Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/JoystiqThe Joystiq Podcast combines insightful commentary on the week's video game news and culture with several disembodied, often spooky, voices. Voices may or may not belong to Chris Grant, Ludwig Kietzmann, Joystiq.com editors, or their guests. Spookiness not guaranteed where prohibited, please check local laws. More information available at www.joystiq.comGamerpick: Xbox Live Rock the Vote polled, Obama aheadhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/gamerpick-xbox-live-rock-the-vote-polled-obama-ahead/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/gamerpick-xbox-live-rock-the-vote-polled-obama-ahead/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/gamerpick-xbox-live-rock-the-vote-polled-obama-ahead/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The get-kids-voting people behind Rock the Vote recently spread out beyond the limitations of MTV's core demographic and decided to enlist the Xbox Live community, long known to be an e-bastion of enlightened political discourse. So, being the politically (and mathematically!) astute bloggers we are, we took a look at the live poll results, as presented by MyGamerCard.net.

As of press time, Democratic-nom Barack Obama had a commanding lead over Republican oppollnent John McCain, with 4,623 gamerpics in circulation versus just 2,076 - a nearly insurmountable lead of 2,547 gamerpics. That's fine, but what's the real story here? How the pundits and the pollsters - clouded by the corruption and cynicism of a two-party election system - have ignored the dark horse in this election: Gears of War skull face guy, who right now controls a most impressive 87,626 of The People's votes. Ignore the political machine and vote your conscience!

[Via Cheap Ass Gamer]
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]]>Barack-ObamaJohn-McCainRock-the-VoteXBLXbox-LiveFri, 29 Aug 2008 12:30:00 ESTSee John McCain in POW Bros.http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/see-john-mccain-in-pow-bros/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/see-john-mccain-in-pow-bros/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/see-john-mccain-in-pow-bros/#commentsFiled under: ,


Right, so the Mario Bros. remake below the jump -- by former Joystiq writer Jared Rea -- might be just the slightest bit offensive (and not in a NSFW way). But, it's also very funny, which has always trumped offense in our book. He says it's the result of a Twitter joke gone too far, but in our book it's gone just far enough.

Mr. Rea does provide some additional explanation for the gag on his blog, but we hope you don't need it (you're not that removed from the outside world, are you?).

Continue reading See John McCain in POW Bros.

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]]>john-mccainmarionintendopoliticssuper-mario-brosWed, 27 Aug 2008 16:50:00 ESTRock the Vote to canvas Xbox Livehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/rock-the-vote-to-canvas-xbox-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/rock-the-vote-to-canvas-xbox-live/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/rock-the-vote-to-canvas-xbox-live/#commentsFiled under: , ,

xbox live
Meet 1ickTh3P0l3. He can vote. But why tell him that? When Rock the Vote comes to Xbox Live on Monday (the start of the Democratic National Convention), it won't find the disempowered young citizens eager to be mobilized it's expecting. In fact, the Xbox Live community is a conglomerate of well-organized sub-divisions -- or "clans" -- which communicate through a modified, verbalization of "133t speak" with a large admixture of derisive language; including racial, ethnic, gender, sex, and religious slurs. These nihilistic hatemongers shoot first, typically with rocket launchers, and top it off with a teabag over your dead body. Oh wait, these are just the Xbox Live users under 18. Imagine how the ones of legal voting age spend their nights and weekends ... And you want them rocking what now?

[Image credit: Jeff the Trojan]
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]]>electionrock-the-votexbox-liveThu, 21 Aug 2008 12:52:00 ESTRussian-Georgia conflict predicted by Ghost Reconhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/russian-georgia-conflict-predicted-by-ghost-recon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/russian-georgia-conflict-predicted-by-ghost-recon/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/russian-georgia-conflict-predicted-by-ghost-recon/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tom Clancy might be this generation's Nostradamus. Although off by about three months, the first level in 2001's Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon is eerily familiar to the past week's events, where Russia and South Ossetian rebels have been fighting with Georgia. Unlike Ghost Recon, however, there has been no signs of US special forces armed with technologically advanced firepower and controlled by a mysterious "player."

Scholars are already sifting through The Great Texts in anticipation of any potential conflicts in 2014 Mexico City.

