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Truth in Ratings Act Reintroduced
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."
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.
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A bit off topic
Good old Sam has solved all the other problems we are having today and ratings are last remaining vestiges of a cruel world...
~S
If the FTC or whomever must review the ENTIRE content of a video game, does that mean every possible combination of levels/characters/interactions? How long would that take? How would the FTC even know if they've covered all the levels? They would have to rely on the gamemakers. Yet that is exactly what Brownback claims is the problem with the current system: the gamemakers providing a sampling of the content. This is an unworkable and self-defeating proposal. But if they need a game screener...
How are they going to see footage of everything that can happen in a game? I assume that they are not just talking about cut scenes.
I think the main problem is that the company supplies the footage to be reviewed. How many marketing/PR guys do you think that goes through before it reaches the censors. Perhaps it would be better for a group of independent game players to generate a representative reel of footage. I will be the first volunteer to take that job. On second though - imagine all the crap you would need to play!
:(){
what about content patches, are they going to view those as well? this idea is stupid, as is the man proposing it.
If you mod me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine....
The developer sends footage of the worst/extreme content in the game, and fills out some paperwork. They are assigned a rating (developer can resubmit or appeal). Then...when the game is 100% complete ready to go to the shelves, ESRB gets another copy, and plays a bit... and if there is anything more extreme in that final game than there was in the footage (ie, topless chicks, more gore) the developer has some penalties slapped in their face. Its a good process, and it works pretty damn well, and it is certainly better than this pos "Truth in Ratings" act. Whether you agree with the whole GTA/Oblivion issues is besides the point. Nothing is foolproof, but if the worst we've gotten is anatomically correct nipples and disabled content, I think they're doing a damn good job.
This is yet another stupid idea from someone who is trying to impress potential voters in an upcoming presidential campaign.
I'll bet that if you asked him after injecting him with Sodium Pentothal, the illustrious senator would admit that he doesn't expect that the bill will have a snowball's chance in hell of passing.
Strike while the irony is hot! -- The Freethinker
What ever happened to the party of "less government interference?"
That's right, I remember now. It was the Unholy Alliance that did in the fiscally-conservative, small-government Republicans. Now the Republicans seem to be the party of fiscally-unrestrained big government. I find it rather humorous that during the Bush Years the FCC has steadfastly held to its notion that the free market will provide us all with speedy, cheap broadband and all kinds of broadcast diversity, yet one tit shows up on the Super Bowl and suddenly the FCC stirs into action. The FTC is an entity often decried for its meddlesome consumer protection activities, but throw up the hue and cry of "think of the children!" and suddenly the FTC is a useful government agency.
It seems the party now stands for individual freedom to make money, government money to spend money, and meddlesome interference into matters of so-called morality. Perhaps the theory is that if you can't make government work more efficiently, you may as well try to make it an extension of the church.
Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ
To all posts that ask how this law is going to work, about generated content, etc, etc.
I have learned that nowadays, the main reason that law-makers introduces new laws is to boost their own popularity. It doesn't matter if the law cannot work, is impractical, will be struck down in courts, etc. It only matters that the (1) it grabs the headline thus putting his name on the news and (2) it showed people that he has "taken a stance" against something.
Just think about it, is it a surprise that people who are elected based on a popularity contest do things to boost their own popularity?
If you want to stop this law from passing, don't waste your time telling people it is not workable. Stuck at the heart of the matter and go tell games companies how much money it will wastes them, and tell people how many jobs such money could have created instead, or how much dividends would it costs the stock holders of those game companies.
Turn the law into an unpopular proposition and it will be dead.
Oliver.
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.
Well, if they need employees to review the entire contents of games, I will volunteer for only $100 an hour
First off, while the "cut scenes" of a game could be said to have "footage", the whole rest of the game (typically) have no such thing. Even if you checked every single character skin and setting, there would be no way to _know_ there wasn't an easter-egg or something.
The fact of the matter is that "objectionable content" is entirely in the eye of the beholder.
And what of "patches" and "mods"?
Heck take some of the "dance moves" from WOW and line them up and you have simulated sex, at least within the limits within the minds of people who think that some of these other things were "objectionable".
The Nanny State cannot hope to get closure over this, and trying to is just more waste of my taxpayer dollar.
Note to you regulation-happy people out there: Your "precious bundle" is neither as fragile as you imagine, nor as important as you dream. Neither are you. If janet jackson's saggy boobie and the gyrations of a pair of 100 polygon figures are enough to undermine your sense of moral turpitude, then you are a mindless chode; and might I suggest that the world is much safer if you put an opaque polyethylene bag over your head. (But it only _really_ works if you cinch it snuggly. Assist your child before yourself.)
