New York Governor David Patterson has signed some of the most ... well, put it this way, if you like the government wasting time, then you're going to love the recently signed New York game bill. GamePolitics reports the legislation establishes an advisory council to conduct a study between games and real-world violence. It also requires -- here's the kicker -- new video game consoles to incorporate parental lockout features by 2010 and retail games to disclose ESRB ratings. News flash: All consoles already have parental lockout features built in and ESRB ratings are prominently displayed on each game's box and disc.
For its part, the Entertainment Software Association believes the law ignores "legal precedent, common sense and the wishes of many New Yorkers in enacting this unnecessary bill." It points out that the mandates required are already voluntarily in place and the bill unfairly singles out the video game industry. The ESA asks if New York would like to convene a government commission on books, theater and film as well. It's still up in the air if the ESA will sue New York, but the lobby group has gotten good at getting game laws overturned in several states and making its money back for doing so in the process.
Reader Comments (84)
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:11PM Negativecool said
He's not blind, but he is the god at paying attention to two different things.
Right eye: Addressing the questioner
Left eye: Addressing the nipples popping out of that hottie's sweater.
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Right eye: Addressing the questioner
Left eye: Addressing the nipples popping out of that hottie's sweater.
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:12PM arttemis said
"All consoles already have parental lockout features built in and ESRB ratings are prominently displayed on each game's box and disc."
You can't exactly blame him for not SEEING the ratings or parental options.
http://www.instantrimshot.com/
Reply
You can't exactly blame him for not SEEING the ratings or parental options.
http://www.instantrimshot.com/
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:25PM busydoinnothin said
lol@instantrimshot. My cheesy jokes just got 100 times better.
Reply
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:31PM (Unverified) said
Best website ever I just need a site with a laugh track.
Reply
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 5:44PM Levi Partridge said
I found this for ya Mr. Escape. It's kinda quick and dirty, but it will do the trick.
http://www.soundboard.com/sb/laugh_track.aspx
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http://www.soundboard.com/sb/laugh_track.aspx
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 11:45PM simbadogg said
@ negativecool.
he's not blind? ok...peep this scenario: if he's checking out an ipod that is DIRECTLY in front of him, lets say 1 foot away, he sees that ipod about as well as the average person would see an ipod at 400 (FOUR HUNDRED) feet away. i'm sorry, if thats not blind (legally blind, which he is) that i dont know what your definition is.
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he's not blind? ok...peep this scenario: if he's checking out an ipod that is DIRECTLY in front of him, lets say 1 foot away, he sees that ipod about as well as the average person would see an ipod at 400 (FOUR HUNDRED) feet away. i'm sorry, if thats not blind (legally blind, which he is) that i dont know what your definition is.
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:03PM NukeAssault said
Well he is legally blind... So that could explain why he couldent see the ESRB rating. =P
But seriously... stupid.
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But seriously... stupid.
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:04PM (Unverified) said
he only signed it because he couldnt see what it was about
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Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:06PM (Unverified) said
wow, i knew he was blind but i didn't know he was retarded too. They should put Spitzer back in office, he's a horny dude, but hey, we're all human...New York sucks I'm moving
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Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:07PM Saria the Cat said
Wow, just shows how ignorant officials and politicians are of the game industry and yet how simultaneously bent they are on controlling its mysterious evil effects on children.
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Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:19PM RobAccomando said
Well, it's about time! Now I can finally keep those naughty games away from my young'uns
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Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:32PM baby sea tuna said
Our government does late-night bum-powdering now?! Is that a new amendment or something? I wonder if I can request mine to be given by Barbara Boxer...rrowr!
This truly is the best country in the world!!
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This truly is the best country in the world!!
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:21PM Vcize said
So get this.
In 6 states, it is actually a law that it is illegal to live with someone that you are not married or related to. Obviously, it's an uninforced law, but it's still a boon. In particular, it will cost me $5000 on my taxes the next two years because I cannot claim my fiance as a dependent because technically to do so would be to admit breaking the law, which thereby voids that claim.