[Via Game Politics]
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]]>georgiaghost-recongrawrussiatom-clancyThu, 14 Aug 2008 04:00:00 ESTESA CEO Mike Gallagher: 'Now is the time' for game industryhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/esa-ceo-mike-gallagher-now-is-the-time-for-game-industry/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/esa-ceo-mike-gallagher-now-is-the-time-for-game-industry/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/esa-ceo-mike-gallagher-now-is-the-time-for-game-industry/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"We're in a new era of acceptance for video and computer games."

So did ESA CEO Mike Gallagher kick off his "State of the Industry" E3 keynote speech this afternoon. "When we look back, we'll see now is the time that our industry became an accepted part of our cultural landscape," he added.

The signs of this change are all around us, according to Gallagher, such as the prominent participation of Texas Governor Rick Perry in another keynote speech this morning. "In my predecessor's time, we were fighting government officials, not working with them," he said. While there are still problems with the game industry's image, he said, projects like Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's planned civics education game show that "those who write about the industry in narrow demographic terms are behind the times."

Continue reading ESA CEO Mike Gallagher: 'Now is the time' for game industry

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]]>e3-2008ESAkeynotemike-gallagherWed, 16 Jul 2008 20:00:00 ESTOverheard@E3: The E-Wordhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/overheard-e3-the-e-word/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/overheard-e3-the-e-word/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/overheard-e3-the-e-word/#commentsFiled under: ,

"There are fascinating things going on in your industry that not enough Americans, not enough people around the world, know about. You're in a constant state of evolution -- and yes for all you bloggers out there, I actually used the E-word there."
-Texas Governor Rick Perry makes an oblique reference to his more controversial associations at his E3 keynote speech this morning.
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]]>e3-2008ESAGamePoliticsgovernmentpoliticsrick-perryWed, 16 Jul 2008 17:45:00 ESTJudge recommends permanent disbarment for Jack Thompsonhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/judge-recommends-permanent-disbarment-for-jack-thompson/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/judge-recommends-permanent-disbarment-for-jack-thompson/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/judge-recommends-permanent-disbarment-for-jack-thompson/#commentsFiled under:

GamePolitics has obtained a copy of the judge's recommendation in the Florida Bar's disbarment case against renowned anti-game violence (or just plain anti-game) attorney Jack Thompson ... and it isn't good. Judge Dava Tunis, who Thompson has referred to as "mentally impaired" and "a raving wild woman" is recommending permanent disbarment in the case, where the Florida Bar had asked for a 10 year suspension of his ability to practice law.

In addition, Judge Tunis recommends that Thompson be assesed a $43,675 fine for the legal costs incurred by the Florida Bar. In May, Thompson was found guilty of 27 out of 31 charges made against him in a misconduct suit brought before the court.

[Thanks, Randall]
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]]>breakingnewsjack-thompsonWed, 09 Jul 2008 18:50:00 ESTCondi, other foreign ministers receive custom DShttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/condi-other-foreign-ministers-receive-custom-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/condi-other-foreign-ministers-receive-custom-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/condi-other-foreign-ministers-receive-custom-ds/#commentsFiled under: ,

ds
Preventing the world from plunging into economic chaos can be dirty, joyless work. Thankfully, foreign ministers of the ultra-exclusive G8 club were handed their very own perfume balls and custom DSs when they gathered in Kyoto recently to lay the groundwork for next week's leadership summit. You'll never guess what Condoleezza pictochatted Miliband. Poor Steinmeier, always the butt of their jokes...

[Thanks Ittousai!]
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]]>condoleezza-riceg8japanFri, 04 Jul 2008 02:30:00 ESTMinnesota pays ESA $65k in legal feeshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/minnesota-pays-esa-65k-in-legal-fees/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/minnesota-pays-esa-65k-in-legal-fees/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/minnesota-pays-esa-65k-in-legal-fees/#commentsFiled under: ,


The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today that the state of Minnesota has paid $65,000 - that's $6.50 for every lake - in attorney's fees and expenses to the organization over its unconstitutional game law. The ESA claims it has now been awarded moneys totaling almost $2 million for fees and expenses incurred by defending the industry in other jurisdictions.