Now if you can get truth in ratings for suckage, then we can talk.
Innocent people shouldn't be forced to pay for inferior software development.
--"Code Complete" Microsoft Press
I believe this pretty much covers how the bill is expected to work.
So finally, Duke Nukem Forever, really will be "forever."
Why does the Slashdot crowd care if games are assigned ratings? People always say that parents should be the ones to monitor their children not the government, or the games company, etc. But, parents need tools to be able to make these decisions.
No, it won't be perfect. But, it will be accurate enough to allow people to make a purchasing decision.
This isn't a censorship issue. To me, there is nothing wrong with assigning a rating to content so that you can make an informed purchase.
the government should get its nose out of the business of people who are doing things I approve of, but spare no expense stopping people from doing things that make me feel uneasy.
Nicely put.
Political parties are the problem. Hamilton was adamantly opposed to them, even when one was forming around him in opposition to the Jeffersonians. Perhaps he was on to something. Line up behind a party, and you have to do a lot less thinking for yourself. But of course, how are you going to stop people from organizing into political parties? It is human nature to form into groups, for better and for worse.
Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ
Actually, they have heard of an MMORPG, and is addressed in the original TVGRA (Truth in Video Game Recording Act):
The Comptroller General will conduct a study determining the "(1) the effectiveness of the ESRB video and computer game content ratings system, including content ratings for on-line or Internet-based games;" [...] and his report shall "contain recommendations regarding effective approaches to video and computer game content ratings that address the unique ratings challenges of on-line and Internet-based video games." And as far as I know, the ESRB in it's current form does not have such an online review process.
My cynicism tells me it's just another election year. My moderation tells me that this same legislation has been supported or introduced by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC), and Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT); the latter two representatives with the initial framework under FEPA (Family Entertainment Protection Act). So, before anyone starts casting stones at the other, I think most would agree it's a bipartisan effort.
I do agree that reviewing all game content would be impractical, but not impossible. The TVGRA defines all "content" as "all of the visual images and sounds that are included as part of the recorded data of the video or computer game". Which could be as simple as parsing through all the texture and wav files; no need to play the game through it's countless variations. Currently, the ESRB just accepts something like a movie trailer from a game developer for it's review process.
I find the GAO study in the TVGRA (section 3) interesting, "(3) whether an independent ratings system would offer better accuracy and effectiveness in content ratings for video and computer games;" I thought the ESRB was an independent non profit entity (established by the Video Game industry) in partnership with retailers. I think the current system works, as shown by the ESRB fines levied against Rockstar Entertainment for GTA (and any reasonable attempt at non disclosure). This bill will cycle around every two to four years (as expected), but like most here, I doubt it will ever materialize. For the most part, commercial enterprises police their own better than any bureaucrat, as the GTA case and precedent proved.
I hope, when they die, cartoon characters have to answer for their sins.
Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas (and GOP presidential candidate)...
The senator is not a GOP presidential candidate. He is a candidate for the GOP nomination. Big difference. Thank goodness he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting it. None of the current nomination seekers thrill me, but Brownback is near the bottom of the list.
Don't blame me, I didn't vote for either of them!
I read about this topic a lot on /., and I'm not quite sure why everyone is so emotionally charged about it. Ok, after R'ingTFA I agree that this bill may not be the right one due to the unfeasible requirement of the ESRB playing every minute of the game. Any remotely open-ended game would baffle these poor people and hold up releases for months. Also, the FTC makes me nervous after the Howard Stern treatment.
But it seems like every attempt at improving the accuracy or consistency of ESRB ratings is met with derision and anger. Any attempt at *enforcing* those ratings is clubbed down as fascism. Why? The ratings exist because kids shouldn't beat a virtual hookers' brains out with a bat. I'm ok with that. I know they'll see the violence elsewhere, but so what? Do you permit anything through your firewall the moment your manager makes you toss up a stupid rule?
I'm a social liberal, I live in West Hollywood, frequent the clubs, fall to the left on almost every issue, etc.. But this all or nothing approach is silly and stinks of NRA tactics. Yes, the NRA is effective, but I don't want to be like them. Reasonable adults compromise.
I would like to compromise some and get these politicos off our backs before they do something truly draconian, like ban red blood, or any blood for that matter.
- Allow ESRB raters to choose the spots of the game they will examine. No auditor comes in and says, "show me what you think I should see." That's just dumb.
