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Game Makers Could Be Liable For Violent Games
Christopher Reimer writes "KOMO 4 News of Seattle, Washington, is reporting that state law makers are considering a bill that would make video game companies liable for illegal activity that players under 17 are responsible for. From the article: 'Should the people who make and sell "violent video" games be held accountable if someone commits a crime because of playing them?'"
"Should the people who make and sell "violent video" games be held accountable if someone commits a crime because of playing them?"
If you can PROVE that they committed the crime BECAUSE of playing the game, then yes. I'd be really impressed to see that proof though.
I can't wait until a case arises that cites this law and sets a precedent that can be applied to all other forms of media, including television, movies, and music. After all, they are forms of entertainment that often show violence, right? They could possibly show/tell their audiences how to kill people in new and creative ways.
This law needs opposition and a counter-law, or an industry-wide EULA (people do read those, right?) amendment that says something to the effect of "we believe that violence belongs only in video games. we cannot be responsible for the actions of those who play our video games." Running with Scissors did that for the Postal series of games, and they are the most violent games that I have ever played.
Colin Dean Go a year without DRM
Can somebody explain to me why all these law makers are going after the gaming industry so much lately. I don't see why it's so different from other forms of entertainment like movies, books, comics and music. Is it due to the right wing christian groups? Or because it's an easy way to avoid facing the harder issues? Or maybe the game industry doesn't contribute enough to the political parties as opposed to other media. Seriously though, I'd really like to have a serious answer to their motivations.
This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.
I agree completely. What happens if the kid plays more than one game (highly likely)? Who decides which game actually "made" them do what they did? Maybe Doom3 was violent enough, but Half-Life 2 wasn't quite bad enough, so only id should be sued. Or perhaps it was only because the kid played them both, and either one alone wouldn't have been enough.
Or maybe the kid wasn't effected by the violent games at all, but instead was driven to insanity by being forced to play too many rounds of MS solitaire.
In the end, this is all crazy. Kids shouldn't be playing these games in the first place, and the only people who should be making that decision are their parents.
Then make movie makers liable for making Action Movie #23,436 which glorifies violence and those who perpetrate it, whether police or not.
Then make the newsmedia liable for sensationalist coverage which gives more attention to those who perpetrate violence than those who do good.
Then make musical artists responsible for lyrics which glorify violence, misogyny, and any number of other things.
This is not consistent logic. This is targeting an industry because no one understands it and no one sticks up for it, least of all the parents who buy the games.
This is my sig. There are many others like it, but this one is mine.
As a Washingtonian, I can tell your our state is majorly fucked up when it comes to personal rights.
When it comes to children, the state would rather you put your kids on drugs than spank. Put them into counseling, and get them a probation officer.
Men's rights are HORRIBLE, if you meet a girl with a kid, you date her for a few months, you could be made to pay child support, even though the kid is not yours.
Then we have State ran liquor stores, where they choose what liquor you can have. They are closed on Sundays, the weekend when you normally do your shopping.
Gay rights is having tough times passing when most of the states believe gays are sinners and shouldn't be allowed near children.
Medical use of marijuana is believed to be morally wrong, so it doesn't pass every time it comes up to vote.
If you have been following the news here, we just had a Police officer under investigation for kissing his girlfriend, while he was in uniform. Her job? A stripper, so it must be something illegal going on. If it was a teacher, nobody would have said anything.
And speaking of Strip clubs, they don't serve food or alcohol, due to zoning laws. WTF?! In Texas, you can go to a nice place, order a big steak, drink a beer, and watch hot women on stage that are of super model quality. Nothing lewd going on, its what mens clubs should be like.
People are even considering splitting up the state into Western and Eastern Washington, so the Seattle side can get some stop having the moral majority pass this RELIGOUS that censor everything we do.
I love my state, I just wish we could get our heads out of our asses and start working on real issues, like roads, schools and internet access in rural areas. We don't need more censorship, all TV's come with Vchips, and Video games have warnings.
Nanny nation is right, stop trying to protect everyone. Freedom has risks, and the risks are worth it.