A few months ago, Illinois passed a bill penalizing retailers for selling adult games to minors. It is also happening in California, with bill AB 1179. This bill, approved by the California State Assembly in a 65-7 vote, requires that all violent games be required to have a large "18" sticker placed on its cover, as well as fine the retailers $1,000 for selling such games to minors (for a description to what "violent" video games the bill refers, check out Next Generation's explanation here).
While the law seems understandable, naturally the video game industry, including the ESA and IEMA, are in an uproar over the bill, more or less calling it unnecessary and a violation of first amendment rights. Expect to see a lawsuit filed in the coming months, assuming Governor Schwarzenegger signs it in the next 30 days.
New California violent games bill awaits Ah-nuld's signature
by Ross Miller 
on Sep 12th 2005 4:45PM
15
Reader Comments (15)
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
ha ha ha don't care!! I'm 18 anyway, let the little rat bastards suffer!!
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
Why is the ESA and IEMA whining about this? Kids should not be playing GTA type games in the first place (unless there parent is right there playing with them).
No one cries when a 7 year old can't go watch an R rated movie... Well, maybe the 7 year old will cry.
No one cries when a 7 year old can't go watch an R rated movie... Well, maybe the 7 year old will cry.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
I hope this gets passed and then other states pick it up. It's sad that its come to this, but at least this takes the heat off the developers. And puts it squarely on the Re-sellers and Parents.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
Why didn't they just go with ESRB rating on this? Instead, you get this ill-defined garbage that's going to result in selective enforcement, different ratings from store to store, and all in all a gigantic mess.
There's a perfectly good rating system out there, but instead, let's let an egotistical congressman with no understanding of gaming make up his own half-baked attempt. This is pandering at its worst.
There's a perfectly good rating system out there, but instead, let's let an egotistical congressman with no understanding of gaming make up his own half-baked attempt. This is pandering at its worst.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
M is 17 and up, no? And they want to put a giant 18 sticker on it?
They had better not put it directly on the box.
They had better not put it directly on the box.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
Jeez, if the government is so worried that kids will play M rated games, then tell the partents to start giving a fuck. I walked into Kmart one day to check out games, and a 5 year old boy was trying to buy GTA: VC. His Grandma was stupid enough to just say yes without consideration. The sales person became a bit pale. Shoot, most parents (besides my own) don't give two damns about the ratings. Not that it actually messes anyone up that isn't a young child. Then they go and complain their child will be a filthy murderer because they weren't paying attention to what their child was playing.
Its all some dumb BS. The governer is just trying to please people after being booed a lot. Thats the government for ya'.
Thats my two cents. For now.
Its all some dumb BS. The governer is just trying to please people after being booed a lot. Thats the government for ya'.
Thats my two cents. For now.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
Gays getting married = BAD
Kids playing violent videogames = BAD
Is it just me or does california have it's head far up it's ass.
My opinion on the violent videogame issue is this: It's just like a sport, and that's all it is for sport, competition or simple fun. Nobody has no real intentions of killing anyone because it is, get this, a virtual reality. Because it is NOT REAL.
If you can't figure that out.. then you're just an uptight liberal douchebag who bitches about some of the most pointless freakin things. This being one of them.
I consider myself to be a modest liberal and this is still pretty freakin stupid. Well.. if it's just for fun and nobody gets hurt.. then why not, eh?
>:/
Kids playing violent videogames = BAD
Is it just me or does california have it's head far up it's ass.
My opinion on the violent videogame issue is this: It's just like a sport, and that's all it is for sport, competition or simple fun. Nobody has no real intentions of killing anyone because it is, get this, a virtual reality. Because it is NOT REAL.
If you can't figure that out.. then you're just an uptight liberal douchebag who bitches about some of the most pointless freakin things. This being one of them.
I consider myself to be a modest liberal and this is still pretty freakin stupid. Well.. if it's just for fun and nobody gets hurt.. then why not, eh?
