Nine States Support Game Industry Against California

[KnowYourOnion]

Snip

I'm not American so I don't really understand the system over there, so can minors buy games regardless of the age rating or do the dealers only sell to those above the ESRB rating for the game?
In Britain it's a criminal offence to sell games to any one below the age rating but it doesn't attach any stigma onto it.

 

[nuba km]

Snip

I'm not American so I don't really understand the system over there, so can minors buy games regardless of the age rating or do the dealers only sell to those above the ESRB rating for the game?
In Britain it's a criminal offence to sell games to any one below the age rating but it doesn't attach any stigma onto it.

the difference here (I'm in Britain) it's the same for movies but in America its legal to sell 18 movies to kids because they have artistic merit (even the expendables) but from my knowledge most shops in America enforce the age rating as a policy

 

[oktalist]

EDIT: Guy above me answered as I was posting, but I also ask why is Puerto Rico listed? Do they have say in U.S law making?

They should have a say in US lawmaking, as they are subject to US laws, and their people are US citizens represented in Congress by their own delegate, albeit without voting powers.

 

[Prof. Monkeypox]

Snip

I'm not American so I don't really understand the system over there, so can minors buy games regardless of the age rating or do the dealers only sell to those above the ESRB rating for the game?
In Britain it's a criminal offence to sell games to any one below the age rating but it doesn't attach any stigma onto it.

the difference here (I'm in Britain) it's the same for movies but in America its legal to sell 18 movies to kids because they have artistic merit (even the expendables) but from my knowledge most shops in America enforce the age rating as a policy

It's not a criminal offense, but people don't do it anyway (for the most part). As I mentioned, there's an 80% compliance with regulation (the highest of any medium). Underage children simply aren't sold video games, or the salesman loses his job, simple as that. Parents can, of course, buy the games for their kids, but if they're good parents who think such violence is wrong, they don't. If they're bad parents who think violence is wrong, they sue, and get politicians to pass ridiculous regulations laws in order to covet votes from the fear-mongering people who think video games are inherently evil or corruptive.

 

[KnowYourOnion]

Snip

I'm not American so I don't really understand the system over there, so can minors buy games regardless of the age rating or do the dealers only sell to those above the ESRB rating for the game?
In Britain it's a criminal offence to sell games to any one below the age rating but it doesn't attach any stigma onto it.

the difference here (I'm in Britain) it's the same for movies but in America its legal to sell 18 movies to kids because they have artistic merit (even the expendables) but from my knowledge most shops in America enforce the age rating as a policy

Ahhh then you have my apologies!!!!
I was under the impression that there was little to no regulation on who could buy games thanks for clearing that up
I guess this just show the massive difference between the British and American legal and rights systems.

DEAR GOD A REASONABLE DISCUSSION HAS JUST OCCURRED OVER THE INTERNET, MADNESS!!!
QUICK SOME START A FLAME WAR TO COMPENSATE!

 

[orangeapples]

I do agree that there needs to be some level of controls on the sale of video games, and the industry is doing a pretty good job of that.

When someone under 30 is trying to buy an M rated game, employees are required to ask for I.D. they check to confirm that the person is indeed older than 17 and allows the purchase. If the I.D. presented confirms that they have not yet reached 17, then they are not allowed to sell the game at risk of losing their job.

apparently these parents not only want the person to lose their job, but for them to be fined as well.

And really, what they want is the sale of M-rated games to not be allowed to households who have children. because really it is the parents who are buying the games. They want retailers to say, "Do any children reside in your household? yes? then I'm sorry, but I cannot sell you this game at risk of damaging that poor child."

If it were up to these parents the imagination would be banned as well.

 

[KnowYourOnion]

Snip

I'm not American so I don't really understand the system over there, so can minors buy games regardless of the age rating or do the dealers only sell to those above the ESRB rating for the game?
In Britain it's a criminal offence to sell games to any one below the age rating but it doesn't attach any stigma onto it.

the difference here (I'm in Britain) it's the same for movies but in America its legal to sell 18 movies to kids because they have artistic merit (even the expendables) but from my knowledge most shops in America enforce the age rating as a policy

It's not a criminal offense, but people don't do it anyway (for the most part). As I mentioned, there's an 80% compliance with regulation (the highest of any medium). Underage children simply aren't sold video games, or the salesman loses his job, simple as that. Parents can, of course, buy the games for their kids, but if they're good parents who think such violence is wrong, they don't. If they're bad parents who think violence is wrong, they sue, and get politicians to pass ridiculous regulations laws in order to covet votes from the fear-mongering people who think video games are inherently evil or corruptive.

It is an offence

"In contrast to the system in the US, in the UK video games that depict "gross violence", "sexual activity" or "techniques likely to be useful in the commission of offences" must be classified under the British Board of Film Classification's (BBFC) film rating system under the Video Recordings Act of 1984. The Act provides that it is an offence to supply such a game to anyone below the age limit, punishable by a fine of up to £5000 or up to six months in prison. However, in the region of 90% of all titles released on to the market are exempt from this legal classification."

they're treated in the same fashion as films but a lot are exempt from it.

 

[Kliss88]

Another thing that is changing with the time is soon kids that are that age of 16 and under will have parents that know games (since games have been growing rapidly over the last 20 years) and will be perfectly capable of knowing whats appropriate and whats not.

keep the ESRB and leave it at that

 

[Starke]

Nine States Support Game Industry Against California

Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch filed a brief with the Supreme Court on behalf of
1.Arkansas, 2.Georgia, 3.Nebraska, 4.North Dakota, 5.Oklahoma, 6.Puerto Rico, 7.South Carolina, 8.Utah, 9.Washington and 10.his own state [i.e. Rhode Island],

Anyone else count 10 states? Or is one of these listed not a state?

