New York may confiscate unrated games
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Mar 13th 2007 at 9:10PM }
New York has a few game laws attempting to pass which are retail-oriented at the moment. However, the latest bill by Rep. Brian Kolb goes a little above and beyond the others. Bill A02787 seeks to provide the courts with the power to confiscate any games that do not have a rating label. When does any game going through standard retail channels not have an ESRB rating?The bill also encompasses any game that "glamorizes the commission of a violent crime, suicide, sodomy, rape, incest, bestiality, or sado-masochism ... [and] directs sellers of such video games to restrict access to such recordings by storage in a sealed and locked container behind a service counter or in an area inaccessible by the general public." It's another games as porn law. Not to mention we can't think of the last game "glamorizing" suicide, sodomy, rape, incest and/or bestiality.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Angus @ Mar 13th 2007 9:14PM
Custard's revenge.
sheppy @ Mar 13th 2007 9:17PM
The whole "make games available for review by parents" just screams "free rentals" in my mind. Ah government, we take one step forward, three steps back.
Splinter @ Mar 13th 2007 9:21PM
Anyone know where i can pick up a game containing these elements? These are all the things im interested in, and ive been looking for a game containing them for a while.
FYI, its not bestiality, its inner species erotica. People these days.
Hsensei @ Mar 13th 2007 9:28PM
"glamorizes the commission of a violent crime, suicide, sodomy, rape, incest, bestiality, or sado-masochism"
Holy crap where can I get that game... well besides Japan.
TDR25 @ Mar 13th 2007 9:29PM
I don't see how the movie and music industry are able to get away with murder, sex, drug use, and possible rape in some circles, but if it's in a game it's the worst offense? Whoever makes these laws must not know that most gamers are adults from 18-34 and even older.
Fang @ Mar 13th 2007 9:31PM
In Persona 3, don't you have to shoot yourself in the head with a gun to summon your personas?
Meophist @ Mar 13th 2007 9:42PM
As for something that's not ancient and actually released in North America, there was Kana – Little Sister, which deals with incest. Of course "none of the game's endings specifically condones or condemns incest. Those judgments are left to the player." Even so, incest seemed to be a pretty minor theme in the overall game.
Mrfreezie @ Mar 13th 2007 9:46PM
What about games you create, like for the PC?
Abscissa @ Mar 13th 2007 9:51PM
See, it's shit like this that makes me despise politicians.
Steve @ Mar 14th 2007 12:48PM
I think that this is the first time in the media that I've ever encountered this situation. When a nationally-obscure politician proposes a ridiculous piece of legislation the politician's party affiliation is hidden if they are a democRat in an attempt to shield that party from unfavorable news. If they are a Republican then their party affiliation is mentioned in the first couple sentences or the article's title. I think budding young journalists learn this technique in their mandantory Bias 101 course in college.
I honestly can't remember the last time I read an article about a Republican politician proposing a stupid piece of legislation without their party affiliation being mentioned. This is truly a bizarre situation to me.
I'm quick to bring this up on Joystiq when they are guilty of this little trick, so it's only fair for me to tuck my tail between my legs when they break this rigid rule of journalism.
Alan @ Mar 13th 2007 9:56PM
@ #9
I've got to agree with you. Don't politicans have more pressing issues to deal with? You know, real rape, drugs, and murder.
Also, what's with including sodomy in the list of things? They might as well just say 'We hate gays!'
sheppy @ Mar 13th 2007 10:01PM
It's just another step attempt at protecting children from games the parents shouldn't have bought for them anyway.
Travioli @ Mar 13th 2007 10:02PM
Anybody else getting a whiff of fascism? First they will "confiscate" games, then they will ban games, and then they will burn games. Just like the Nazis did to books. One can just hope history won't repeate itself on that subject.
Ignatius @ Mar 13th 2007 10:14PM
Alan, I hate to burst your bubble, but sodomy's rough definition is just having sex in any other way that doesn't promote procreation. (even though God deemed it necessary to kill fetuses... huh)
Which means, oral, anal, all types of sexual stimulation that involves two people that does not or is not intended for or promote procreation is considered sodomy.
eight @ Mar 13th 2007 10:15PM
Attention politicians. Video games are speach. Putting this kind of restriction on speach is unconstitutional.
By saying you are going to confiscate video games that are unrated that is like saying you are going to take away films that are unrated too. So does that mean you are going to take away Independent films that arn't rated by the MPAA.
The whole idea behind this law is preposterous and it clearly violates the first amendment.
carg0 @ Mar 13th 2007 10:18PM
it's nice to see that with all these other minor problems chipping away at our country's foundation (immigration, social security, deficit, etc), our politicians still manage to focus on the real issues...
I swear, Kolb and every other politician like him should be dragged out into the f*cking street in the middle of night and shot...
Ben @ Mar 13th 2007 10:24PM
I think that they should outlaw all military-based games, as they glamorize activities that directly lead to government-sanctioned real world death and destruction. How many people have died as a result of random acts of violence since March of 2003, as compared to the number that have died as a result of the Iraq war? How many high school dropouts have enlisted as a result of playing "America's Army" at the county fair? I think games glamorizing military action have a far greater risk of leading to actual damage, and the kind of damage that lives on for decades. As for the actual law being discussed here, a judge will first amendment the shit out of it and it will be a non-issue. But nice try New York politician land. Maybe try passing that law in an idiotic red state rather than a forward-thinking blue one.
Hyperfludd @ Mar 13th 2007 10:37PM
WTF NO.
scepia @ Mar 13th 2007 10:41PM
"Don't politicans have more pressing issues to deal with?"
