Illinois Video Game Ban

[FoolKiller]

Fox News
USA Today
MTV News
Choose your source.

Illinois lawmakers decided to make it illegal to sell violent and explicit video games to anyone under 18. Their definition of this does not use the ratings system but instead says anything where violence is being done to humans by the player, yet Halo falls under this category.

In the Fox News story the mother interviewed said that parents don't understand the ratings system and what it means. I refuse to believe that coinsidering the ratings boxes have the the definition at the top. For example: E says Everyone and M says Mature 17+. What is there to not understand?

This is a case of government control gone awry in my opinion. The movie and music industries do not face this legislation, so why the video game industry? This crusade against the video game industry has been going on since the 90s and I for one am tired of it.

I read an opinion article in Official Playstation Magazine once that I will quote here to get my point across. "My kid will never play a game I determine to be inappropriate, but if anyone tries to tell me what I can and cannot let him play I will be the first to stand up against them."

I'm curious how everyone else feels about this. I honestly feel that government is trying more and more to determine how we should parent our children, but in all honesty I think they should butt out. If a parent doesn't know what their children are playing or watching at home then they have failed in my opinion.

 

[TwinTurboJay]

I believe if videos / dvds / theatres have these regulations, it only makes sense that video games should be held up to the same stardards, period.

 

[FoolKiller]

I believe if videos / dvds / theatres have these regulations, it only makes sense that video games should be held up to the same stardards, period.

But they don't. Video stores and movie theaters have to participate only if they want the support of the Motion Picture Association of Amerca (MPAA). Without that some studios wouldn't allow the outlets access to their movies. There is no law regarding this. It is self regulated.

I used to work at a theater during college and the only penalty for selling tickets to an R-rated movie to a minor was getting written up by my manager. There were never any legal actions taken. In fact, our telephone showtime message even said, "We participate in the Motion Picture Association of America's rating system and so you must be over 17 or have a parent with you to purchase a ticket to an R-rated movie." Notice, nothing about the law.

Throughout history politicians have constantly threatened regulations but never went through with it. That is why the ESRB ratings system was cretaed, because Janet Reno threatened to regulate them if they didn't themselves.

In fact two previous laws like this were struck down in courts, but Illinois lawmakers claim to have worded this law specifically to avoid the court issues that have stopped other legislative attempts at regulation. I don't knwo what wording can be used to avoid first amendment issues but since the Bill of Righst, especially the first amendment, appears to be out the window on a lot of issues lately then I guess they will get away with this.

 

[xcsti]

Just another law designed to make up for bad/uninvolved parenting.

 

[Swift]

Just another law designed to make up for bad/uninvolved parenting.

Thank you!

If an 8 year old gets a hold of Grand theft Auto or even a FPS and the parents don't like it. It's THEIR FAULT! Get off your butt and so some parenting!

 

[VT]

This is a case of government control gone awry in my opinion. The movie and music industries do not face this legislation, so why the video game industry? This crusade against the video game industry has been going on since the 90s and I for one am tired of it.

No, like you (and a few others) went on to state later in your post, it is a case of ****ty parenting, not overzealous politicians.

Anyways, most places make you show ID to buy a M rated game. If the government is going on such a powertrip over children seeing violence done to humans, they might as well ban football and dodgeball as well.

 

[skicrush]

AND DEFINITELY that new Dodgeball video game!!!

 

[Solid Fro]

Check out Game Politics.

I don't think any politician gets videogames. Why should they?

 

[a6m5]

If this is going to be regulated like movies, I don't see anything wrong with it. That "bad parenting" comment is true to certain degree, but not all parents in the country are capable parents, and that's the truth. If kids need parents permission to buy restricted games until 16 or 18 or something like that, I don't see any problem with that.

 

[Giancarlo]

I think people just like blaming outside sources for how mucked up their kids are, rather than their own bad parenting.

 

[Ev0]

If anything, this is only going to create a loss in sales to the games industry and help to proliferate software piracy.

Any kid who can't buy a game and has a halfway decent knowledge of the internet could just simply download a banned game instead. No high speed connection? Then all he/she needs is a friend with a high speed connection and a CD or DVD burner.

 

[VT]

If anything, this is only going to create a loss in sales to the games industry and help to proliferate software piracy.

