they buy their 8 year old GTA: VC and then sue the game makers for corrupting thier child. I do believe if it applies to games it should apply to movies ratings also.

Re:Why aren't books rated?

[Korvac]

Children tend not to read willingly these days, so ratings are pretty moot. It may also be assumed that children who DO read (and comprehend) have a tighter grasp on things.

atrocious or cruel governments cause far more harm

[FreeUser]

Why not atrocious or cruel' movies as 'harmful matter to children and adults!

Why don't we start with 'atrocious or cruel' governments, such as the Bush government Arnold supports in Washington today? It certainly has been harmful to plenty of children and adults, in this country and, even more acutely, abroad.

Re:Sign, sign, everywhere a sign.

[Colazar]

"Hazardous waste" is too strong a term, but you shouldn't be throwing batteries in the trash anyway, if you can help it. They do pollute. If your work wouldn't let you throw them away, there had to have been an alternate way to dispose of them.

We save them up and when we have a bagful, just take them to the nearest library, where they've got a collection center.

I'm not in CA, btw, but I am on the left coast.