New York bill could put violent games under lock and key
It's not exactly the same as keeping pornography behind that threadbare red curtain in the back of the video store, but it's close. GamePolitics reports that New York assemblyman Brian Kolb (R) has submitted a new bill -- which looks awfully similar to a bill he submitted in 2007 -- that would place some serious restrictions on games "advocating or glamorizing" a whole rainbow of illicit activities including "commission of a violent crime, suicide, sodomy, rape, incest, bestiality, [and] sado-masochism," among other things.
The law would require New York retailers to apply warning labels to any game that contained such activities and, furthermore, all such games would need to be kept in a "sealed and locked container" inaccessible to customers -- something most retailers already do for all games. Retailers who do not comply -- or "non-custodial" adults who purchase regulated games for minors -- would be subject to a fine of up to $1,000.
Of course, the ESRB already labels the content of every game sold in North America. That's not good enough for the New York legislature -- which should be apparent by now -- as the bill states that ESRB labels are "insufficient warnings" for concerned parents and that minors are purchasing violent games "with little or no resistance from retailers". This is in spite of the fact that it's actually harder for kids to obtain M-rated games these days. Spending tax dollars on redundancy? Inconceivable!
[Via GamePolitics]
The law would require New York retailers to apply warning labels to any game that contained such activities and, furthermore, all such games would need to be kept in a "sealed and locked container" inaccessible to customers -- something most retailers already do for all games. Retailers who do not comply -- or "non-custodial" adults who purchase regulated games for minors -- would be subject to a fine of up to $1,000.
Of course, the ESRB already labels the content of every game sold in North America. That's not good enough for the New York legislature -- which should be apparent by now -- as the bill states that ESRB labels are "insufficient warnings" for concerned parents and that minors are purchasing violent games "with little or no resistance from retailers". This is in spite of the fact that it's actually harder for kids to obtain M-rated games these days. Spending tax dollars on redundancy? Inconceivable!
[Via GamePolitics]












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kevin949 @ Jan 29th 2009 1:03AM
I'm pretty sure that he means even display boxes shouldn't be out on the shelves.
DemonGSides @ Jan 29th 2009 1:04AM
I hate my state.
Gonzo @ Jan 29th 2009 10:12AM
It could be worse, we could still have Hillary here.
What I want to know is how I've been missing out on all these sodomy, bestiality, and S&M games.
Anything for the handhelds? I want to harass the bozos I commute with.
Xta Large (Formerly Fatass) @ Jan 29th 2009 1:05AM
"The law would require New York retailers to apply warning labels to any game that contained such activities and, furthermore, all such games would need to be kept in a "sealed and locked container""
...seriously?
Two articles today that illicit this reaction from me... damn, it seems as though humanity is doing it's best to make me want to kill myself.
ITS WORKING, YOU GUYS
Somebody direct the twits who came up with this bill to their nearest Wal-mart please
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, Ultrastiq Revolutionary) @ Jan 29th 2009 1:22AM
Assemblyman Brian Kolb
607 W. Washington St, Suite 2
Geneva, NY 14456
Phone: 315.781.2030
Fax: 315.781.1746
Email: bkolb@briankolb.com
now we obviously shouldn't harass the man, but if everyone here sends at least one email that links to http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp and a brief explanation of why this is bill is so fucking redundant, he might change his mind. Or he could just print out our letters and use them as free toilet paper
Temidien @ Jan 29th 2009 9:01AM
Nice work, dude.
Ethan Rom @ Jan 29th 2009 9:58AM
Great! Now GTA will be locked away with those potato chips that cause anal leakage.
Josh @ Jan 29th 2009 9:17PM
For as much as I argue against censorship, the least I could do is take some time to email this guy.
Anyone else that at all cares about defeating this bill (and defeating censorship), please send an email. Even just a few sentences.
