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California Passes Violent Games Bill

Posted by Zonk on from the jack-must-be-so-pleased dept.

TecnaDigit writes "Today, after sitting on the bill for nearly a month and constant political pressure, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 1179, the bill that would prohibit the sale and rentals of violent video games to minors. Again, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) are challenging the bill. According the the VSDA, the bill is faulty in that a game is decided whether or not it is 'violent' by juries, and different juries could have different opinions on what is defined as 'violent'." Commentary on GamerGod.

5 of 341 comments (clear)

  1. Ackkk I hate freaking subjectivity by technoextreme · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Let the parents decide what is too violent and what isn't and be done with the whole thing. If parents cared then we would not be in this whole entire mess.

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    1. Re:Ackkk I hate freaking subjectivity by Coneasfast · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Let the parents decide what is too violent and what isn't and be done with the whole thing. If parents cared then we would not be in this whole entire mess.

      what mess are we in? are we still assuming that violent video games lead to violent behaviour in real-life? we've been over this argument a dozen times.

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    2. Re:Ackkk I hate freaking subjectivity by compjinx · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Correct me if I am wrong, but this law simply restricts minors from purchasing/renting "violent" games without their parents' knowledge. This simply forces the parents to get involved. If a parent doesn't think that the game is too violent, then that parent can simply authorize the purchase (ie: purchase it for the child). This law seems to really be made for parents who don't care to get involved with their child; it simply governs the child when the parents fail to.

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  2. Why, oh why.... by zappepcs · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Do we need legislation to set up ratings schemes? Once its rated, selling to minors is illegal already.

    No matter how much law is enacted, they still won't be able to enforce the law with anything that approaches what people envision. Grandmothers and family members will still buy games and movies for kids when they shouldn't....

    What a gigantic waste of time and money... pfft!

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  3. Define irony by Pluvius · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A man best known for starring in violent movies that mostly appeal to adolescents signs a bill prohibiting the sale of violent video games to adolescents.

    Rob