Where am I going with this? Well, these laws are left over from the early 1800's, and just haven't been changed yet. The last time a politician was interviewed and asked about them the response was "we just haven't had time to get around to changing it yet".
You don't say. Well, it's good to hear that they're spending that valuable time passing redundant laws for stuff that already exists then.
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In 6 states, it is actually a law that it is illegal to live with someone that you are not married or related to. Obviously, it's an uninforced law, but it's still a boon. In particular, it will cost me $5000 on my taxes the next two years because I cannot claim my fiance as a dependent because technically to do so would be to admit breaking the law, which thereby voids that claim.
Where am I going with this? Well, these laws are left over from the early 1800's, and just haven't been changed yet. The last time a politician was interviewed and asked about them the response was "we just haven't had time to get around to changing it yet".
You don't say. Well, it's good to hear that they're spending that valuable time passing redundant laws for stuff that already exists then.
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 8:45PM (Unverified) said
These things happen, and it is the reason that great towering figures of law such as Justinian, Suleiman the Magnificent, and our founding fathers are so important: they all somehow managed with seemingly super-human ability to codify and modernize thousands of years of complicated, arcanely worded/written, contradictary, and often-times bitterly contended law. Schools teach in history class "Justinian... byzantine empire... codified roman law... was really important... end of lesson." and don't seem to want to explain WHY codification is so unbelievably important and impressive.
America's legal system in its current form is pretty depressing for some people. Many countries in the western world have modernized their constitutions and governments to a much greater extent than us. Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Greece, Japan, Ireland... These are all fresher and 'younger' governments than ours which hasn't been meaningfully ammended in the longest time. The solution -- if you ask me -- is the dissolution of the 50 states into more efficiently managed regions with less popular representation so that more actually gets done.
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America's legal system in its current form is pretty depressing for some people. Many countries in the western world have modernized their constitutions and governments to a much greater extent than us. Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Greece, Japan, Ireland... These are all fresher and 'younger' governments than ours which hasn't been meaningfully ammended in the longest time. The solution -- if you ask me -- is the dissolution of the 50 states into more efficiently managed regions with less popular representation so that more actually gets done.
Posted: Jul 23rd 2008 10:36AM (Unverified) said
I'm not saying end democracy and representation, I'm saying end meaningless borders that no one cares about anymore that are a drain on our efficiency. The Civil War is long over -- you're American first and Virginian/Californian/New Yorker/etc. second. why should new york and new jersey be separate states or massachusetts and new hampshire? they're completely interdependent. new york city has more in common with northern new jersey than new york city has in common than in all the rest of the state of new york!
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Posted: Jul 24th 2008 8:08PM Vcize said
Wow, Rocketboy. I guess I'll give you a pass on this one, because you're certainly not the only know-it-all out there that tries to act as if your guess about something you have no idea about is a fact.
The following are the requirements for claiming a dependent that is not related to you, straight from the IRS:
1. They must be under 25 years of age if they are a full-time student, or under 19 years of age if they are not.
2. They must have lived with you ALL year.
3. They must have made less money than the total amount that the exemption is worth ($3400).
4. They must have been responsible for paying for less than half of their living expenses on their own.
5. Must not violate local law. In states where cohabitation is illegal, even if unenforced, voids the claim.
My girlfriend is a 23 year old full time student with no income that paid far less than half of her living expenses on her own, and lived with me all year.
We qualify for 1-4 no problem, but #5 is where I lose it, as living with my girlfriend is technically illegal here.
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The following are the requirements for claiming a dependent that is not related to you, straight from the IRS:
1. They must be under 25 years of age if they are a full-time student, or under 19 years of age if they are not.
2. They must have lived with you ALL year.
3. They must have made less money than the total amount that the exemption is worth ($3400).
4. They must have been responsible for paying for less than half of their living expenses on their own.
5. Must not violate local law. In states where cohabitation is illegal, even if unenforced, voids the claim.
My girlfriend is a 23 year old full time student with no income that paid far less than half of her living expenses on her own, and lived with me all year.