Any kid who can't buy a game and has a halfway decent knowledge of the internet could just simply download a banned game instead. No high speed connection? Then all he/she needs is a friend with a high speed connection and a CD or DVD burner.

Thats if they're parents won't go buy it for them. When GTA:SA dropped there was an eight year old kid at the front of the line with his mom.

 

[xcsti]

Thats if they're parents won't go buy it for them. When GTA:SA dropped there was an eight year old kid at the front of the line with his mom.

^^ Really good point^^ It is the parent's decision what their child should view or not, but when it comes down to it I think most of us are worried about restrictions on marque games to younger teens. It seems pretty obvious that little kid shouldn't have their mits on a game like sa so whats the point of banning it if the parent will only buy it for them....unless it was a gift for someone else.

 

[VT]

^^ Really good point^^ It is the parent's decision what their child should view or not, but when it comes down to it I think most of us are worried about restrictions on marque games to younger teens. It seems pretty obvious that little kid shouldn't have their mits on a game like sa so whats the point of banning it if the parent will only buy it for them....unless it was a gift for someone else.

That kid was pretty damn excited for him to be giving it away.

 

[kyle]

If that ban ever came to my area, it wouldn't affect me much because my parents don't ever look at the ratings on the box. This is one thing I am against because it's simply a matter of even less civil rights.

 

[a6m5]

It's very interesting input from the younger guys. How do you guys feel about the ratings on movies? Not an trick question or anything, just interested.

 

[VT]

I don't really qualify as a younger guy in this thread's sense, as the law has absolutely no impact on me at all, but honestly, the ratings for movies nowadays are a load of crap.

First of all, what the hell are 'thematic elements' and why should they garner a PG13 rating?

Second of all, what happened to not being able to say **** in a non R rated movie?

Those are only a few of the beefs I have with modern movie ratings, its late and my brain has fallen asleep for the weekend already.

 

[VIPFREAK]

AND DEFINITELY that new Dodgeball video game!!!

OMG!! OMG!! They have one!?!?! where!?

 

[FoolKiller]

If this is going to be regulated like movies, I don't see anything wrong with it. That "bad parenting" comment is true to certain degree, but not all parents in the country are capable parents, and that's the truth. If kids need parents permission to buy restricted games until 16 or 18 or something like that, I don't see any problem with that.

As I said before, movies and music are NOT regulated by law. They are self regulated, which is why the ESRB has the ratings system for games now. I would have no issues if the gaming industry said that they weren't going to sell certain rated games to minors, but I do have an issue when the government takes over control. It is one step away from charging parents who do choose to let their 16-year-old child play GTA with delinquency of a minor.

The other issue is that this ban does not just apply to M-rated games but can also apply to T-rated games such as any Tom Clancy or Medal of Honor game out there.

For me this all flashes back to when Silent Scope was going to launch on the PS2 with a lightgun and Joe Lieberman and Tipper Gore headed up a campaign against the gaming industry and called it a murder simulator. Ever since then I have not trusted government attempts to regulate the gaming industry. Somehow using the DS2 controller to aim a crosshair just isn't the same as using a scope.

 

[blargonator]

blah! so angry! im about to turn into the freakin hulk! but anyways, now that im done being crazy i can post. anywho, i was so angry when they essentially stopped light guns from being released. i know they came out with a silent scope light gun but it was quite a while later. i think its way too much and they have crossed the line, its usually store policy anyways so its not supposed to happen to begin with.
it is not like its going to do much, as most of us know there are huge networks of friends like for example my friend has a friend with a friend who has a brother who is 18 who will buy copies if he gets the money or something. my parents have always known what games i play, hell i even showed my mom soldier of fortune two. sorry if my post did not make much sense but it makes me so freakin' mad.
p.s. i found something on that game politics site hillarious,
"And this video machine (EDITOR'S NOTE: Machine? Grace betrays her lack of subject knowledge here) is being marketed and sold. "
i did not write that editors note, i simply quoted the site. damn children with their digital music boxes and hip complicated shoes.

 

[Famine]

In the UK it is illegal to sell a 12/15/18 rated film to persons under that age. It is also illegal to sell a 12/15/18 rated computer game to persons under that age.


