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Step Away From The Games Legislation
Next Generation has an opinion piece by former Lucasarts VP of global marketing John Geoghegan. In it, he discusses exactly why gaming regulation is such a bad idea, and why he's so unsurprised that people have tried to do it anyway. From the article: "Kids need acceptable outlets to channel their energy and aggression. Critics claim video games promote aggression but an argument! is to be made that they channel aggression and perhaps even siphon it off, just like sports. Crucial to Schechter's thesis is his claim that popular entertainment is much less violent today than in the past. Oh, really? Well, consider the 19th century when whole villages turned out for a public hanging like it was a kid's snow day. Or think about Dante's graphic description of hell in The Inferno."
The retailers do a better job policing games than movies (81% vs 75%) so why aren't movies attacked first?
I misremembered, or I'm remembering a different year: From the FTC for 2003:
Movie Theater Ticket 36%
Movie on DVD 81%
Music Recording 83%
Electronic Game 69%
Games are kicking the butt of DVDs and Music, so why are enforcement of game ratings the issue?
Just to clarify the parent, lower is better. The percentage signifies the number of underage "mystery shoppers" who were able to obtain goods that they shouldn't have been able to. Movie theaters are leading the pack by only allowing 39% of underage shoppers through. DVDs are doing horrible by allowing 81% of mystery shoppers through. None of them are really doing all that great.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
A minor official from the Interior Ministry read out the charges against the kneeling prisoner. The executioner--a large black man with a scimitar--approached the kneeling prisoner from behind. After the sentence was read, the executioner jabbed the prisoner in the lower back with the tip of the sword, causing the prisoner to involuntarily jerk up. When he did, the sword flashed down. At that moment the head is sliced off and sent flying across the square. Blood jets from the severed carotid arteries and jugular veins, spraying into the air like a fountain. The frenzied crowd screams in choreographed unison, "Allah Akbar"!
The Saudi "General Presidency for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vices has a page listing some things they prohibit. There are pictures of prohibited items, including some of video games. Most dolls are illegal. Barbie is definitely illegal. Valentine's Day gifts are illegal. Spandex seems to be illegal.
No prohibited weapons, though.
In the US, it's amusing that the anti-video-game people are often the same as the pro-gun people. "For only a little more, you can own the real thing!"
I see your point, and sort of agree with you. I'm a new parent (he's almost 3 months old). I plan to decide what games he can play and what movies he can watch. I watch a lot of movies and play a lot of (PC) games. However, when it comes to music, I'm not at all up on what's current and what "artists" would be considered acceptable to various ages. Now, if the material is rated like movies, and retailers only sell to those who meet the minimum age, there's less chance of my son getting material that I consider inappropriate.
Now, if my son wants to have the newest games thats rated too high for him to buy himself, I want him to ask me to get it. Then, I as a parent can make the decision myself. If I belive that the material is too mature for him, I can refuse. However, If I believe that he is mature enough for the content, then I can purchase the material for him.
This is the solution I want to see. Games, movies, music, heck, even books, should be rated, and unless someone meets the minimum age requirements, retailers should not sell to them. If they do, there should be penalties, just like there are for alcohol and tobacco.
I realize that this isn't perfect, I remember getting buddies to "pull" beer for my friends and I when we were underage. It will however, reduce the amount of mature content my son can view without my knowledge and consent. I still plan to pay attention to what games he has installed on his computer, know what music he listens to, and what shows he watching. Having a legislated rating system will let me know why content was rated high, and as a parent, let me make an informed decision about allowing my son access to it.