Judge throws out Safe Games Illinois Act

by Dan Choi { Dec 2nd 2005 at 10:30PM }

Illinois lawmakers may have made use of lists of games not suitable for children like the one you see here, but the lists weren't enough to stop a federal judge from striking down a law that would have banned the sale of violent and sexually explicit games to minors.

The Safe Games Illinois Act was set to go into effect in less than a month, but this ruling means the act won't be seeing any action anytime soon. A rather large Chicago newspaper described the law's flimsy legal foundations back in March, quoting a local lawmaker who hoped the Supreme Court would bail the state out of passing the unconstitutional measure. [See this blogger's old post here for more.]

If elected officials from both parties continue to pass bills they know are "patently unconstitutional," can we really expect politicians to do the right thing without serious political pressure from their constituents (rather than simply relying on the lobbying organizations set up by game publishers)? Hopefully the governor will have more to say on the matter, considering the judge's written opinion which follows: "In this country, the state lacks the authority to ban protected speech on the ground that it affects the listener's or observer's thoughts and attitudes."

For another take on this news, check out BloggingBaby's radical suggestion for parents.

[Thanks, John and Mack]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

JRM @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Good. I'm glad. At least there is a positive precedent for the videogame industry.

Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Doom 3 is not the most explicit game. San Andreas is easily more mind destroying than D3.

John Q. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Odd that they'd have Outbreak rather than RE4. Outbreak's nearly bloodless.

Dan Choi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Well, John, seeing as RE4 didn't come out for the 'Cube until the beginning of this year, there wasn't much chance for it to be considered in that list from 2004. (Check the bottom of the pic next to the original post for the exact date.)

Mike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Its funny how resident evil 4 isn't on that list =|

Taylor @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

how in the world do they figure halo 2 is one of the most violent games?!?!

Robert @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Do demons and aliens really count? To me thats nothing. I'm bothered by games where actual people like cops are the target or when women are degraded (GTA). I think all of the GTA games should make up the entire list. Half life, halo, and Doom, come on, if i saw a demon or alien i'm not gonna be nice to it, I'm throwing something at it. Ahh, I think GTA ruined mature gaming for everyone, do adults even play GTA or is it just kids.

Robert @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

How are kids even getting the violent games, do the parents not bother to look at the game. All the way up to like high school the most violent game i had was sim city (if i go broke the city gets it).

the_game_master @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

This is all politicians pap playing the spin game and wanting put video games, tv, music to blame, and it always ends up backfiring. When will they learn. Mortal Kombat has been on the rader of the anti-violence camp for more than a decade now, and have survived and since gain such achievement its garnered an award from the academy of Interactive Arts & Science.

Rare Hare @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

>>"how in the world do they figure halo 2 is one of the most violent games?!?!"<<

i would tend to agree with you, but considereing the entire game is made up of nothing but shooting people, and that it is one of the most popular games in the past year, it has to be included.

Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Here's a pretty good TechCentral Station editorial on Hillary Clinton, NIMF, and violent video games.

http://techcentralstation.com/120205B.html

Rob X @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

"how in the world do they figure halo 2 is one of the most violent games?!?!"

In particularly vicious multiplayer matches, you can leave the walls covered in blood. It's no Soldier of Fortune, but to those with sensitive senses, it may be shocking.

Jay @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Exactly Scott. Doom 3 worse that GTA:SA? No bloody way. SA has sex, drugs and violence, I haven't played much of it but it probably has swearing too. What has Doom 3 got? Violence. against zombies. there are no 'innocent killings' in D3, except maybe those scientist and guard people just after you get your gun.

mrjiggles @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

fuck illinois lawmakers and their fucking stupid laws if a video game is too violent for you, DONT PLAY IT, its not the video games that make people do stupid things, its the people that do stupid things. say there was some kid who grew up in a home with abusive/neglectful parents and he decided to be a rebel and do something stupid like bring a gun to school and kill someone. him playing halo 2 or san andreas during this time is NOT gonna have an effect on whether or not hes gonna flip a shit and do it. its the same concept as illegalizing marijuana [or any drug at that, im just using mary-j as an example cuz its th least hardmful ;)]...why illegalize it when you know that the people who REALLY want it will still find a way to get their hands on it? the laws are just promoting another underground market...fucking retarded lawmakers should get dragged out in the street and shot for their stupidity...(and that was just a figure of speech, not my video-game-crazed mind talking..)

ii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

Halo 2 and Half Life 2? I really considered those games pretty tame. They didn't try to market the violent-ness of the game or make is extra gory or anything. I even consider those games more family-oriented M-rated game.

Rare Hare @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM

ii:

Half-Life 2 and Halo 2 both revolve ENTIRELY around shooting things and killing things.

even RE4 has less shooting than those games.. it occasionally takes a puzzle break.

i'm not defending the bill or anything.. just saying there's no reason to defend those games any more than any other games.