Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Study Finds Games Stores Still Selling to Minors

Posted by Zonk on from the could-be-just-a-bit-biased-though dept.

A study funded by the National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF) has found that almost half of all games retailers are still selling 'M'-rated games to kids. "The two-month undercover survey, which covered 60 US retailers, found that underage teens were able to buy games rated M for Mature (17+) at 46 percent of stores, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune ... the findings of the survey still put the game industry ahead of many other entertainment sectors, including the movie and music industries."

14 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. I for one say so what by ameyer17 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Since any attempts to legislate a ban on selling M-rated games to minors have been deemed unconstitutional, I say so what. Perhaps stores shouldn't be selling these games to minors, but that's between the store and the "OMG PROTECT THE CHILDREN" crowd

  2. Well... by Macthorpe · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Seeing as the ratings are a guideline not a law, and it's up to parents to enforce the guidelines they want to enforce, I am going to have to join in the calls of 'So what?'

    The only way to sort out this out would be for people to stop assuming that games are for kids - but who knows when that's going to be.

    --
    "It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him." - Tolkien
  3. IDs? by 4D6963 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The two-month undercover survey [...] found that underage teens were able to buy games rated M for Mature (17+) at 46 percent of stores

    How are they supposed to enforce that anyways? By asking kids their ID? How are you supposed to tell a 17-year old who looks like he's 14 from a 14 year old who looks like he's 17?

    --
    You just got troll'd!
    1. Re:IDs? by MoonFog · · Score: 3, Informative

      Well, in Norway, the legal age for drinking alcohol is 18. Anyone who is in a store learns that if they are unsure, they always ask. Many stores have signs that say if you are under 25, you should show ID before they even ask. Its not rocket science, its really not that different from selling other things with legal ages, or working at a pub or nightclub. How are you supposed to tell them apart? You dont, you ask both for ID.

    2. Re:IDs? by Shadowplay00 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Hate to knock down a strawman, but many 17 year olds have a driver's license.

      This is not intended to contradict the "so what?" crowd...ultimately ratings are only useful as a way for non-gaming parents to filter what their kids can play.

    3. Re:IDs? by kermit1221 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think you missed the part about "guidelines, not law". It's not currently illegal for the store to sell these games to minors. Apparently there are some working towards making the video game rating systems law, at least in California at this point.

      The fun part is that (so I've read) the law would impose fines of thousands of dollars as well as charging the offender with a felony of some sort, for selling Mature video games to minors. It seems the penalty for (first offense) selling alcohol to minors is a fine of about three hundred dollars.

    4. Re:IDs? by ameyer17 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Several states have tried this, it's been declared unconstitutional. Illinois had to pay the video game industry's lawyers a bunch of money, if I recall correctly.

    5. Re:IDs? by 4D6963 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      My point was, how are you gonna require an ID from a 17 year old?

      --
      You just got troll'd!
    6. Re:IDs? by Bodrius · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I think the problem is that makes a huge assumption: if you are 17 ==> you have a driver license.

      Other countries have national ID cards that also apply to minors, so it is reasonable to expect you have some state ID with you.
      But if there is no legal requirement an ID, and you have no need for a driver license (i.e.: you do not own/drive a car), assuming you magically have a driver license does not follow. For minors, that situation is far more likely.

      Not sure it is a big deal - but it reminds me of the 'solution' that e-businesses came up of saying Adult Verification ==> Credit Card. Because obviously that did not introduce risks to a kids uneducated on financial responsability, and the concept of an adult citizen without a car, credit cards and a good amount of debt is unthinkable.

      --
      Freedom is the freedom to say 2+2=4, everything else follows...
    7. Re:IDs? by Gibble · · Score: 2, Informative

      I honestly don't know a 17 year old who doesn't have some form of ID.

      --
      Gibble: Descriptive of an emotional state in which one's mind is scrabbling for some purchase on reality
    8. Re:IDs? by KDR_11k · · Score: 2, Funny

      Same way you would from an 18 year old?

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    9. Re:IDs? by ColdSam · · Score: 2, Informative

      Is this a trick question? You ask "Can I see some ID?" If they don't provide an ID which indicates they are over 17 then you don't sell them the game.

  4. Priorities by ACS+Solver · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yeah... always good to see people getting their priorities right. How about trying to fight the problem of shops selling booze to kids?

    And yes I know this is a study by a group studying media.

  5. Study finds... by SlipperHat · · Score: 2

    that studies that tell us what we already know, are lame.

    Mod me lame?