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The 'Truth in Videogame Rating' Act

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the truth-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder dept.

The Escapist News Room reports on the introduction of the Truth in Videogame Ratings act to the floor of Congress. The act would require ratings boards to entirely complete the content of a videogame before applying a rating, and would involve the Government Accountability Office to oversee the ESRB's practices. This is a big change from the current system of developer disclosure. From the article: "Under the microscope would be the ESRB's effectiveness, the validity of peer review and advertisements targeted toward ages younger than a game's recommended audience. Less specific to the ESRB, the bill would also require research on 'the efficacy of a universal ratings system for visual content, including films, broadcast and cable TV, and video and computer games.' Game Politics notes that Co-Sponsors Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC) are up for re-election this November along with Congressman Cliff Stearns."

1 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. Re:And it still wouldn't have helped by Tsiangkun · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It seems completely unreasonable to expect them to complete the game, let alone 100% the game.

    We can't even get our government to read the complete text of the bills on which they are voting !

    Maybe we should ask the government for that piece of legislation first.

    Dear Congress Citter

              Please make it treason to undermine the credibility of our nation by voting
              on a bill without having read and comprehended the complete text first.

    Thx,
    Jim


    And then the guy has the balls to continue with a statement on ratings which mislead the buyer as to the game content.
    Patriot Act, Protection of Marriage Act, Operation Enduring Freedom, etc etc etc.