Bringing out fightin' words, ESA CEO Mike Gallagher said that Minnesota's taxpayers should be "outraged" by having to pay this bill after its elected officials ignored precedent and pursued a political agenda. Gallagher wants politicians to get behind the efforts of the ESRB "rather than continue to pursue unconstitutional legislation."
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]]>BreakingNewsesagame-lawminnesotaunconstitutionalMon, 30 Jun 2008 14:29:00 ESTThe Political Game: NY video game bill barks, doesn't bitehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/the-political-game-ny-video-game-bill-barks-doesn-t-bite/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/the-political-game-ny-video-game-bill-barks-doesn-t-bite/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/the-political-game-ny-video-game-bill-barks-doesn-t-bite/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week Dennis McCauley contributes The Political Game, a column on the collision of politics and video games:



The video game world was buzzing last week following the New York legislature's passage of a video game statute. In voting overwhelmingly for the bill, New York became the first state to pass a video game law since June, 2006 when lawmakers in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Minnesota all sent restrictive game legislation to their respective governors for signature. The video game industry opposed all of those laws, of course, on constitutional grounds. Since Gov. David Paterson is expected to sign the New York bill into law, there's a natural assumption that the industry will also drag the Empire State into federal court.

But maybe not.

While earlier state laws placed content-based restrictions on video game sales, New York's proposed statute does no such thing. It is largely symbolic, perhaps designed to persuade voters that legislators are doing something to address that familiar cultural whipping boy, video game violence.

So, how impotent is the New York law?

Continue reading The Political Game: NY video game bill barks, doesn't bite

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]]>New-YorkThePoliticalGameMon, 30 Jun 2008 12:59:00 ESTDaily Show talks campaign gameshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/daily-show-talks-campaign-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/daily-show-talks-campaign-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/daily-show-talks-campaign-games/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We already brought the fantastic John McCain Space Invaders clone (which has you firing vetos at pigs shooting what we've recently realized are upside-down crosses) to your attention, but The Daily Show picked up on it last night, and added some of their own politically-themed games for your consideration (skip to 4:20 in the video after the break for the bit).

We know they're both fictional, but are we the only ones who would totally play Yes We Cannon? No? Just us? OK.

Continue reading Daily Show talks campaign games

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]]>barack-obamajohn-mccainthe-daily-showWed, 25 Jun 2008 18:45:00 ESTMcCain campaign releases facebook game: Pork Invadershttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/mccain-campaign-releases-facebook-game-pork-invaders/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/mccain-campaign-releases-facebook-game-pork-invaders/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/mccain-campaign-releases-facebook-game-pork-invaders/#commentsFiled under: , ,


While most of our time on popular social networking site Facebook is spent trying to impress our cohorts with our favorite bands and films or attempting to propel porpoises into the far reaches of the spiral galaxy, we recently took notice of a new application added by Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's campaign staff: a simple flash game titled Pork Invaders, an obvious parody of the similarly titled arcade classic.

Don't mistake the game's title to mean the Arizona senator harbors any disdain for unkosher meats -- rather, the act of firing vetoes at familiar patterns of descending pigs symbolizes the candidate's contempt for pork barrel spending -- the earmarking of funds for seemingly unnecessary projects. It's not a particularly good game, though it is worth noting when the U.S.'s prospective new leaders enter the intimidating world of game development. We hope for a swift response from the presumptive Democratic candidate's campaign -- Obomberman, perhaps?

[Via GamePolitics]
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]]>candidateelectionfacebookjohn-mccainmccainporkpork-invadersporkinvaderspresidentspace-invadersSat, 21 Jun 2008 15:30:00 ESTReminder: TF2 Pyro update now available, free to play this weekendhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/reminder-tf2-pyro-update-now-available-free-to-play-this-weeke/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/reminder-tf2-pyro-update-now-available-free-to-play-this-weeke/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/reminder-tf2-pyro-update-now-available-free-to-play-this-weeke/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A new update Team Fortress 2 is now available via Steam and includes major updates to the Pyro class. The basic flamethrower has alternate fire compression blast, the hadouken taunt now kills people and, most importantly, three new weapons have been added, to be unlocked by conquering the 35 new Pyro achievements.