- Fine stores whose clerks don't card for MA+ games. This isn't fascist, it's simply obeying the law.
How about a truth in government bill?
won't survive court if by some unholy miracle it get passed at all
I agree that it wouldn't survive in court, but it is useful to remember that the original Communications Decency Act (a much stricter form of censorship) was passed by 84-16 in the Senate and the recent Family Entertainment Protection Act was introduced by Democratic Senators Hillary Clinton, Joe Lieberman, Tim Johnson and Evan Bayh. If you think that there will be any road bumps by Democratic or Republican Senators (or Representatives) you are being very naïve. The only protection citizens currently have from government censorship is our courts as neither the Executive nor the Legislative Branches seem to think that it is an important issue. Apparently our legislators think that an alternative reading to "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press" is that Congress can make *any* law on the same.
Suddenly, the hairy finger of a familiar monkey tapped me on the shoulder. It was time.--G. T.
I'm all for a standardized system of rating games, but the problem is that games are just TOO LONG to view entirely. Lawmakers from older generations must not understand this. A movie can easily be viewed in entirety because it is only about 2 hours long -- a game can be upwards of 80 hours and beyond! A potential solution is to retain the system of viewing a developer-prepared reel, but to make this reel publicly available at the time it is sent to the ESRB. Also establish laws that hold the developers financially liable if a game is found to have more graphic content than represented by the original reel -- if lying to the ESRB can sink your company into debt, then it simply won't happen. As it is right now, most people don't have a clue about what sort of arcane methodology the ESRB employs, and there's basically no culpability for error; legally establishing who is liable and making the methodology transparent to the public will fix the ratings issue without requiring the significant expenditure of time and money required to view all games in entirety, a hoop that could potentially damage the industry. Additionally, lawmakers need to understand that the nature of most PC games is that they are "editable" -- through modifications, mods. You all know that, but honestly, sometimes I think that some people don't, and this is for them. If I mod The Sims 2 to show all of the women topless, that's not a feature that was included with the game that the developer should be liable for -- the equivalent of this is to buy a movie, take it home, and use video-editing software to make it appear as though all of the actresses are topless. Should the producers of the movie be liable if I do that to a PG-13 film? Holding developers liable for the explicit content contained in mods will sink the industry -- and it's an industry a lot of voters care about!
No, our legislators are well aware that most of this junk can't survive judicial review. They just don't care. The whole idea - particularly when a presidential hopeful is involved (hi Hill!) - is to get publicity and attract the "Won't someone please think of the children?" vote. The next 20 months will be filled with lots of this garbage, and it's up to the electorate to get enough edumication so that they don't buy into it. Unfortunately, the chances of said edumication happening on any large scale are slim and voters will be swayed when someone like Senator Clinton says "I sponsored a bill intended to protect our children from exposure to videogame violence, and I will continue to fight to protect our children as President."
The Republicans were not the party of strong military defense before Reagan because Nixon had to promise to get our troops out of Vietnam to get elected, at least the first time. (The troops left Vietnam approx. when he left office, or maybe a lil' later.)
Before WWII, Republicans were both socially and fiscally conservative for the most part, and more the latter. Teddy Roosevelt was actually a social radical, but he left the Republican party around 1912 or so. Coolidge and Hoover left the invisible hand alone for the most part. (What party was Smoot and Hawley in, and are protectionist tariffs fiscally conservative or fiscally radical?)
After 1960, Kennedy effectively made the Democratic Party the party of civil rights. Southerners started switching parties from Democrat to Republican around then, and they made the Republican Party socially conservative. I'm not sure who was the first Republican to be fiscally radical: maybe Reagan, but it could've been as early as Nixon. I mean, foreign military quagmires and wiretapping weren't much cheaper then than they are now.
There is a fine line between recklessness and courage... -- Paul McCartney
I work at Three Rings Design, makers of Puzzle Pirates.
The game is free to download, but we had a publisher and put out a box version with some extra goodies. The game was sent off to be rated and they came back with an "E" rating, to which we replied "Really? Even though there's a drinking game in there?" It's not a central part of Puzzle Pirates, but is easily found and playable at any Inn: pass out and miss a turn.
They hadn't even noticed, but after our helpful idiocy they bumped us to "T".
don't panic-- clowns can smell fear.
Isn't it about time we had a Truth-in-Act-Names Act?
