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CA Violent Games Bill Comes Under Fire
Gamespot is reporting that the VSDA and the ESA have filed a suit against the California governor in response to the passing of that state's violent games bill. From the article: "The complaint alleges that the new law violates the First Amendment by restricting access to games 'based solely on their expressive content' and unconstitutionally compels speech by manufacturers, distributors, importers, and retailers by requiring them to label violent games with a 2-by-2-inch sticker of a solid white '18' outlined in black."
A man who has made some of the most violent movies of our time (and makes a fortune marketing them to children) becomes governor of california and produces legislation against companies that produce violent videogames and market them to children; I believe we have a word for this that begins with Hippo
How well do you think these movie makers would cope if 50 different states had 50 different vaguely-worded laws about what consituted a PG-13 rating, and what constituted an R rating? (That's even assuming all 50 states decide to have a PG-13 rating and an R rating.) 'Cuz that's where this California law is headed.
Movies aren't complaining because they already have a single, voluntary, self-imposed regulatory systems that labels a movie for content nationwide. Just like games do. So, as you said, why should games by any different?
"Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die!"
Movies with extreme graphic violence, sex, drug taking or a myriad of other things deemed unsuitable for immature audiences are rated M15+ or R18+ and kids aren't allowed to see them.
How is it a breach of First Amendment rights to free speech and unconstitutional?
Because the MPAA ratings are not enforced by law. Whether a theater decides to admit a minor to an R-rated movie without the accompanyment of an adult is up to the theater.
How many times in this thread does this have to be pointed out? It's not like there are hundreds of messages to read through!
Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
Why is it that everything even remotely suggesting an idea which is not commonly accepted as utopian, it is automatically the evils of George Bush or republicans (or in many cases conservitves which are vastly different from republicans)? If you look at all of the history of video game ratings, TV ratings and almost every other form of public rating system, they have been enacted by people the likes of Clinton (both Television and game ratings) and Kennedy (movie ratings.) Are you really that jaded and biased that anything even inclining the slightest bit of difference from your opinion is not only evil, but criminal of anyone who doesn't share your same opinion? Not that I like Bush, I think he has many flaws and is as incapable of being a president as Clinton was, but your post has absoltely no grounds for anything except being modified as troll...
Erutangis ym si siht.
And more importantly, surely the "18" sticker should only be applied to games rated AO (which are reccomended for ages 18+) rather than all violent games (including M and T rated ones)? With the vague wording of the law, it's no wonder this is turning into a farce.
No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?