California's Video Game Law

[Neo Angelo]

technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/09/17/5129748-movie-makers-comic-book-authors-rally-around-video-games-as-supreme-court-hearing-looms

I recently read this article on California's pending law that would ban the sale of violent games to people under 18(pretty sure that's already how it works but whatever). Anywho the thing about this new law that gets to me is that the California government will decide what games are violent or too violent. Last I checked something like this was a desicion made by parents but as many people will say a lot of parents today are to lazy and irresponsible to make this choice(no offense to anyone, just saying what have noticed and discussed with people over the years).

Being that most of us here on DF are avid gamers I thought this would be a great topic to discuss. I highly recommend everyone read the link I have posted so that if you havent heard of the law and know the details. I also strongly recommend reading the 3 pages of comments people have posted. Yea I know 3 pages of comments but I think reading them will allow the discussion to be a little broader and some of us may get a laugh out of what some people who are for the law have posted.

[Ragaar31]

Well I work at GameStop, and I can tell you the law here in Florida is as follows:

You need to be 17 to buy an M rated game. I am forced to check the IDs of EVERYONE buying an M rated game, including people I know are old enough. And if they don't have IDs I have to send them packing with no game. Also if you wanna trade in games you have, you MUST be 18; Regardless if you're getting cash or store credit. You also need an ID for that no matter what. No ID no trade.

As for this new law, it is silly to have the government have control of which games are violent, especially when we already have a rating system in check. I think the law is a bit unnecessary, but it doesn't matter that much. I don't believe kids should be allowed to buy M rated games. It would be silly if they were allowed to. Parents can't watch their kids 24/7, they can't be responsible for what their kids buy when they're not around. I have explained to parents trying to buy M rated games for their kids, that the game their trying to get is meant for adults, and a lot of the time I convince them to pick out a different game for their child. I like parents that actually give a fuck.

Also kids trying to get their parents to buy GTA4 for them is always hilarious.
Parent:"Just this"
Me:"You know this is like the worst game in the industry for kids. They have cursing, blood, there is sex in the game. They even let you pick up prostitutes."
Parent:"Sean what the hell! You didn't tell me about that!"
Kid:"But MOOOooOOOooOOM!!!"
Parent:"We'll be picking something else out."
Me:"Glad I could help Ma'am."

Ruining kids days makes mine day better.

[Master Miek]

I was just going to say a couple things Pete said. It's a simple questions, and I think most sane people would have the same answer: Who do you want regulating what games can be sold to minors? Would you prefer the ESRB, a non-profit organization devoted to determining what games are appropriate for children under 17, and game stores going by the book on what the organization suggests? Or, would you prefer the government, something that has a habit of ruining almost everything they touch? The government regulating video games sounds like a terrible idea. It's just the government once again trying to extend their power to unnecessary places. We currently have a system that works fine, but if the government takes control of that system, what's going to stop it from increasing its control? Who knows, maybe the government will start imposing censorships in certain games. Maybe the government will seize ailing video game companies, ensuring those companies to go bankrupt.

It's a common fact about the history of our country: When the government gets involved with something that is working just fine, bad things almost always happen.

[RantzOn]

Maybe I just don't want a 12 year old screaming over X-box live about how he got killed in Halo 3

[Ragaar31]

That has nothing to do with the law. And it would happen anyway.

[Neo Angelo]

Something I find to be really ironic about the law is that Arnold Schwarzenegger is pushing so hard for it yet this is the same guy who stared in The Terminator and while trying to kill Sarah Conner killed 2 innocent people and shot up a whole police station. As well as Predator where all of his soldiers were skinned and there skulls removed. Both of which have been turned into games. But this could just be me

[Ragaar31]

That's a movie.

[Neo Angelo]

I'm aware of that the point was that both of those franchises have been made into games. Anywho back to the subject at hand. I dont know if anyone read the comments in the link like I suggested but someone left a comment stating that there is significant evidence that this a link between agression and bad behavior in young children and violent games. I for one say that is complete and utter bullcrap and any study that says that was clearly a bias study.If that is truely the case then they should meet my 10 years old cousin he plays things like Gears of War and Assassin's Creed and he is probably the most well behaved and well mannered 10 year old you will ever meet.

[Master Miek]

Every child is different, though. Kids can get violent tendencies as an indirect result from any media outlet, from games to movies to music....anything. If there's a system that needs some form of change, it's the music rating system. That tiny Parental Advisory note is the weakest thing...it doesn't stop any child from picking up say a hardcore rap CD filled with profanity and disturbing actions. Also, kids can download the same music with ease..

[Ragaar31]

Your 10 year old cousin shouldn't play those games.

Also people on the Internet say dumb things. Newsflash.

[Neo Angelo]

Thats very true Mike but you can prevent such violent tendencies from occuring to a certain extant. My cousin is a great example his parents my aunt and uncle were not lazy in raising him. They taught him right from wrong about everything including, violence hurting people was a bad thing to do thats what they taught him, and he knows this. Believe it or not he actually plays games mostly for story and at 10 years old he can hold a good conversation about storylines.

[Jeiku]

YA SEE THE KIDS, THEY LISTEN TO THE RAP WHICH GIVES THEM THE BRAIN DAMAGE...WITH THEIR HIPPIN AND THE HOPPIN AND THE BIPPIN AND THE BOPPIN SO THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE JAZZ IS ALL ABOUT
But seriously as Mike said each child is different. They were raised in different environments and they were all born with different psyches. I'm pretty sure a normal well adjusted child could potentially handle the fact that it is just a video game and not real life. That being said I don't see the harm in keeping kids from playing mature video games or preventing them from experiencing mature media simply because it can influence them negatively and I mean..it's a morality thing as well, I dunno if it's right for a kid to be exposed to that kind of stuff even though it is pretty inevitable that it may and usually does happen eventually.

TL;DR: The rating systems are there for a reason

[Master Miek]

Yeah, the jist of what I was saying is that the ESRB is good, no change is needed.

Oh, and the government can be awful.

[Jeiku]

the government totally sucks ya mothafucka
Damn I'm gettin my lyrics on in this thread.
Government, while somewhat necessary can be pretty dickish if they meddle too much..which they sometimes do..a lotish

[Neo Angelo]

Ok so the next issue about the law is the government stepping in. I think we all agree that such a thing would be terrible for the gaming industry. For those of that went to Lely in 07 it would be like when the school board stepped in and issued thier own final exams.