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ID Required to Purchase Games
CsiDano writes "The Ontario goverment has finally taken action and made a tangible move to make it harder for kids to acquire violent video games by requiring an ID to be presented with all game purchases." From the article: "Normally, only feature films would carry an R rating in Ontario. But Consumer Minister Jim Watson says it's time game retailers played by the same rules. They'll face penalties for letting kids under the age of 18 access adult games. Ontario is not alone in its crackdown. Manitoba and Nova Scotia have also taken steps to make it harder for minors to access violent video games."
If I found my kids playing the new GTA I'd be pissed. It's my responsibility to know what my kids play, but i also want to know game shops aren't selling stuff to my kids behind my back.
Some of these games are developed for an adult audience. Developers should then be confined to sell them to an adult audience. If Rock Star wants to develop for kids, then they can sell to kids.
Just you wait, some hapless worker at a games store will be at the business end of an Angry parent with a screaming kid who wants to buy Halo 2 with a note from mom or dad saying "Please let Billy buy this game." I had this issue once as well. A kid wanted to rent a game, I said no. He left, called his mother who then called the store saying it was alright that he get this game (M rated game, lots of fun and violence etc.) I told her no, that wasn't acceptable. She freaks out on me till I ask her if she calls the corner store to let her son buy her smokes? Or does she call the liquor store to let her son buy her booze? It was fun, but till the parents realize what is going on, we'll see.
the WHOLE idea behind the rating system was to make games MORE violent and MORE adult for people who were older and could understand what they are playing.
i would not let a kid play GTA:SA, nor would i let my kid smoke or drink. GTA:SA is for adults, no question.
is it bad for you? No. But just because something is not bad for you, does not mean that you should have it without question.
bottom line is, it all comes down to lazy parents. plain and simple.
Besy Buy asked me for my ID when I bought Half-Life 2, and I thought it was great. The guy even asked me if I had read the minimum system requirements to make sure my computer could play the game. Now, that had no effect on me, but I could see some non-computer savvy person realizing that their computer sucked ass or something, and deciding not to buy the game right then, rather than returning it later and becoming a "devil" to BB.
I hope that made the parent take a look at what they were buying for their kid. Things like that should make the parents ask why & them check out the game before letting the kid have it.
Smile - things could get worst
Sadly in some American cities the kid could be 5 or 6 and their parent still wouldn't be old enough to buy the game.