RE:"free speech"

[jackpipsam]

I was watching "Extra Credits" and buy the way they talk is if the law in USA goes through then ALL video games will lose violence ect.
Have they forgotten one thing? USA isn't the only place in the world that makes games ya know.
ok say it goes ahead, they way there speaking (to me anyway)that all the worlds games will share the same fate. ok fine we may not get that many USA games that way, but we still have many world wide devs that will make games.
e.g. Biowear, Ubisoft, Krome, SEGA, Nintendo, ID and of course... Rockstar north.

I under to USA this is a big issue and to them it could(however unlikely) be the end as games as they know it. but please stop making it seem that world will fall with you.

 

[Sebenko]

Yeah, but the USA is kind of an important market.

Consoles aren't more popular than PCs in many countries, but because they are in the US, you see some shoddy ports far too often.

It would be the same with violence.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Basically if the USA passes this then it will spread.

Other people in various governments who don't like games will push this case, it won't stop with the US.

This may only affect the US at the moment but it will open the door for other countries to follow suit.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

USA happens to be the biggest market. If the mooks push this bill through then not only will US developers be handcuffed, there will also be extreme restrictions on what foreign-made games are allowed to be distributed throughout the USA market. Developers lose their biggest market, and therefore the biggest income, and we see a drastic decrease in the number of games getting made and the amount of money put into those games.

This bill will have a knock-on effect on a global scale. Those unconstitutional jackarses could ruin a lot of lives.

 

[Karlosdj86]

the law has already been passed in the UK, most of europe, Japan, new zealand and austrailia and with exception of the latter two it hasn't made a single iota of a difference. It simply restricts the SALE of a violent game to someone under a cirtain age, it won't stop them actually playing it if it is bought for them by a parent or guardian.

The above regions represent a not-insignificantly larger market than the USA and games are still made for and sold in these regions that are restricted (with the aforementioned exception)

EDIT: I would also like to mention that this sort of farsical shite would never happen in the UK because both the queen and prime minister have and enjoy playing games (the queen has a DS and a Wii and David Cameron has a PS3)

 

[jackpipsam]

Yes, I know its the biggest market, but that won't stop the market

 

[Eduku]

Because it's a massive market connected with other places, such as the EU regions. If it falls, it'll pass on those negative effects onto other countries, whether they want them or not. The recession sort of showed that already.

 

[jackpipsam]

the recession hardly touched Australia

 

[Korovashya]

Yes, I know its the biggest market, but that won't stop the market

No, it won't stop the market. But it will encourage it to move into the black market. The world is driven by economics, and developers will not produce games if a profit cannot be reached. While to say that if this law passes it will be the death of gaming is extreme, it is not entirely inaccurate. Far more accurate would be to say it would be the death of mass-gaming. Some developers would continue to make games for a niche market, but they will be relegated to small stores and limited to no marketing, on par with modeling and train sets. something that the wider community doesn't take seriously.

So no, games will continue. But they will lose any chance of one day becoming a respected and accepted medium, on par with literature and TV. It will hurt, alot. No more big corporations will produce games as there is simply not enough consumers available. Plus, with this law passed, it opens the door to more restrictive laws. And this brings us back to the point that corporate interests are what is at stake here. In the end, it is not about what people believe, or what laws are in effect. It is simply of a question of can we make money off it. Cold, I know, but true. The only way to keep gaming alive and evolve beyond a simple market for products is to make it profitable now.

 

[jackpipsam]

I don't think peoples minds will change in places such as Japan were it is a very respected medium

 

[SonicWaffle]

Yes. But the US is unfortunately a large market. So if they can't buy the stuff it won't get made. Supply and demand. If 60% of your respective clientèle just stopped being able to buy your product. You change your product.

It will have a knock on effect to the rest of us.

Completely unrelated to the thread, but every time I see your posts it seems like you're on probation for something. Am I imagining this?

 

[Korovashya]

Because it's a massive market connected with other places, such as the EU regions. If it falls, it'll pass on those negative effects onto other countries, whether they want them or not. The recession sort of showed that already.

the recession hardly touched Australia

The recession is not a good example. That is a much more macro-outlook, taking every single variable and industry in the economy into account. This situation is a very limited model, not even a microcosm.

The fact that the recession barely touched Australia is wound up in various politics, but the long and short of it is because we had a resilient economy and very quickly instituted an expansionary policy to combat the recession. Gaming is nothing like that, it is not the same as the ripple effect of economic movements across economies. It is one industry, that may or may not have it's heart ripped out.

 

[jackpipsam]

Because it's a massive market connected with other places, such as the EU regions. If it falls, it'll pass on those negative effects onto other countries, whether they want them or not. The recession sort of showed that already.

the recession hardly touched Australia

The recession is not a good example. That is a much more macro-outlook, taking every single variable and industry in the economy into account. This situation is a very limited model, not even a microcosm.