An issue that the US needs to address is that it has created a huge rod for its own back by providing vast outpourings of violent content. "24" is a good example. It is quite amazingly good propaganda for Islamic fundamentalists, because it portrays extreme violence as being appropriate in dealing with any perceived threat. How can you tell fundamentalists that beheading hostages is wrong when it is clearly behaviour approved of so long as it is by Americans? How can you persuade Iraqis that the US army doesn't spend its time torturing them when they can pass around professionally made videos showing that this is exactly how Americans behave when they want something? I am quite sure that Al-Queda recruiting and training camps spend more time showing their gullible trainees mainstream American material than their own videos because they can use it to "prove" that the US will go to any lengths at all to get what it wants.
I think there is a case to be made that game producers should be required to document their content. It should not be necessary for reviewers to sit through games. Somewhere there are surely storyboards, scripts, and a system map. It should be possible to identify content against an agreed set of criteria and to identify risk areas ("Players can create anatomically detailed avatars."
Please note this is not censorship. It merely applies the same level of disclosure to a game as applies to a book. Hiding extremely violent content in difficult to access levels of a game is not an excuse for not documenting content, even if that documentation is necessarily restricted in circulation
The producers of a film and the publishers of a book make the entire content readily available for assessment. This has not prevented the circulation of either. I cannot see why the same standard of disclosure should not apply to games. I suspect that an issue in the response here is that some of the younger /. readers get kicks out of doing something which they think is a closed book to the adult world. I have news for them. Games are produced by corporations: you are not doing something counter-cultural, you are doing something that is ultimately for the benefit of midle aged suits. In the same way there is nothing rebellious about teenagers drinking whisky; you are just doing what the drink marketing people are trying to persuade you to do through carefully judged advertising.
Pining for the fjords
You mean you actually get to vote for someone in the US ? Here we mostly vote against the other guy...
:(
I've yet to see a candidate I would actually consider voting for instead of just seeing it like a lesser evil.
May contain traces of nut.
Made from the freshest electrons.
Here's the transcript in its entirety. Zappa's testimony is classic.
Well not anymore, you were required to a be logged in.
--CmdrTaco
I'm actually quite convinced that he knows his idea is bullcrap. At the very least he'll have advisors who would have told him so. If not, he's not really a fit presidental candidate.
Also, the game industry is one you shouldn't piss off too much, it is a money maker. And I know at least one key company that does sponsor political campaigns. For both parties, just to cover the bases.
I'm quite sure this whole ploy is just the usual political play with people's ignorance. He knows 2 things well:
1. It's impossible to implement.
2. Even if by some feat of luck it gets possible, court will shoot it down.
3. Even if the courts don't care, neither will the gamers and still buy whatever they want.
So, essentially, from a purely practical point of view, the whole idea is as useful as many other political ideas that are, if you take a step back and look at it from afar (after doing a little research), quite blatantly pointless.
What sticks, though, is that he did "something" for our children. It's a bit like the war on terror or other problems without a solution that doesn't hurt. It doesn't matter if what you do works, as long as you do "something" you can't be held responsible for not addressing the problem. It might not work out, but hey, at least he tried!
And for some reason in our political climate, a man is already a hero for trying. Talk 'bout apathy.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
I find it appalling that you select who you want to vote for negatively. How about selecting based on the candidate's good qualities, not the bad qualities of the other candidates?
That's not true. In 1900, the Republicans were socially *liberal* and fiscally conservative. (According to the standards of the day, of course.) In 1900, nearly all African-Americans were Republicans because in 1900, it was the Republicans who were the civil rights party. Roosevelt wasn't by any means a "radical". He was right in line with his party on social issues, and a moderate on fiscal issues. (i.e. willing to negotiate with unions and pass worker-protection legislation, unlike his party cohorts but still quite anti-socialist.)
(Otherwise you are correct.)
The cake is a pie
Well, then make sure to vote in the primaries! Hardly anyone does, so your vote has an enormous effect, especially if you can get others to do the same. Don't want Hillary to be the Democratic candidate? Vote in the Democratic Primary in 2008 (state-specific details on the wiki). Don't want a lousy candidate running on the Republican side? Vote in the Republican Primary in 2008. Sure, third parties aren't at a level where we can hope for a president being elected from one of them, but they are at a well-known level where they can run for plenty of other political positions and win (e.g. local government, state government).
Also, if you know of a politician whom you think would be a great presidential candidate, why don't you contact him or her? The primaries aren't until early next year, so you've got plenty of time to scope out and convince more potential candidates.
'Yes, firefox is indeed greater than women. Can women block pops up for you? No. Can Firefox show you naked women? Yes.'
That's good advice for those folks living in New Hampshire and Iowa. A year from today the nominations will be a done deal before many states will even have had their primaries.