>:/
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
At least it will get the stupid senators to back off the game industry.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
"Why is the ESA and IEMA whining about this? Kids should not be playing GTA type games in the first place (unless there parent is right there playing with them).
No one cries when a 7 year old can't go watch an R rated movie... Well, maybe the 7 year old will cry."
Legally, a 7-year-old can go watch an R-rated movie. The only thing preventing them is movie industry standards. Personally, I do think this is a minor violation of the first amendment, but I really don't see the problem of letting this one pass. The parents can still buy the games for their kids. It seems to me that this just gives parents more control over what their kids play, and since this is what the industry is supposedly trying to do, I don't see the issue.
No one cries when a 7 year old can't go watch an R rated movie... Well, maybe the 7 year old will cry."
Legally, a 7-year-old can go watch an R-rated movie. The only thing preventing them is movie industry standards. Personally, I do think this is a minor violation of the first amendment, but I really don't see the problem of letting this one pass. The parents can still buy the games for their kids. It seems to me that this just gives parents more control over what their kids play, and since this is what the industry is supposedly trying to do, I don't see the issue.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
"M is 17 and up, no? And they want to put a giant 18 sticker on it?"
This won't apply to all M games. Also, it will potentially apply to some non-M games. It's really up to whoever the retailer decides to put on stickering duty.
This won't apply to all M games. Also, it will potentially apply to some non-M games. It's really up to whoever the retailer decides to put on stickering duty.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
Damn.
They should only use it on GTA.
There are plenty of M rated games that are totally fine to play, Metal Gear Solid just came into my mind. (And the ninja chopping up people scene just came into my mind. Nevermind.)
If the bill is passed, then there are going to be game dealers on every corner. Dont screw this up Arnoldo.
They should only use it on GTA.
There are plenty of M rated games that are totally fine to play, Metal Gear Solid just came into my mind. (And the ninja chopping up people scene just came into my mind. Nevermind.)
If the bill is passed, then there are going to be game dealers on every corner. Dont screw this up Arnoldo.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
"Video Gamer Rips California Assemblymember Leland Yee"
http://www.d3dgames.com/yee.html
http://www.d3dgames.com/yee.html
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
Blah..
Seems like GTA is getting more press than it needs to. I don't think Rockstar should have been targetted as "the video game evil" since they didn't create the Hot Coffee mod to begin with.
As far as the bill goes....who cares? Kids shouldn't be playing these games in the first place. Maybe parents will actually start paying attention to what their kids are doing soon.
Seems like GTA is getting more press than it needs to. I don't think Rockstar should have been targetted as "the video game evil" since they didn't create the Hot Coffee mod to begin with.
As far as the bill goes....who cares? Kids shouldn't be playing these games in the first place. Maybe parents will actually start paying attention to what their kids are doing soon.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
Seems like most "video gamers" are too fucking absorbed in their intrest to realise any possible fault.
Everytime theres an article that lends to the sligtest of bad connotations towards video games, theres a huge fucking uproar from the peanut gallery.
Everytime theres an article that lends to the sligtest of bad connotations towards video games, theres a huge fucking uproar from the peanut gallery.
Posted: Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM (Unverified) said
"As far as the bill goes....who cares? Kids shouldn't be playing these games in the first place. Maybe parents will actually start paying attention to what their kids are doing soon."
It should be left to the parents to decide what games the kids should be playing. It's my personal belief that if the parents would not have any moral implications with playing the game themselves, they shouldn't have any proble m with their kid playing it, but that's just me.
It should be left to the parents to decide what games the kids should be playing. It's my personal belief that if the parents would not have any moral implications with playing the game themselves, they shouldn't have any proble m with their kid playing it, but that's just me.
Featured Stories
Stiq Figures, May 7 - 13: I'mma can't use any of my dominoes edition
Posted on May 20th 2012 11:30PM