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Annual Video Game Report Card Is Positive, For Once

Posted by Soulskill on from the i-blame-the-wii dept.

Every year, the National Institute on Media and the Family releases a report card which grades various aspects of the video game industry on how well they keep "inappropriate" games out of the hands of children. This year's report was largely positive, which is surprising given the history of strong criticism by the Institute. They acknowledged that gaming is becoming a much bigger part of family life than it was in the past, and they're making an effort to shift the focus onto the parents to keep their kids' gaming habits under control. The full report is available here (PDF), and Game Daily has an interview with Entertainment Software Alliance CEO Michael Gallagher which touches on some of the same issues.

6 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. an INCOMPLETE grade? by Mishotaki · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Is it only me or "INCOMPLETE" means "FAILS MISERABLY" in this case?

    Especially when they use the grade on parental involvement and they talk about how much parents got no clue on how the game console that their child use has options for them that they had no clue it existed!

    The media should stop saying that the kids are becoming violent because they play violent videogames.... They should say that the kids are playing violent videogames because parents don't care about what their kids do when they play, not even when they "virtualy murder people".

  2. Wrong idea by girlintraining · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They shouldn't receive an award for this. I'm sorry, but telling the video game industry they're doing a good job of "keeping inappropriate" content out of the hands of children is both a slap in the face to the parents that should be watching what their kids are buying, and a slap in the face to the kids who buy these games hoping for something interesting, only to find talking frogs, barbie, and games where everybody gets along and wins -- when they're 14! Why can they go see a few hundred zombies get set on fire, shot at, or otherwise die in the theatre (as long as they're all non-smoking zombies), but can't get the same thing in a video game? This entire idea of "for the sake of the children" has gone too far when children aren't encouraged to take risks and make their own decisions. These "appropriate" video games... I've seen them -- They suck so hard they're in danger of forming an event horizon.

    My 12 year old kid sister has been fed a steady diet of these "positive self-esteem" books, videos, and games. Last year I tried to show her Happy Feet (it's a movie, look it up) and she couldn't get past the halfway point because that's where the penguin "got sad". I tried showing her some "real" video games, only to have mom come down on me like a ton of bricks... So it's back to watching bubbles with numbers in it and talking animals. And then mom (and other parents from Generation "Precious Snowflake") wonders why she has no inclination to read, write, do her homework, clean up after herself, or even brush her teeth...

    Well, duh... it's because she's being fed sanitized crap that is the electronic equivalent of valium every day!

    --
    #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    1. Re:Wrong idea by girlintraining · · Score: 3, Insightful

      When I was 12, I had a college-level reading comprehension and my writing was equivalent to a junior in high school. I made my own meals, did my own laundry, cleaned my room, and all the other daily things a person needs to do. Everyone else in my family was the same way by her age. The only variable here is the change in parenting style, which encourages her to be codependent and reliant on others to make every decision about her life... even down to what clothes she'll wear to school that day (not just buying them, but actually being told what she's wearing each day).

      --
      #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    2. Re:Wrong idea by Wandering+Wombat · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Shut up and graze your spaghetti.

      I'm a parent of three, and I'm pretty opinionated on this matter. My nephews are only allowed to watch non-violent shows and play non-violent games (they're both complete Pokemon addicts), and both of them are on MUTLIPLE medications for violence and agression. My oldest has been playing Killer Instinct and Kingdom of Loathing and Carmageddon since he was four, and he's about as non-violent as a kid can be (his teacher likes to tell me about his 'Champion Manners' in class, because they have a Manners rating system).

      Video games are a FACTOR that determine psychological development, just like humidity is a factor in a car accident... in both cases, the DRIVERS make the biggest impact (note: drivers = parents).

      --
      I like to place meaningful quotes in my sig, so people will know that I know what meaningful quotes are.
  3. Who cares? by ettlz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Seriously, now, why do we even give a short one for what the "National Institute on Media and the Family" think?

  4. Re:Simple answer: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If your not allowed to get GTA, how else will I know I can get my money back from a hooker by running her over?!?

    Seriously though:
    Rather than be concerned about mental problems (its VERY difficult to create mental problems in people when they are given a wide range of experiences)

    why not be concerned about our fat asses?

    I sit way too much... damnit.