Feedback on Government Regulation of Games

Today, as we're reporting on the House investigation into Rockstar and the Illinois violent games law, Gamasutra is offering up industry responses to a question concerning the role that government should play in games. From the article: "Government legislation would be a disaster. The ESRB rating is a good enough system. I seriously doubt that the number of employees at retail stores selling 'Mature' games to minors is greater than the number of parents who let their children buy the game. If their parents won't let them play it, chances are they have a friend who has it and they play it at their friends' house. If parents want to censor their kids, they need to be the ones to do it; the government is not responsible for raising children. -Cari Begle, Stardock"

Comments

Snap, snap

[Safety Cap]

The government could say, "No! Raise your own damned kids," ~.

So, just pass a law called The Parental Responsibility Act :

1. Definitions
   • "Parent" the legal guardian or biological progenitor of the child, who is responsible for raising and caring for said child.
   • "Child" the underage citizen that is placed in the care of the parent.
   • "Age-inappropriate material" is any pictures, text, or audio content that contains materials too disturbing for a child to view. The entity responsible for determining if materials are disturbing to the child is the child's parent.
2. Purchasing offense
   Any parent who allows his/her child to purchase an age-inappropriate game and later complains to the authorities or brings suit against the publisher shall be required to
   • attend 3 government-sponsored parenting classes within 1 year or pay a $3,000US fine,
   • work 100 hours in community service, and
   • play the game for 20 hours
   For subsequent offenses, the above penalties will apply plus the following:
   • attend additional government-sponsored parenting class(s) equal to the number of repeat offenses, all within within 1 month per required class or pay a $7,000US fine. The class requirements will continue to accumulate until the parent has a mental breakdown and is placed in an institution.
3. Internets
   Any parent who allows his/her child to view any age-inappropriate content on the internets and later complains to the authorities or brings suit against the publisher shall be required to
   • Obtain A++ certification (or government-approved equivallent) within 1 year or pay a $2,000US fine, and
   • attend 2 government-sponsored parenting classes within 1 year or pay a $2,000US fine, and
   • surf for porn for 12 hours with only a 15 minute break every 3 hours
   Second offense will be identical to the first. The third offense will result in
   • termination of the household internets connection,
   • prohibition of obtaining another connection for 6 months,
   • a $6,000US fine, and
   • 200 hours community service.