Some people are so narrow-minded. Nintendo is not working exclusively on the Popularity Channel, Microsoft is not working exclusively on Zephyr, and politicians are not working exclusively on game legislation.
Eric @ Mar 14th 2007 3:08PM
This could cause a problem... unless they explicitly mention a date, this could ban games published before ratings were normal- all but one NES game, a lot of Super NES games, Master System, various Atari systems, etc.
Brian @ Mar 13th 2007 10:53PM
It's nice to see how politicians are really taking a stand against those evil video game makers looking to warp the minds of the american youth, I mean with all the terrorists out there looking to kill americans, suicidal maniacs & real murderers in our own country, rapists, drug dealers and third world countries looking to aquire nukes and all to wipe north america off the map its hard to imagine a world with violent video games.
Wolfrider @ Mar 13th 2007 10:59PM
Sodomy? What century is this? So any game featuring homosexual relationships is suddenly considered "pornographic"? "Come children, want to see what the dark ages looks like?"
It surprises me that the wording of the bill hasn't stopped the thing dead in its tracks. In Canada, including "sodomy" would have the thing immediately struck down by the supreme court as it would be in violation of the charter of rights. (Assuming it would even get passed parliament - not likely)
Oh America... no offense to any Americans here but as a foreigner you're political sphere is like watching monkeys fling poo at each other. Fun to watch, assuming there's no splash back.
DrkMatter @ Mar 13th 2007 11:14PM
@20
The bill isn't law yet. It's just in the process of becoming one. If it does become one, you can be sure it'll get stopped by courts.
Same thing for Canada. Laws do not get sent to courts unless they are actually passed.
Leggo @ Mar 13th 2007 11:13PM
Every Extend Extra glamourizes suicide.
Demaar @ Mar 13th 2007 11:21PM
@6
Yeah, you do. The trailer features the characters shooting themselves in the heads, even. Looks like Atlus is screwed in crazy old New York!
Grant @ Mar 13th 2007 11:42PM
uhm, ok.
don't sell games with extreme violence or sex to underage kids, and keep them behind the counter.
these games don't exist unless they are PC games.
and those are sold online more often anyways or don't have a retail hard copy.
this is pretty much pointless and effects like 5 games.
the real question is:
does the house or reps REALLY have nothing better to do?
Chris Lawton @ Mar 14th 2007 12:37AM
Wait, so what about games that came out before the rating system was introduced. Will the government be able to confiscate A store's entire used NES line?
Cuja @ Mar 14th 2007 12:45AM
Next they do this with R rated movies.
John Lynch @ Mar 14th 2007 6:25PM
Fine with me. Terrorists already confiscated their towers.
Jessica @ Mar 14th 2007 8:47AM
You hear child welfare angencies crying about lack of funds and staffing every time they let some ACTUAL kids ACTUALLY die. Why aren't these political goons working to fix that ACTUAL problem instead of fucking around with a non-issue that they know nothing about and can't effect any change in anyway?
Laura Palmer @ Mar 14th 2007 11:25AM
THAT'S why Barbie's Horse Adventure was behind the counter...
Nekura @ Mar 14th 2007 11:52AM
They won't remove R-rated movies. The MPAA has *way* more money to give politicians than the ESRB.
Do any Star Wars original trilogy games apply? I know Luke didn't know Leia was his sister yet, but that kiss on Hoth *totally* counts...
RawSteelUT @ Mar 14th 2007 12:40PM
Another vote grabber law that'll get tossed in the courts. Though New York taxes its' residents enough to pay for the eventual payment of ESA royalty fees...
Zach @ Mar 14th 2007 2:45PM
Look, what I do with my Nintendogs in the privacy of my own home is my business!
Daniel @ Mar 14th 2007 9:42PM
... As for glamorizing suicide, Mortal Kombat did it with the Hara Kiri.
reppy @ Mar 15th 2007 12:35AM
I think it was Nintendamus that said, "He who starts by burning games will end by burning men."
kip @ Mar 15th 2007 9:14AM
Two things:
"FYI, its not bestiality, its inner species erotica. People these days."
That is inter-species erotica, dumbass. *inner* species would mean having sex with your own species.
"How many high school dropouts have enlisted as a result of playing "America's Army" at the county fair?"
I could be wrong, but isn't a high school diploma (or at least a GED) a requirement for enlistment? I think they only recently started allowing people with GED's to enlist...
B1gC72 @ Mar 15th 2007 11:03PM
ok. #37 kip, who gives a shit? you understood what he was talking about didn't you? then why the hell does it matter? i'm sure there are plenty of english/grammar blogs out there for you since you care so much about it.
anyway, i wonder if demos and such with a RP (Rating Pending) sticker on them will cause magazines and free give-aways to stop, since Rating Pending technically means it hasn't been rated yet.
and isn't this the parents job anyway? to keep track of what their kids are playing? it's crazy these days. i remember my younger cousin walked in on me playing GTA: San Andreas one time. he was watching from behind me, never knew he was in the room until the last minute. i promptly shut it off after that. he went and told his mom he wanted it. she went right out and bought it for him without asking any questions. he was 8 at the time. then she got mad at me for letting him see it. i feel like if she doesn't want him to play games like that then she should read the rating on it. she does the same thing with movies too. all they need is an ESRB awareness campaign on TV or something and it will help immensely.
bgdc @ Mar 21st 2007 1:27PM
Splinter wrote: "FYI, its not bestiality, its inner species erotica. People these days."
Actually, it's interspecies erotica. Like interstate trafficking relates to transporting goods between two states, interspecies erotica is about in flagrante between two different species.
anon @ May 30th 2007 11:17AM
I know it's an older game, but under this wording, sounds to me like dungeon keeper would be treated as contraband with tighter store security than handguns.