The fact that the recession barely touched Australia is wound up in various politics, but the long and short of it is because we had a resilient economy and very quickly instituted an expansionary policy to combat the recession. Gaming is nothing like that, it is not the same as the ripple effect of economic movements across economies. It is one industry, that may or may not have it's heart ripped out.

In a way yes and no. also genres come into play as well. e.g. I don't think the USA government would consider an RTS such as AoE harmfull or games like Sim City and Mario Kart.

 

[Eduku]

Because it's a massive market connected with other places, such as the EU regions. If it falls, it'll pass on those negative effects onto other countries, whether they want them or not. The recession sort of showed that already.

the recession hardly touched Australia

The recession is not a good example. That is a much more macro-outlook, taking every single variable and industry in the economy into account. This situation is a very limited model, not even a microcosm.

The fact that the recession barely touched Australia is wound up in various politics, but the long and short of it is because we had a resilient economy and very quickly instituted an expansionary policy to combat the recession. Gaming is nothing like that, it is not the same as the ripple effect of economic movements across economies. It is one industry, that may or may not have it's heart ripped out.

Yes, yes, it was very basic analogy, I was just saying how the US is linked to many places, on a basic level. I know it doesn't work when you delve into it.

 

[Verlander]

Most games come from the U.S.

Those that don't are usually Japanese.

Japan doesn't translate and export 99% of their produce.

Do some research before making a thread.

I don't know, there are hundreds of games companies in Canada and the UK. There's a strong platform production in the US, due to Microsoft, but I wouldn't say that "most" of the actual games come from there. Most American games producers have international studios as well, so it's hardly like they'd close down. I think it's a massive market that makes it important

OT The reason why it is a big thing is that it could represent a "slippery slope" kinda thing. If it all works in the US, other countries would have precedence to do similar. Although, like some other people already said, it only really means that games will be slapped with an age restriction

 

[Albino Boo]

Because it's a massive market connected with other places, such as the EU regions. If it falls, it'll pass on those negative effects onto other countries, whether they want them or not. The recession sort of showed that already.

But the EU countries already have this law and yet the same games sell. In fact if you add up the countries that already have legally mandated age limits if far exceeds the population of the US.

EU 500
Canada 33
Australia 21
S Korea 48

total 602

US 307

Even if take into account that the greater wealth of the US, it can't represent more that 50% of the world market. I'm being conservative here, I haven't added in anyone from one of the emerging markets (or Japan, because I'm not sure of the regulations there). The global games industry already operates in the environment of legally mandated age limits without any trouble.

 

[jackpipsam]

maybe we could look on the pros if this happens, we could lose some very tasteless games e.g Manhunt (but is that Rockstar North or not I forgot). also we could find better ways to make games such as braid. indie devs may get the breakthrough there after. after all wouldn't ban ALL games. only the ones witch "have no value". maybe if a game has lots of moral reasons behind it then a game like that could go though.

 

[jackpipsam]

Because it's a massive market connected with other places, such as the EU regions. If it falls, it'll pass on those negative effects onto other countries, whether they want them or not. The recession sort of showed that already.

But the EU countries already have this law and yet the same games sell. In fact if you add up the countries that already have legally mandated age limits if far exceeds the population of the US.

EU 500
Canada 33
Australia 21
S Korea 48

total 602

US 307

Even if take into account that the greater wealth of the US, it can't represent more that 50% of the world market. I'm being conservative here, I haven't added in anyone from one of the emerging markets (or Japan, because I'm not sure of the regulations there). The global games industry already operates in the environment of legally mandated age limits without any trouble.

wrong the issue in Australia is that R games are not aloud at all. so 21 is wrong

 

[Strixandstones]

Bah, Americans and their precious constitution! At the end of the day, the U.S government is not going to make any move that would inflict damage on a successful industry in times of recession. Yes, they may "crack down" on the sale of M-rated games to young 'uns but I feel this will do no more harm than "Parental Advisory" did to music in the eighties (and beyond.) EC's claim that this threatens the future of the "medium" (that man needs a thesaurus) is panic bordering on scaremongering.

 

[SonicWaffle]

I've had a grant total of 3 probations. 2 of which were for low content post's. So I'd say a big old yes.

Hmm. Perhaps I've only ever noticed your posts because you've been on probation - I tend to see the notification and think "Oooh, what did they say?" then click through the link to find out.

Edit: Oh wait. I forgot one.

Reason: Don\'t insult others, even in the Pulp Fiction ************ context.

So the totals 4.

Soooo....I'm not allowed to ask people whether you look like a *****?