Longhorn4Life @ Jan 29th 2009 1:05AM
Anything that keeps those pesky Halo games away from my eyes
Courtney @ Jan 29th 2009 1:08AM
Are there GameStops that lock up merchandise? Everyone I've ever been in always just has all the stock out on shelves. I didn't know if there were markets where they actually had cabinets.
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, Ultrastiq Revolutionary) @ Jan 29th 2009 1:17AM
they leave empty boxes on shelves. All discs are locked up behind the register
Courtney @ Jan 29th 2009 1:58AM
Duh, yes, you're right. Ignore my ramblings, clearly past my bedtime.
WiredKnight @ Jan 29th 2009 2:16AM
Usually places like Target have them in big glass cabinets.
I always thought it was to prevent theft, but it looks like it was holding back the evil pixel demons that end up jumping out of my console into my brain to make me kill people.
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, Ultrastiq Revolutionary) @ Jan 29th 2009 1:16AM
"THE MANUFACTURER OF ANY VIDEO GAME AS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, SHALL AFFIX TO THE FRONT OF THE OUTSIDE PACKAGING OF ANY SUCH VIDEO GAME TO BE SOLD IN NEW YORK STATE, AND THE RETAILER OF ANY VIDEO GAME AS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL AFFIX TO THE FRONT OF THE OUTSIDE PACKAGING OF ANY SUCH VIDEO GAME OFFERED FOR RENTAL OR RESALE, A WARNING LABEL TO READ SUBSTANTIALLY AS FOLLOWS:"18+ WARNING, SALE OR RENTAL TO ADULTS ONLY. MAY CONTAIN EXPLICIT"
hmmmmmm, if only the government had already created some sort of Commitee or BOARD that could RATE this ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE that clearly show they are for MATURE gamers only and not for EVERYONE. To bad they didn't think of that back in the 90's when they threw a hissy fit over Mortal Kombat and Night Trap.
WiredKnight @ Jan 29th 2009 2:18AM
Protip:
The ESRB is a self-regulatory organization. It has no affiliation with the US government whatsoever.
WiredKnight @ Jan 29th 2009 2:19AM
Wait, I see what you're saying. The government should have formed its rating system while it had its chance, yes?
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, Ultrastiq Revolutionary) @ Jan 29th 2009 2:41AM
Im wasn't saying they were related. I was just pointing out that due to Congress getting their panties all up in a bunch over games like Mortal Kombat, what we now know as the ESA was given 1 year to come up with a rating system or face government intervention. Congress had to approve the ESRB system, so its not like the government has no fucking idea what it is. Yet they still seem to feel the need to pull shit like this on an almost monthly basis.
xandeR- @ Jan 29th 2009 1:17AM
Maybe they should spend those tax dollars on educating parents instead of wasteful stickers.
Side note: every GameStop has the boxes on the shelf. This is so gamers can look at the box art. Without that, how are we expected to sell anything?
IcedOmega13 @ Jan 29th 2009 1:46AM
I get carded, wearing a wedding ring with my 4 year old with me. So there ya go, feels like I'm buying beer; Ya know the stuff these games influence me to drink.
Strike Man @ Jan 29th 2009 1:51AM
"Of course, the ESRB already labels the content of every game sold in North America."
I know what you meant, but that statement is not entirely accurate...
BidoofAloof @ Jan 29th 2009 1:54AM
The current system provides "insufficient warnings for concerned parents"?
Well, maybe I'm wrong, but I think that if parents are at all concerned about what their kids play, then they could take two seconds to look at the back of the box before they buy the game for their child. They could also ask the person at the store if the game is appropriate. The internet as well readily provides this information. In fact, the information really isn't at all hard to come by if you care in the slightest about it. If a genuinely concerned parent really can't already figure out what games are and aren't appropriate for their kids, then no amount of warning labels will help the situation. I do understand that some of the descriptions on the back can be a bit vague, but if a game says that it's rated M for mature, contains blood, gore, strong language, and sexual content, then I'd say it's probably a safe bet to assume that it isn't a kid-friendly game.
xeleion @ Jan 29th 2009 3:30AM
Haha silly, you know Americans don't READ! If you don't force-feed it to them through their anus, American consumers aren't going to take the time to educate themselves on anything before making a decision.
