Poll: Do you think parents know the consequences for banning/restricting the sale of games?

[SonicWaffle]

In short, this means that games rated M and probably even T can be restricted and basically treated like porn. Developers will make less of these games, if not stop making them all together and then, worst case scenario: the entire medium dies.

Right, because restricting porn has totally killed that industry...

Slapping a higher rating tag on a game, much like with a movie, is only going to make kids want to see it more. They'll find a way to get it, the same way kids have always managed to get hold of porn. I totally disagree that putting an age rating on a game will kill the entire medium, since most people who buy video games are not children. Go to your local video game store, and do a quick age survey. I bet you at least two thirds of them are over 16, often by many years.

Weird story, though; my friend was telling me the other day that a friend of his had gone into his local Game store to sell something. The game he was selling happened to be 18-rated. The idiot behind the counter asked him for ID, even though he was selling a game he already owned. Apparently, this guy also sports a full-on beard, making the clerk's decision to demand ID even more ludicrous.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Judging by all the 12 year-olds playing Halo, Modern Warfare, Left 4 Dead, & all the other MATURE rated games; we know that parents don't pay attention to ESRB ratings and retailers are not voluntarily enforcing the rating recommendations. While I don't think that selling games needs to be restricted by law, I do think that parents and retailers need to restrict MATURE games from the little kids that shouldn't be playing them in the first place.

That's what I don't understand about the American rating system. Here in Aus you have to be 16 to buy a 16+ game, I don't see why you guys don't just enforce the age ratings on games and be done with it. If a parent thinks their child can handle a game the is restricted from the normally, then that's their decision.

 

[Ldude893]

Remember Barbara Streisand's house? She kept forcing people not to take pictures of it but she only succeeded in doing the opposite.
You keep someone from seeing something and it'll only increase the person's urge to look at it.

 

[teh_Canape]

honestly, I dont know how would this affect to me, since I'm outside the states

but yeah, BOTH my parents know the consequences

I play MW2 with my mom and usually Split/Second or Army of Two with my dad......... I'm not ashamed =P

 

[omega 616]

How are kids getting theses games? The parents are buying them, so they think it's fine for there kids to play it.

When did the government get to decide whats best for our kids?

 

[leonnasagawa]

You know its funny, I was listening to the radio recently when coming home from TAFE and they are only just starting to figure out that violent video games don't actually influence kids to do what is depicted in the video game. Problem is, the parents don't know the consequences and gamers are too lazy to educate them.

What I can't figure out though is how kids end up playing these games that they are not suppose to play. They need adults to buy the game for them because their not allowed to buy the games themselves, which tells me the parents buy the games for there kids without checking the ratings.

P.S. I strongly suggest that your parents don't believe everything that comes out on fox news if they watch it.

 

[Irridium]

You know its funny, I was listening to the radio recently when coming home from TAFE and they are only just starting to figure out that violent video games don't actually influence kids to do what is depicted in the video game. Problem is, the parents don't know the consequences and gamers are too lazy to educate them.

What I can't figure out though is how kids end up playing these games that they are not suppose to play. They need adults to buy the game for them because their not allowed to buy the games themselves, which tells me the parents buy the games for there kids without checking the ratings.

P.S. I strongly suggest that your parents don't believe everything that comes out on fox news if they watch it.

If California used the money they're blowing on this lawsuit to educate parents, it would be a better world.

 

[HeySeansOnline]

I'm currently explaining this to my father. But It would take every gamer child learning about this and explaining this to their parents, or parents learning about this. Which won't happen. The sad thing is video games aren't exposed enough, not everybody sees the potential. And nobody seems to notice all the info on the box. Since parents refuse to be parents, this visual medium could see a dark age.

 

[Zhukov]

No, they do not.

And if they did, most of them wouldn't care.

 

[VanityGirl]

You know its funny, I was listening to the radio recently when coming home from TAFE and they are only just starting to figure out that violent video games don't actually influence kids to do what is depicted in the video game.