The update also adds two community maps (cp_fastlane and ctf_turbine). Don't forget, Team Fortress 2 is free to play all weekend starting tomorrow. You can pre-load the game now.
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]]>steamteam-fortressteam-fortress-2tf2valveThu, 19 Jun 2008 21:00:00 ESTLittleBigPlanet: Story mode, private level sharing, PS Eye use and Sackboy Plushies confirmedhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/littlebigplanet-story-mode-private-level-sharing-ps-eye-use-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/littlebigplanet-story-mode-private-level-sharing-ps-eye-use-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/littlebigplanet-story-mode-private-level-sharing-ps-eye-use-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Media Molecule's Mark Healey has given our friends at PS3 Fanboy quite the news-splosion. In the latest PS Nation podcast, Healey let loose on LittleBigPlanet details, including:
  • There's "a whole heap" of levels that come with the game. "They are strung together in the form of a story," said Healey. "A very loose story, but incredibly funny at certain points."
  • You can make private levels and give keys to friends. In terms of riskier, user-made content, Healey said there is a post-grievance system involving sending screenshots to the powers that be. He declined further on what that might mean for the sure-fire controversial level, LittleBigPenis.
  • Sackboy plushies confirmed! Said SCEA PR Brandon, "It's on the way. Details will be emerging shortly."
  • PlayStation Eye support confirmed. "For example," said Heley, "you can wear a cardboard box and put a sticker of yourself there. And presto, you have a little creepy version of yourself walking around in the game. So yes, you can absolutely do that."
The full audio interview can be found in tomorrow's PS Nation podcast, but for now, you can check out a text transcript of the highlights.
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]]>breakingnewslittlebigplanetmark-healeymedia-moleculeplushiessackboyThu, 19 Jun 2008 19:30:00 ESTLvl 70 Republican specced legislative candidate LFGhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/lvl-70-republican-specced-legislative-candidate-lfg/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/lvl-70-republican-specced-legislative-candidate-lfg/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/lvl-70-republican-specced-legislative-candidate-lfg/#commentsFiled under: , ,


There's usually a wide chasm between video games and the politicians who make decisions that affect the sale and content of said games, so whenever we hear of a civil servant with a ludological streak, it warms our heart. Sure, their trysts with gaming are usually not major aspects in their lives, as a majority of their free time is spent appeasing constituents and kissing babies. However, a Republican candidate for the Connecticut legislature recently outed herself as having an extreme fondness for World of Warcraft, evidenced by her main character: a Level 70 Orc Hunter.

Jeanne Stevens, the aforementioned WoW fiend, is a mother of four and a local business owner in addition to being a legislative hopeful, making us wonder where she finds the time for late night excursions into Zul'Aman. We guess it helps that her father, uncle and kids are all suckling WoW's luminescent teat as well. We only hope that Stevens' story inspire other political figures to reveal their own gaming tendencies -- we hear Cheney can five-star "Psychobillly Freakout" on Expert.
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]]>connecticuthunterjeanne-stevensjeannestevenslegislatorlevel70world-of-warcraftworldofwarcraftwowSun, 08 Jun 2008 13:30:00 ESTESA stingy with campaign money earlyhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/esa-stingy-with-campaign-money-early/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/esa-stingy-with-campaign-money-early/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/esa-stingy-with-campaign-money-early/#commentsFiled under:

You probably remember -- well, that's not true -- there's an off chance you remember that ESA president Mike Gallagher announced that the organization was going to be throwing some coin behind national candidates via a political action committee, with contributions somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000 by year's end. Well, according to GamePolitics, the going has been slow so far.

The site reports that just three candidates have received money from the organization so far to the tune of $4,300 all told. They are:
  • Rep. Jim Clyburn D-SC, $1,000
  • Rep. Artur Davis D-AL, $1,000
  • Rep. Mary Bono Mack R-CA, $2,300
The small start could also be the result of slow fundraising: The PAC has garnered just six donations so far for a total of $27,500. Also of note, as of April 15 the ESA had financially backed no presidential candidates.
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]]>esamike-gallagherpacTue, 27 May 2008 09:20:00 ESTJudge: Jack Thompson is guilty on 27 of 31 misconduct chargeshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/judge-jack-thompson-is-guilty-on-27-of-31-misconduct-charges/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/judge-jack-thompson-is-guilty-on-27-of-31-misconduct-charges/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/judge-jack-thompson-is-guilty-on-27-of-31-misconduct-charges/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We're not going to make jokes on this one and save the snark until the final ruling, but the judge presiding over self-proclaimed anti-games activist Jack Thompson's Florida Bar trial has recommended the attorney be found guilty on 27 of the 31 misconduct charges - 21 from the Devin Moore case, 4 when in 2006 he tried to declare Bully a public nuisance, and 2 unrelated to video games.