That may be slightly biased due to working in retail.
Deck @ Jan 29th 2009 1:55AM
Hahaha. Yay redundancy? No, not really. How ridonkulous!
I guess he forgot to read the report that more and more are continually getting carded for game purchases. Oh, and that the ESRB actually DOES rate the games. *sigh* Stop blaming it on people whose fault it is not!
StormriderSRS21 @ Jan 29th 2009 1:55AM
I work for Gamestop...if we're caught selling a rated M game to a minor, the entire store is at risk...if i sold one to a minor, I could get fired, my manager could get fired...and it goes up the chain too...we keep all the discs behind the counter. Plus we card anyone buying an M rated game...The only way that kids get violent video games is because their dumb-ass parents go and buy the game without researching it first (we even warn them in the store that the game is rated M for whatever) and then freak out when they see the sex, blood, and violence and see fit to have to ruin it for the rest of us who enjoy those kind of games.
Charlie_Six @ Jan 29th 2009 2:03AM
*shrug* if every M rated game was banned, I wouldn't really miss anything. All the quality stuff is rated T or below.
Haggard @ Jan 29th 2009 2:49AM
L4D, BioShock, Fallout 3, The Witcher, Gears, God of War, GTA series; just to take a quick look at my shelf.
Or are you one of those people who rejects the mainstream perception of good games for attention?
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, Ultrastiq Revolutionary) @ Jan 29th 2009 3:10AM
but then you have Portal, Mario, Zelda, Okami, Dragon Quest, LittleBigPlanet, Metroid, Viewtiful Joe, Final Fantasy, Castlevania, Mega Man, etc.
face it, while a lot of good games get M ratings, the majority of good games are T or E. And we may see series that used to get Ms try to go to T in order to expand their audience, since a lot of them could pretty much remove the blood and get a lower rating.
Strike Man @ Jan 29th 2009 3:44AM
Is today blanket statement day? Of course there are good titles rated both at and below the M (Mature) level by the ESRB. I believe Haggard was trying to point out the gaping holes in Charlie's implication that there isn't a single M-rated title worth playing.
And don't even get me started on the "Oh, it's okay to ban something because I wasn't interested in it anyway!" mentality in the above post, even if it was made in jest.
Lord Negatron @ Jan 29th 2009 9:34AM
*yawn, i have nothing to say but, i am voting this bland opinion down...
aristokrat @ Jan 29th 2009 3:40PM
No M rated games = No Halo or COD = No XboxLive/PSN
Oh, yeah, and it also means no Half-Life which means no Portal (yeah, I know someone else made but Valve adapted and got it to you).
Hmm, all these blanket statements have put a nice smell of truthiness in the air...
ThraX @ Jan 29th 2009 2:06AM
MMMMM I can just FEEEEEEL that CHAAAAAAAAANGE and HOOOOOOOOOPE! It's a comin! ... and this is only a single state doing it right now.
WiredKnight @ Jan 29th 2009 2:20AM
"Gimme a pack of American Spirits, oh and I'll take a copy of Gears 2 while you're in there."
Abalistar @ Jan 29th 2009 2:29AM
Wow, the idiocy always astounds me. So they want to spend tax dollars to enforce something that's already there, but do it again? So what would they do if the big M on the front and back aren't enough? Just instead of cover art put a big "THIS GAME IS BAD" sticker?
Also, how many times are they going to waste time putting forward bills that are almost guaranteed to be shot down by the court and unconstitutional?
I think what really irks me is how they never mention the insanely small(almost non-existent) ratings on DVDs. You almost need a magnifying glass to see the freaking thing.
Lord Negatron @ Jan 29th 2009 9:43AM
I agree, its just these effing politicians who are "creating" work for themselves by rehashing ideas. "Look at my track record, I created that bill !" Pathetic...
