Federal legislation proposes ID checks for video game retailers

I'm no expert, but I would think something like this can only be done by the state government, as dictated by the tenth amendment.

This is a great step forwards. When buying lighters in Canada I need to show ID. If something is intended for a mature consumer then there should be no reason NOT to require proof of age. Maybe movies and books will follow suit!

Clearly, all other issues facing America have been solved and we can waste tax dollars on bill that do not pass simple Constitutional 1st amendment tests.

Also, one of these nut jobs is a Mormon. Keep your religion in your temple, jerk. Lower my taxes, instead.

i wish they would just do it already so we can go back to putting the blame on crime where it belongs: the individual commiting the crime

"check IDs before selling M- or AO-rated games to minors."

Umm, so we can sell them to minors so long as we check their IDs? Way to protect the children!

What pisses me off is when people all over the media say things like, "scores are often earned by players who commit 'virtual' murder, assault and rape." and get away with it. Can't someone sue or something? These statements are as untrue as "it rains piss n vinegar" but no one says anything. Then every parent, politician and newscaster parrots the quote!

Eh, you get ID'ed for anything else that shouldn't be bought by a minor. I still get ID'ed at the theatre for R rated movies and I'm 26. I get ID'ed for beer and liquor, and if the internet didn't exist, I'd get ID'ed for porn. Most retailer's already ID for mature games when they really don't have to, so why not pass the bill.

Wait, so they just wanna card people when buying M-rated games? What's the big deal, I still get carded when buying liquor sometimes.

I remember trying to rent Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver from a Blockbuster or something and they wouldn't let me cause I was under 17 or whatever at the time :( So then I went out and bought it instead and no one seemed to care there. Didn't make much sense.

I don't think it's as much of an issue in the UK, where many (soon all) games are rated using the BBFC's film rating system, which everyone understands and is a legal (as opposed to advisory) age rating.

US ratings seem a little bit stupid occasionally, as Mass Effect and GTA4 are both rated M for Mature in the US, whereas over here Mass Effect is a 12 (for moderate violence and a mild sex scene) and GTA4 is an 18 (for very strong language, violence, drugs etc etc etc). If Mass Effect is typical of an M rating (and Faux News were bitching it should be AO!), then how the hell do you rate GTA on that scale?

I'm not a US resident, so it doesn't affect me, but I know that retailers in the UK will ID people who look underage. I'm all for that, they're rated that way for a reason. Yes, some responsibility lies with the parents, but I think keeping tabs on this kind of thing at retail is probably slightly easier, and probably more effective.

The rape comment is totally off the mark though, which is where this whole thing comes apart. If politicians would take the time to sit down, review these games and come up with an accurate assumption as how best to deal with these types of issues, then I am sure they would not only get other politicians on their side, but probably us too. Possibly...

READ MY COMMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I am sad and need attention)

Honestly, I don't really consider this "censorship" as some people are claiming above. Nothing is actually being censored, it is just some rules on sales. The content of the games are staying intact. In fact, this could help content by reducing controversy with certain games.

People above are saying it should be up to parents. I agree. That is why I think this sort of law gives parents power. For example, say I am 15 and I have $60 from my shitty paper route. Even if my parents say no to GTA 4, I could still go out and buy it anyway. Now with this law, I (the 15 year old version of me) am powerless. If my parents agree to letting me play the game, then they can buy it for me. It brings the power to the parents and lets them decide.

I 100% support this bill. The less obnoxious 13 year olds I have to deal with on my COD's/GTA's/etc on live the better.

As someone who's over 21:

Ha-ha! I can do everything but collect Social Security!

I think the only people here who are really upset about this are the teenagers, who honestly shouldn't be playing adult and mature rated games without there parents permission anyways. I am a parent of three, I've been a game player since I was four or five years old and I support this bill whole heartedly. Now if I want my kids to play a mature or adult rated game, thats my buisness , in my home. When the government tries to step in and tell me what I can and can't do in my home , thats when I get outraged.

I think you upset kiddos just need to chill out, remember you only age in one direction, and eventually you too will be 18 years old. Then you can play the "I'm 18, you babies shouldn't be playing Gears Of War 2 anyways" card , just like old me. Don't drink and drive kids!

I agree with some of this.
Fines to make shure the rating system is up for viewing in a retail store, and a fine if they sell M-rated games too minors are both good.
Who else is sick of 13 year old kids on XboxLive anyway?

I don't see the big deal over this...did kids not get ID'd for games in the past? In Britain the ratings a dead-set on certain ages and if you're of age you'd be packing ID anyway.

FUCK=/=FUCK
When fuck 1 is a book and fuck 2 is a game.

Plus LAWL CONSTITUTIONNNNN,win or fail,its there and no one dares change it.

I am sort of for this bill, actually.

However.

There are no laws for Music CDs, Movies/DVDs for the same thing. I think they ought to wrap them all up into one big blob. All mature entertainment, period.

Singling out games and not the music and movie industry is silly.

Why would I want this? Because right now games are being stifled. Once this passes, and retailers are required to ID, and once their game passes that mark of "Mature/Adult Only", they will the freedom to go balls out full on adult content. GTA can have its sex scenes added back in, Manhunt 2 can have all its gore and more.

In fact, I think something like this will free developers from becoming scape goats for the next school shoot out. It'll be up to the parents 100%. Take 2 can make a GTA more violent than anything they've ever made before, and no one will be able to point a finger at them.

Go for it.

The problem with this bill is that basically the government is sponsering the ESRB, which isn't a government organization. Does this mean that all games will now be legally required to be rated by the ESRB? What if another company wants to compete with the ESRB, are they just out of luck? It's like the government requiring that all computers must be made by Dell.

And if the government wants to set up it's own rating system, then how many government employees will it take to run it and how much tax money is required to fund it?

I don't mind people being carded to buy games. I mind my tax dollars being used for something that I consider unimportant. That's the problem.