ESA, VSDA file suit against California violent games law

"Does it really violate free speech, and would it really be so bad if it wen to effect this January?"

"went" is spelled wen.....but i hope the law goes away cause t is complete crap.

Im just glad Im canadian and hopefully won't have to worry about violent game bans.

But its kinda ironic seeing Arnold sign the bill when he himself has starred in violent videogames like Terminator.

I do agree with the lawsuit and hope it comes through before January.

Im only 14, imagine not being able to play half of the games out there because they have violence in them for another 4 years till ur 18. Thats a whole generation lost.

It's not acceptable because the ruling disregards the ESRB itself while the MPAA can keep on being irresponsible. We have ratings on the cover of a box, on the back with an explanation with the URL to the ESRB's site, on the manual, on the CD/DVD and always as big as the company's own logo.

Movies use one letter hidden on the back of the box behind a "Buy Now!" sticker.

Exactly, the ratings are very clear, I dont see why they should be pressured furthure.

10 Years ago exactly in 1995 this whole war began. Then there was the ESRB which was created.

ESRB is fine, they do their job well and it is very clear. Treat the Mature rating symbol as if it were the 'R' rated symbol. It also states exactly what is inside the game for example "Comic mischief".

I'd be super pissed if I were 13 or 14 again and had to wait 4 years before playing them. Infact, I wouldn't wait that long. I'd find a way to bypass the system or possibly be bored as hell because most of the good games are rated Teen and over.

If your kid has commited a crime because it was done in a video game, or has done something what you would concider offensive then it is your problem for having a stupid undisciplined child. It is also your problem for not reading the ESRB rating f00!

Dear God it just never ends does it?

it doesn't really matter.

currently, most retailers won't sell M games to kids under 17

the law only bumps the year up by 1 year.

however, the law isn't really fair, considering the fact that you can find much more violent and graphic scenes in R movies, which you can buy if you are 17.

Until now, there was NO law that required retailers not to sell M rated games to minors. It is a voluntary policy for most retailers. The fact is, game makers know which side their bread is buttered on and minors buy a lot of their M rated games. Self-regulated game ratings are not effective because no one enforces them.

I think the law needs to expand to include movies and music as well. This blame the parents crap is no excuse. Try being a parent yourself. It isn't that easy, especially when stores will sell the stuff to minors. It's already hard enough keeping illegal stuff like cigarettes and alcohol away from minors.

I personally think the ESRB is simply a facade the gaming industry uses to remove responsibility from themselves when minors are found buying M rated games. It allows them market M rated games to minors and not get any blame when the kids buy it. The music industry has been doing this for years. That "Explicit Content" label doesn't mean shit. Just about every CD has one on it and minors have no trouble buying the music.