I don't want this law to pass, but I'm going to tell you that that statement is incorrect. Of course games INFLUENCE kids, but contrary to popular belief, games do not make kids act out.

I would like to get something straight, kids are influenced by everything they see. And when people say kids, they are generally speaking of the younger generation, usually 10 and under (11-13 is a shady age though). Unfortunately, kid is such a broad term, you could say kid and be referring to people who are 16.

That's also something I don't like about the law, when they say "children", what age are they talking about?

 

[crotalidian]

what is really needed in this is a major (and well respected) news source to lay out the arguments on both sides of this debate, work through each logically and thouroughly and report on the overall both sides of the tracks view.

In the end on our side the best way to argue against this bill is show parents that 'the goverment doesnt think you can decide what is best for your kids so it wants to do it for you'. That is in essence what the issue is here and if we can get that into the mass media without being sensationalist or using underhanded tactics then we can hopefully have some impact on the public view of this issue.

I'm not living in the US at the moment, but I hope to move and settle down there and raise a family eventaully. I would like to urge you (the Escapist at large) to write considered and objective letters to your local (probably liberal) respected paper requesting a fair and unbiased discussion of the case. I will be writing a letter to the NY Times while I am on holiday over there next week in the hope that they deem it newsworthy enough to give it some time.

 

[Funkysandwich]

Generally kids know the difference between fantasy and reality and are capable of understanding that what is appropriate in a video game is not appropriate in real life.

For instance, I played Goldeneye 64 a LOT when I was a kid, and I didn't run around shooting people and looking for ammo boxes in my spare time.

Anyway, I doubt the medium will "die" even if this law does pass because America IS NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT BUYS GAMES!

 

[WittyInfidel]

Restricting games is not going to have that big of an impact. Some people may think it's going to destroy their fragile little world, but it just isn't so.

In the US, use of cell phones while driving is a federal crime. Yet even the cops still drive around chatting on theirs.

Look at how many nations have restricted the sale/ownership of personal firearms. Now look at just how prevalent firearms are still.

I would put this closer to the cell phone restriction than the gun restriction, but hopefully it still gives you an idea. Purchasing a video game isn't going to turn into a Logan's Run movie.

Nobody is going to mobilize a specialized dedicated task force to monitor all digital media sales. Not even ACTA would manage to pull that one off.

 

[Macgyvercas]

It won't fail the Miller Test. As said in Extra Credits, it's impossible to argue that video games have no artistic merit.

I hope the Supreme Court gives a big fat STFU to this lawsuit so we can get on with our bloody lives.

 

[kikon9]

Really though, in this economy we shouldn't be trying to get rid of multi-million dollar industries.

 

[MentalMyles]

parents don't bother to read the certificates or think that they mean the difficulty of the game.

Or they buy the game in order to let kids think that their parents are awesome that are always cool with their kids.

 

[Patrick West]

yeah australias just as bad im sure you mightve heard of atorney general atkinson if not hes like jack thompson just well just a bigger douche i mean 15+ thats all we got sorry way off track

 

[Bullett]

The problem is that many parents grew up when games meant pacman or space invaders. I don't think the understand that the 18 certificate means the same as it does on a movie poster (in the UK anyway). They would not take a 10 year old to see an 18 film but will happily buy him GTA.

I think this is changing but will fully take another generation. I'm nearly 40 and have played computer games all my life, my son will play games (something we can do together to annoy his mum!) but as I'm an engaged parent he won't be playing a game with inappropriate content.

I know he may play these at a friends, but pushing limits is what kids do. And I'll do my best to educate any other parents on gaming.

 

[ginty2]

The way I see it, once our generation becomes parents then the problem will right itself.

It will just take time.

i think your faith is a little misplaced. i'm 35 and those in my generation are now the parents who neglect their kid's viewing and playing habits. as a result, those of my generation are the ones pushing this knee jerk reaction crap regarding games. it seems to me that, generally speaking of course, those who are parents now never played video games or did but went on to something else as they got older.

my other view is that your brain dies a little when you have kids. then again it could be possible that people always want something to blame for their terrible parenting style.