We qualify for 1-4 no problem, but #5 is where I lose it, as living with my girlfriend is technically illegal here.
Posted: Jul 26th 2008 1:13AM Rocketboy said
Vcize.. really? Your local gov't is enforcing a blue law? Well, I guess it's Aol/Weblogs's duty to report your IP address and send you to jail.
And I could apologize for misunderstanding that you were specifically talking about claiming her as a dependant, but your chick is a lazy freeloader, and you are a pompus twit.
Oh, and age does not matter.
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And I could apologize for misunderstanding that you were specifically talking about claiming her as a dependant, but your chick is a lazy freeloader, and you are a pompus twit.
Oh, and age does not matter.
Posted: Jul 26th 2008 2:24AM Vcize said
"Vcize.. really? Your local gov't is enforcing a blue law? Well, I guess it's Aol/Weblogs's duty to report your IP address and send you to jail."
I'm not following you here. It has nothing to do with jail or the local government enforcing anything (they're not enforcing anything), it's the fact that the law, which is totally unenforced and only around because "they haven't gotten around to remove it" is costing me money on my taxes.
"And I could apologize for misunderstanding that you were specifically talking about claiming her as a dependant, but your chick is a lazy freeloader, and you are a pompus twit."
Well I'm not sure what part of 'it will cost me because I cannot claim her as a dependent' you didn't understand. But as for the rest of it, my girlfriend is in her 3rd year of med school and on rotation 60-70 hours/week, hence her lack of income, and I think we've proven the only pompus twit in here is the one that CONTINUES to make ridiculous assumptions about things he clearly is not aware of.
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I'm not following you here. It has nothing to do with jail or the local government enforcing anything (they're not enforcing anything), it's the fact that the law, which is totally unenforced and only around because "they haven't gotten around to remove it" is costing me money on my taxes.
"And I could apologize for misunderstanding that you were specifically talking about claiming her as a dependant, but your chick is a lazy freeloader, and you are a pompus twit."
Well I'm not sure what part of 'it will cost me because I cannot claim her as a dependent' you didn't understand. But as for the rest of it, my girlfriend is in her 3rd year of med school and on rotation 60-70 hours/week, hence her lack of income, and I think we've proven the only pompus twit in here is the one that CONTINUES to make ridiculous assumptions about things he clearly is not aware of.
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:24PM (Unverified) said
Man, and this guy used to be so cool, what with his coke parties and swinging.
then again, I guess it is the NY legislature that drafted the bill.
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then again, I guess it is the NY legislature that drafted the bill.
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:28PM dbossnirvana said
What a bunch of f*cking retards! It just p*sses me off that some stupid effing idiots running our offices are doing something "good" for society. This guy right here shows what a piece of horsh*t our world has come to. I mean, horrible stuff happen and they do sh*t about it, or pretend to. F*ck them!
ATTICAA!!!
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ATTICAA!!!
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:38PM (Unverified) said
Guys, he is blind.Don't joke about him.
That's not cool.
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That's not cool.
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:44PM (Unverified) said
...and to be honest, it's not like this law is useless.
If it only confirms on something that's implemented anyway, then what's the problem? ESRB isn't a government organization so anything that makes it any more official is a good thing for us gamers, right?
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If it only confirms on something that's implemented anyway, then what's the problem? ESRB isn't a government organization so anything that makes it any more official is a good thing for us gamers, right?
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 7:27PM Triforceowner said
I like this guy's thought. I mean how long do you think it took the legislature and executive to pull this off, probably a half-hour. I know we all like to laugh at people who know less than us, but it does make something official that once was only self regulatory.
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Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 8:29PM original fred said
I disagree.
The MPAA and ESRB are voluntary organizations and government involvement in the way they conduct business to this extent is inappropriate at best.
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The MPAA and ESRB are voluntary organizations and government involvement in the way they conduct business to this extent is inappropriate at best.
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 8:48PM (Unverified) said
i beg to differ, regulation is one of the few things in which the government is proficient (or is atleast better than private interest).
