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Truth in Ratings Act Reintroduced

Posted by samzenpus on from the think-of-the-children dept.

dropgoal writes "Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas (and GOP presidential candidate) has reintroduced the Truth in Ratings Act. Like the previous version that failed to pass last year, Sen. Brownback's bill would make the FTC responsible for overseeing the video game ratings system and possibly result in a unified ratings system for games, movies, and TV. The ESRB would also have to review all game footage before issuing a rating. Currently, the ESRB hands out ratings after viewing a reel with representative content prepared by the developers. Sen. Brownback thinks that's not enough. 'Video game reviewers should be required to review the entire content of a game to ensure the accuracy of the rating. The current video game ratings system is not as accurate as it could be because reviewers do not see the full content of games and do not even play the games they rate', he said."

12 of 302 comments (clear)

  1. We can all relax now by Soporific · · Score: 4, Funny

    Good old Sam has solved all the other problems we are having today and ratings are last remaining vestiges of a cruel world...

    ~S

  2. Speaking of rating..."/.". by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "I'd like to see more fair ratings on game review sites. Sites like gamespot are long biased and comment well on games if the developer/publisher provides them with everything they want."

    Slashdot is absolutely wonderful! And no I'm not getting a lifetime subscription, and a free car.

    1. Re:Speaking of rating..."/.". by serialdogma · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well not anymore, you were required to a be logged in.

      --CmdrTaco

  3. Simple by mfh · · Score: 4, Funny

    By reviewing the games for as long as possible, this lengthens the time it takes for new games to make it to market. Therefore, everyone gets so bored with video games, we just give up and join the Republican party, and a church group -- instead. Or at least that's the plan.

    --
    The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
  4. Hmm by Psychotria · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, if they need employees to review the entire contents of games, I will volunteer for only $100 an hour

  5. Re:Date based or procedural content? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Obviously you missed out on the final, graphic sex scene in Animal Crossing. Now, I'm no furry, but that stuff was awesome!

  6. Duke Nukem Forever? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    So finally, Duke Nukem Forever, really will be "forever."

  7. Re:The full content? by mauthbaux · · Score: 4, Funny

    Easiest way to review the content: ignore context.

    Just hand the guys a giant text file of all the game dialog so they can scan it for profanity and racy phrases. Then do a long and tedious slideshow of all the wireframe models and their associated skins. Seeing as they only seem to care about nudity and gross obscenities, this should work just fine.

    --
    "Operating systems suck: you're better off using only the BIOS" --trainsaw.com
  8. Truth. Ha. by dank+zappingly · · Score: 2, Funny

    How about a truth in government bill?

  9. Re:Isn't Brownback a Republican? by randomaxe · · Score: 5, Funny

    yet one tit shows up on the Super Bowl

    That's "Mr. Timberlake" to you, buddy.

  10. Re:Date based or procedural content? by toejam316 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Look, They may as well slap a R18 Sexual Content and Violence on it, because lets face it, someone, somewhere, is going to work out how to make a walking penis with testicle feet. They may as well just get around to that fact now. Saves time, ya see?

  11. Re:The full content? by koyangi · · Score: 2, Funny

    But if they need a game screener... Congratulations, you have been selected to review Freddie the Frog's Unbelivable Adventure Platnium Edition fetauring all 12 expasion packs!!! The publisher claims over 350 hours of gameplay, but with all the added content we think that figure is a little conservative. We were also tipped off that there may be some offensive content if you manage to unlock all of his 1600 friends and their acessories in addtion to completing the main campaign and all 12,000 mini-games and side quests. Because this title has been rated for ages 5-8 we need you to pay extra close attention to any content that may be misconstured as off-color. To help you in your evaluation of the game we have arranged weekly focus groups with 6-12 middle aged soccer moms who spend upwards of 3 hours a week communicating with anyone above the age of 12.

    Thank you so much for volunteering for this! We thought that we would have a hard time finding someone for this particular project.