Mo @ Jan 29th 2009 2:33AM
Beastiality huh?...
Ignatius @ Jan 29th 2009 7:32AM
I'm starting to wonder what games would have incest and bestiality in them. Not exactly a niche market in the US as much as it is in Japan...
edgore @ Jan 29th 2009 10:54AM
Ummm...let's see. Any Mario game where Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach is implying *something* (especially with all these naked Peaches I see around these days!). Oh, and any game where Fox McCloud (or the furry of your choice) gets the girl.
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 29th 2009 2:38PM
I haven't played that many games this year that were about bestiality or rape, but I guess I'm just missing out.
RabbidMickeyMouse @ Jan 29th 2009 2:34AM
I can see retailer locking up games for the sake of security. A fifty dollar game vs a fifteen dollar movie.
What I don't get is locking up ANY retail available game vs say, Saw or A Clockwork Orange, for the sake of any 'children's safety' issues.
I can walk into likely any Target, and find all the R-Rated films in one set of open isles, and directly across, ALL the videogames (except the $20 older games) locked behind glass.
DarkTetsuya @ Jan 29th 2009 3:01AM
Looks all well and good, but they don't explain what they intend to do when the shooting rampages continue unfazed, what then?
BadassSailor @ Jan 29th 2009 3:23AM
By then they'll be blaming "those damn holodecks"-
LeChuck @ Jan 29th 2009 3:24AM
"suicide, sodomy, rape, incest, bestiality, [and] sado-masochism,"
What games has he been playing?
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, Ultrastiq Revolutionary) @ Jan 29th 2009 3:45AM
Metal Gear Solid 2 and 4?
xeleion @ Jan 29th 2009 4:25AM
Ichi the Killer: The Game.
On a serious note, any game directed by Takashi Miike would be amazing.
aristokrat @ Jan 29th 2009 3:43PM
One of the most fucked-up movies I've ever seen.
xeleion @ Jan 29th 2009 3:27AM
I say this isn't bad at all. How could it be detrimental? It's just another measure to keep kids from playing games they're not supposed to play.
I work at Wal-Mart and there are many times where I'm explaining to parents why they shouldn't let their kids play an M-rated game, and they never seem to think it's that big of a deal when it really is. I support the notion that every step should be taken to make sure that the only people who should be buying M games are people who are old enough and mature enough to buy them, and if parents are going to buy them for their kids then they need to understand exactly what they're putting in their household. Although it's a big step in the right direction, I don't think the ESRB does a good enough job in keeping the public aware of the content of games. Maybe more drastic measures are required. If you're over 18 this shouldn't matter to you too much, should it?
Strike Man @ Jan 29th 2009 3:39AM
If you value the the Bill of Rights and other such silly documents, then yes, it does matter much to those older than 18.
I don't need to repeat what has already been said (ad nauseum), but I suggest you valuate the extent that you would like the government to legislate the actions of its citizens.
xeleion @ Jan 29th 2009 3:43AM
I don't mind the government making an effort to keep something away from kids that's very obviously not made for them.
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, Ultrastiq Revolutionary) @ Jan 29th 2009 3:48AM
then why not lock up R rated films, or books with adult themes? Why just games? Thats my issue, he only seems to be worried about those evil gamin' videos sending their voodoo witchcraft after our children, he neglects the fact that both the Hostile and Saw series are far more graphic than any game I can think of.
xeleion @ Jan 29th 2009 4:01AM
I was actually talking about that to a friend of mine recently. There are a lot of novels that are tailored to adults that kids are free to just buy from their local bookstore (you'd be surprised how many kids are willing to read books when they think there's sex in them).
I'm inclined to agree with you on one point: it's not fair to just pick on just games, no matter how many times it's been proved/disproved that violent games incite violent behavior. The problem lies in trying to strike a balance between what's necessary, what's fair, and what's excessive.