I don't think it's entirely reasonable to expect parents to have an in-depth knowledge of computer games so that they know what is rated and what isn't - although again it is essentially legislating for ignorance - or what their kids are buying with money they've given them. In the UK a kid cannot go to a shop independantly and buy GTA:SA (well, they can - but mystery shoppers limit this a lot) any more than he can go to a pub and get a pint of Large. However, he can take his clueless parent with him and get them to buy it - unaware of the fact that by giving them a game rated for older people they are themselves committing a criminal offence. I've actually had a "quiet" word with a couple of people in game stores before when they're about to buy GTA:VC for their 11 year old son - and they've been genuinely shocked (one smacked her kid round the head - which I thought missed the point a little. You don't want to have your kid SEE violence and resolve this by smacking him in the head...).

Fact is, children are impressionable and can be influenced by what they see, more easily and more often than adults. This isn't always the case - some kids are mature enough not to be affected and some adults aren't - but while legislating for ignorance is merely morally tricky, legislating for downright stupidity is never acceptable.

Legally limiting the most-likely influenced from access to material most likely to influence them in a negative manner is, at a push, acceptable practice. Though it should be done through the auspices of those who actually KNOW about computer games (like ELSPA in Europe) rather than parliamentarians.

It's interesting that opposition on this issue has arisen over "violent" games (usually GTA and Manhunt are mentioned at this point), and not sweary ones. But, as Mrs. Broflovski says "Horrific deplorable violence is okay, so long as nobody says any naughty words."

 

[ledhed]

you can blow up all the people in that city ..but you better not show breast !


Most of these laws are for morons by morons. A parent can look at a package and see a rating . Its up to the parent then to do some checking if they have any interest in what the kids are up to . how hard is it to check IGN or whatever on the computer for a review of content ? Or even god forbid watch the kids play a game once in a while . I do not want or need the government telling me how to raise my children.

 

[Swift]

you can blow up all the people in that city ..but you better not show breast !


Most of these laws are for morons by morons. A parent can look at a package and see a rating . Its up to the parent then to do some checking if they have any interest in what the kids are up to . how hard is it to check IGN or whatever on the computer for a review of content ? Or even god forbid watch the kids play a game once in a while . I do not want or need the government telling me how to raise my children.

That's about it right there!

You wouldn't let your chidren stay overnight with there friends if you're not even remotely familiar with their parents. Nor would you knowing buy food that was bad for them. So why not check out what they are playing and see if it's up to your standards? Dang, Just ask the guy that's working at the store about the game. Chances are they'll give you a good enough description to know if it's sutable or not.

 

[smellysocks12]

It isn't such a bad law. I don't think 12 year olds should be playing San Andreas anyway. Besides that there are many other fun games without explicit violence. Just look at ratchet & clank or zelda.



Not all parents have time to watch their children's behaviour 24/7. Kids will do things secretly anyway and at a certain age they get rebellious, which makes it much harder. Also if there aren't any laws and some parents do let their kids play GTA, but others don't, it could cause trouble in the family for the latter type of parents. Their kids will feel like their parents are too strict and become rebellious, or be even more motivated to start playing violent games. With a law for everyone parents won't be put in a difficult position like that anymore.

 

[Solid Fro]

Look at what this idiot, Tem Leland Lee (Democrat - San Francisco), has to say about San Andreas:


"Once again, ESRB has failed our parents. This particular game has been known to include extremely heinous acts of violence, and now it has been uncovered that the game also includes explicit sexual scenes that are inappropriate for our children. I have urged the ESRB on numerous occasions to rate this game AO based on its blatantly graphic nature."

"Whether it is JFK: Reloaded, Manhunt, 25 to Life, or now Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the video game industry continues to demonstrate a sense of arrogance towards public opinion and a lack of responsibility in protecting our children."

http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=5271


Explicit sexual scenes? A game hack that allows you to have "sex" on screen with both characters fully clothed? Hilarious!

JFK: Reloaded is not even a real game, Manhunt was kept behind the counter, and 25 for Life is not even released yet. Great defense, Mr. Lee!

Parents have failed the ESRB, for not being able to comprehend a simple rating system.

 

[VT]

Parents have failed the ESRB, for not being able to comprehend a simple rating system.

Pretty much.

 

[standard235]

Ok, so here I sit in Central Illinois. I have the runs and I about **** myself stumbling upon this thread.

