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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."

4 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. 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.

  4. 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.