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U.S. Supreme Court vs Computer and Video Games
Looks like computer and video game titles are getting a hit on there bottoms from the U.S. Supreme Courts in California. In April of this year the Supreme Court has argued that violent video games are not to be sold to minors. Wasn't there an argument about this a while ago, saying that violent video games are what makes "our" children the way they are? With some cases yes that would be true but to most it's the way of life that the children have been raised.
A group called VGVN (Video Game Voters Network), along side with several other companies and people are arguing against this law, saying that it isn't the governments right to set standards.
Quote: The industry's ESRB rating system, considered the "gold standard" of entertainment ratings by the FTC, already enables consumers to make informed and appropriate purchase decisions. We believe parents — not the government or industry — should be the ones to decide what games, movies, books are appropriate for their children. |
Head over to the VGVN (Video Game Voters Network) to read up on whats happening. Posted in Gaming by Mystro
on November 11th 2010 at 4:30pm
2 Comments
Over here games are automatically given a BBFC rating just like films. Mortal Kombat Trilogy (for example) carries a 15 rating. Grand Theft Auto (yes the first one) is an 18 along with all subsequent titles. Unlike ESRB these ratings are legally binding and thus as strictly enforced as tobacco, gambling, sex and alcohol age limitations. Never caused any real problems. And I'd rather an age restriction than the kind of censorship imposed upon countries such as Australia and to a lesser extent, Germany. At the end of the day it is the responsibility of the parent to decide not only whether their child has access to these games but at what age they choose to expose them to it. Ultimately, I'm an adult, and if I want a video game where I kill prostitutes with chainsaws then I should be allowed access to it. At the same time I agree that such a game should be unaccessable to children. The system works. I'm lucky in that the UK has pretty good non censorship issues in films and games. Indeed the only real taboo is violence against children which is the ultimate no-no (I guess that also includes sex against children obviously, although in film... well, watch War Zone. It's arguable that there is artistic cause for discussion of such things). It is the government's right to set standards, that's the very point of government. My only beef is when they go to far, a la Australia.
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The quote says everything...everything else is one's stupidity. One time I saw this mother with a child purchasing Grand Theft Auto San Andreas...I had to do a face palm after I left. So it's the parents stupidity...the ESRB already did their part