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Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:40PM (Unverified) said
That pic needs a caption:
"Hurrrrr, me can make lawws"
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"Hurrrrr, me can make lawws"
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:44PM (Unverified) said
Why are you guys so pissed off? How does this affect you in the slightest?
Get your blind jokes out of the way and move on. Losers.
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Get your blind jokes out of the way and move on. Losers.
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 5:08PM LaughingTarget said
Maybe because it does affect them. Paterson is just another member in a long line of useless New York politicians willing to tackle the simple issues and spend a lot of money doing it while ignoring stuff that is actually important. The usual tilting at windmills. Paterson being blind is just par for the course in that state, the only difference is that the rest of the governors didn't bother using their perfectly functional set of eyes. You could say it's an excuse to act just like everyone else.
New Yorkers have a state that has the largest population of paid legislative staff and produces twice as many bills as the next state (Illinois) yet manages to actually act on around 4% of them. Introducing bills costs money, hence the massive legislative staff being paid out of New Yorkers pockets. The state is the third largest economy in the United States, 16th in the world, yet is still managing to find a way to come up $5 billion short in spending.
They have a ton to fix in that state before worrying about sending non-functional bills (which cost taxpayer dollars to write and push through the legislative process). This bill does affect them, it's just another tick in the $124 billion New York will end up blowing this year, mostly on useless crap.
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New Yorkers have a state that has the largest population of paid legislative staff and produces twice as many bills as the next state (Illinois) yet manages to actually act on around 4% of them. Introducing bills costs money, hence the massive legislative staff being paid out of New Yorkers pockets. The state is the third largest economy in the United States, 16th in the world, yet is still managing to find a way to come up $5 billion short in spending.
They have a ton to fix in that state before worrying about sending non-functional bills (which cost taxpayer dollars to write and push through the legislative process). This bill does affect them, it's just another tick in the $124 billion New York will end up blowing this year, mostly on useless crap.
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 7:25PM Mal F4cti0n said
Maybe because I pay 25% of my $90K salary to the frackin' governments and I don't want them using that money on stupid, useless things like pointless lawyerin'.
When you grow up and start paying taxes you may understand.
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When you grow up and start paying taxes you may understand.
Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 8:30PM (Unverified) said
New York's budgetary problems in this current round have little to do with costly overhead and video game legislation which (judging from all these websites out there dedicated to STOPPING the bill's proposal) have wasted more money than whatever the bill's discussion in the legislature cost. If video game "justice" experts are so interested in "the people", maybe they should have donated to charities all the money they spent advertising and spamming my email with "TELL PATERSON TO STOP THIS BILL!!!"
States all over the country are in serious financial trouble -- huge overhead or not. The rather small state government of Indiana has even outsourced state jobs (an incredibly unprecedented act for those of you who are clueless to the differences between government and private industry jobs where 'you're fired!' is commonplace) to save money.
That being said though, New York State's government does do a better than average job in passing legislation that really matters in life (i.e. things more serious than your video game squabbling) For example, health insurers are not allowed to refuse coverage for previously-existing conditions, state pensions and licencing can be broadbanded easily, teacher professionalization is among the highest quality in the country, NYS nurse licensing is the most rigorous in the country, the state and city universities are excellent and cheap for NY residents, the state inspectors and regulatory agencies are some of the best in the country, etc.
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States all over the country are in serious financial trouble -- huge overhead or not. The rather small state government of Indiana has even outsourced state jobs (an incredibly unprecedented act for those of you who are clueless to the differences between government and private industry jobs where 'you're fired!' is commonplace) to save money.
That being said though, New York State's government does do a better than average job in passing legislation that really matters in life (i.e. things more serious than your video game squabbling) For example, health insurers are not allowed to refuse coverage for previously-existing conditions, state pensions and licencing can be broadbanded easily, teacher professionalization is among the highest quality in the country, NYS nurse licensing is the most rigorous in the country, the state and city universities are excellent and cheap for NY residents, the state inspectors and regulatory agencies are some of the best in the country, etc.
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