The next step in Senators Hillary Clinton, Joe Lieberman and Evan
Bayh's campaign to introduce video game legislation has
been accomplished, with the "Family Entertainment Protection Act" (FEPA) being formally filed just in time for the
holiday season. It seems that the Senators have shifted focus wholly on to enforcing video game
ratings, with the aim being to ensure that minors cannot
buy games with "graphic, violent and pornographic content".
Given that state-level bills in Michigan and Illinois have been ruled unconstitutional, or blocked in court, people
are sceptical on how far the FEPA will actually progress and even on how effective it will be if it does become law.
GamePolitics readers point out, quite deservedly, that many video game stores are only reachable by car,
meaning that any child shopping will be accompanied by an adult who can buy the game for them.
Having seen many cases of children simply turning to their parents and asking for a 15+ rated game—in front of the
store clerk—and the parents buying it for them, we're not sure this legislation will change anything, apart from giving
other video game campaigners fuel for their parallel
campaigns.
[Thanks, bandersnatch]
Engadget
TUAW