Puerto Rico is not a state, it is a territory. How that is different from a state, I do not know, but it is not counted as such.

OT: Yay, my home state backs the game industry (my home state being Washington)! I am so proud.

Protectorate, actually. It doesn't pay taxes, and its citizens don't have the ability to cast votes in national elections. Its representatives in the Senate and Congress are non-voting (I'm not sure if they can take the floor or not, but they can't vote).

EDIT: The population of Peurto Rico could incorporate themselves as a state, basically, any time they wanted by a majority vote, and it does come up every 8 - 10 years or so, but always fails.

 

[Prof. Monkeypox]

Snip

I'm not American so I don't really understand the system over there, so can minors buy games regardless of the age rating or do the dealers only sell to those above the ESRB rating for the game?
In Britain it's a criminal offence to sell games to any one below the age rating but it doesn't attach any stigma onto it.

the difference here (I'm in Britain) it's the same for movies but in America its legal to sell 18 movies to kids because they have artistic merit (even the expendables) but from my knowledge most shops in America enforce the age rating as a policy

It's not a criminal offense, but people don't do it anyway (for the most part). As I mentioned, there's an 80% compliance with regulation (the highest of any medium). Underage children simply aren't sold video games, or the salesman loses his job, simple as that. Parents can, of course, buy the games for their kids, but if they're good parents who think such violence is wrong, they don't. If they're bad parents who think violence is wrong, they sue, and get politicians to pass ridiculous regulations laws in order to covet votes from the fear-mongering people who think video games are inherently evil or corruptive.

It is an offence

"In contrast to the system in the US, in the UK video games that depict "gross violence", "sexual activity" or "techniques likely to be useful in the commission of offences" must be classified under the British Board of Film Classification's (BBFC) film rating system under the Video Recordings Act of 1984. The Act provides that it is an offence to supply such a game to anyone below the age limit, punishable by a fine of up to £5000 or up to six months in prison. However, in the region of 90% of all titles released on to the market are exempt from this legal classification."

they're treated in the same fashion as films but a lot are exempt from it.

Ok, I think I get it. May I ask, however, if a similar rule applies to violent or overly sexual movies, books, or music?
If not, why? Are these movies inherently superior to gaming (even good games)? Is porn better than Portal, Braid or Bioshock?

Up until now, this distinction was never made in America, violent games were treated the same as violent movies, et. all. This law aims to change that, classifying games in the same category as porn (legally). That's why we take exception to the law. If it goes through, this medium will be treated as "the other" in an ocean of equal quality material, and those who enjoy games will forever be stigmatized.

If the government steps in to tell people what they can or cannot watch, read or listen to, that's a first amendment violation. The same should apply to gaming.

 

[orangecharger]

Passed legislation will start the war on games. Unlike the war on drugs, this one would be largely successful because it's corporations (not drug cartels)that make games. They aren't going to make a game that a retailer won't carry. A retailer won't carry M rated games because of fear of litigation. (Take two steps to your right and buy an R rated DVD though.) So games will revert back the Nintendo style filtered green/gray blood Mortal Combats -- even that might be deemed too violent and worthy of censorship if the law passes.

I am all for keeping video games rated M out of the hands of kids. That's up to parents not retailers, game manufacturers, and governments.

 

[Andy Chalk]

We've covered this topic more times than I can count, in news posts, columns and videos. Just search "California" for some links. There's also PDF format [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/the-needles/7576-The-Needles-Master-Chief-Goes-to-Washington] from the Legal Times Blog, also provides some great reasons about why this is such a bad thing, for gamers and for freedom of speech as a whole. Feel free to read.

If anyone has questions a little more specific than "what's so bad about this?" I'd be happy to answer to the best of my ability.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Thank the stars. Heh. No pun intended.

 

[DustyDrB]

Wait. I just saw South Carolina on that list. Pardon me for a bit while I freak out with exclamation points...

!!!
!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!

My state did something that doesn't make us all look like idiots!!!! Finally! One notch in the win column!

 

[Uber Waddles]

Lets keep in mind too that the ESRB and their ratings are not definative, but more like suggestions. Overall, its upto the PARENTS to decide if the games are appropriate, NOT the government. One of the big complaints is Californias view that if you are under 18, you can't make decisions for yourselves, and the government should be there to back up parental values. Not all parents have the same set of values however.

I am glad to see that 9 States and our protectorate are on-board, and are fighting this. Its not a matter of "selling games to kids is bad", but a matter of opening up the definition of "free speech". If this were to happen, who's to say the internet wouldnt be considered freedom of speech, and have our thoughts censored?

 

[Lullabye]

If this law goes through, porn movies like AssMasters 10 will, in the eyes of the supreme court, have more artistic(or scientific, etc) value than BioShock. Think about that.

 

[sir.rutthed]

it's just a shame that one of the leading supporters of the UK games industry was Lembit Opek, who, while a useful name to know while playing Scrabble, was never really taken seriously.

You can't use proper nouns in Scrabble

 

[Epictank of Wintown]

God damn, this makes me proud to be a Georgian.

I love my state.

 

[ShadowKatt]

Wow. I read that and then re-read it. If I was the judge over seeing this case, I'm not sure I would have even heard the plantiffs case. He did such a solid job defending video games in all their facets there's not a lot they could to do bring them down.