This makes me so mad. I hate people who do this. I have played GTA SA and it didn't change me. I know it is a videogame and not to do it.

I know right from wrong. I have rented M rated games before. My parents don't mind. As long as they aren't A+ games or pr0n, they generally don't care.

Kids are ruining it for everyone. Like the twins who thought about going for a casual driveby with their dad's shotgun.
Who's fault? Their dad. But it is better for the politicians and their rep, if they ban it right out instead of SOLVING the PROBLEM.

Banning won't do a damn thing, kids will just have to bugg their parents to come with them.

 

[Event]

Damn Rod Blagojevich... He's anti-fun. Oh well, I'm 18, so I don't give a rat's ass!

Ok, so here I sit in Central Illinois. I have the runs and I about **** myself stumbling upon this thread.

This makes me so mad. I hate people who do this. I have played GTA SA and it didn't change me. I know it is a videogame and not to do it.

I know right from wrong. I have rented M rated games before. My parents don't mind. As long as they aren't A+ games or pr0n, they generally don't care.

Kids are ruining it for everyone. Like the twins who thought about going for a casual driveby with their dad's shotgun.
Who's fault? Their dad. But it is better for the politicians and their rep, if they ban it right out instead of SOLVING the PROBLEM.

Banning won't do a damn thing, kids will just have to bugg their parents to come with them.

For a HEFTY handling charge, I'll supply you if need be. And I mean HEFTY!

 

[Famine]

This story was in the paper in the UK yesterday...

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy who stabbed his seven-month-old nephew whose screaming distracted him from his PlayStation game was yesterday cleared of attempted murder.

During the four-day trial, the court heard that the youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stabbed the baby in the stomach with a kitchen knife he had been using to fix one of his toys on the evening of December 15 last year.

The schoolboy then hid the broken knife, which had "fatty deposits" from the baby on its blade, under the television cabinet at their home in north-east Lincolnshire.

He was found not guilty of attempted murder after four hours of jury deliberations at Hull Crown Court yesterday.

The boy, who was 11 at the time of the incident, admitted it was the baby's screaming that made him stab his nephew and that he had felt "like a volcano, an erupting volcano".

He said he did not like the set-up at home since his nephew had come to stay as it was noisy, that he kept "dying" at a particular point on his PlayStation game, and that it all made him feel "a bit mad" and frustrated.

The court heard he had also been usurped from his position as "baby of the family" by his younger nephew.

The jury of seven men and five women heard that the boy was playing on the games console when his baby nephew started crying.

He paused the game and went into the kitchen and closed the door. He picked up a kitchen knife and used it as a screwdriver to try to fix a toy, a multi-legged creature which jiggled about, from a McDonald's Happy Meal.

The boy said he "got mad" when the baby started screaming, walked to the carry cot, pulled the blanket back and "without realising it" stabbed him in the stomach.

The jury heard he had also had a bad day at school where a group of eight boys were bullying him and kept telling him to shut up.

But the boy insisted that this did not make him want to take it out on the baby.

Asked why not, the boy said, "Because I loved him."

He said he knew the baby, whom he regarded as more of a brother than a nephew, was hurt as the knife went in.

He told police the baby's eyes "opened wide, like an owl" and he pulled the knife out at that point.

Giving evidence in court, he said he didn't know why he stabbed the baby, nor what he was thinking at the time.

The baby suffered life-threatening injuries, but made a good recovery after emergency surgery at the Diana, Princess of Wales hospital in Grimsby.

The court heard there was a background of a "great deal of strain" in the family.

The boy's mother was caring for his nephew because his sister, the victim's mother, was suffering from depression and had been sectioned under The Mental Health Act for her own safety.

The defendant's mother had gone to a friend's house about 10 minutes before the incident to pick up a set of keys for work and the boy had come and told her after he stabbed the baby at around 8.30pm.

She said the atmosphere at home was chaotic and noisy, and that she did not have time to talk to her own children as she was busy looking after the baby and working 40 hours a week as a home-help.

The trial was adjourned until today when the jury will continue its deliberations over the alternative charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and wounding.

Anyone want to guess the game?

Manhunt?
The Getaway: Black Monday?
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas?













The Incredibles.

 

[ledhed]

That game would make me want to kill something...myself .