Game Politics has the full story and a list of some of the charges, including "Engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation" and "Making statements that the lawyer knows to be false or with reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judge." A disciplinary hearing is being held June 4. The full report to the Florida Supreme Court is due September 2.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
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]]>breakingnewsfloridajack-thompsonTue, 20 May 2008 19:59:00 EST19-year-old mayor of Oklahoma town is a gaming enthusiasthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/17/19-year-old-mayor-of-oklahoma-town-is-a-gaming-enthusiast/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/17/19-year-old-mayor-of-oklahoma-town-is-a-gaming-enthusiast/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/17/19-year-old-mayor-of-oklahoma-town-is-a-gaming-enthusiast/#commentsFiled under: ,


University of Oklahoma freshman John Tyler Hammons harbors the stereotypical interests of a 19-year-old college student -- an Associated Press report, apparently written by a 1950's schoolteacher, credits Hammons as enjoying "fast cars and rock n' roll". Anachronistic lingo aside, the teenager also apparently spends his time beating the pants off of seventy-year-old incumbents in local mayoral races, and according to the same AP story, could probably beat the rest of Muskogee's local leaders in a round of Call of Duty 4.

Yes, the "baby-faced" gaming enthusiast will be sworn in next week as the mayor of Muskogee -- an Oklahoma city of about 38,000. Though his achievement completely overshadows our teenage feat of becoming the youngest Taco Bell assistant manager in the tri-county area, we can't wait to see how a fellow gamer (one who is many years the minor of most of Joystiq's staff) decides to run a town -- almost as much as we can't wait to hear the mayoral pick-up lines he busts out at the next Sooner soiree.
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]]>gamerhammonsjohntylerhammonsmayormayoralmuskogeeoklahomapoliticsSat, 17 May 2008 15:15:00 ESTGamePolitics speaks with federal game bill sponsor, ESA deems bill unconstitutionalhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/10/gamepolitics-speaks-with-federal-game-bill-sponsor-esa-deems-bi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/10/gamepolitics-speaks-with-federal-game-bill-sponsor-esa-deems-bi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/10/gamepolitics-speaks-with-federal-game-bill-sponsor-esa-deems-bi/#commentsFiled under: ,


GamePolitics has an interview with Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb), one of the congressmen, along with Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah), attempting to pass a federal law forcing retailers to check IDs before selling M- and AO-rated games. One of the better moments in the interview is when GP asks Rep. Terry what game he was talking about when he stated there are titles players could score point for virtual rape. Terry responded, "That's a good question. I don't know of any [specific games] offhand... I just used the rape, pillage and plunder line..."

The ESA has publicly come out against the bill, with CEO Mike Gallagher saying that the bill is unconstitutional. He states the ESA shares the representatives' goals of "ensuring children are playing parent-approved computer and video games," but points out that all consoles now have parental settings which can be used to make sure kids play only the games their parents allow.
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]]>esafederalgame-billgame-lawgamepoliticslee-terryterrySat, 10 May 2008 16:00:00 ESTMinnesota game law's only recourse is Supreme Courthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/minnesota-game-laws-only-recourse-is-supreme-court/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/minnesota-game-laws-only-recourse-is-supreme-court/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/minnesota-game-laws-only-recourse-is-supreme-court/#commentsFiled under: ,


GamePolitics reports that the 8th Circuit Court has declined an "en banc" review of the Minnesota "fine the buyer" video game law, meaning the only place left to run for the currently unconstitutional law is the Supreme Court of the United States. Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson hasn't said whether she'd go that far, but if she does pursue it and the justices decided to hear arguments, it would be the first time the Supreme Court dealt with a video game law case .

With the United States Supreme Court's current makeup, a game law case could go pretty badly for the industry. Justice Antonin Scalia has said if a game law banning the sale of mature-rated games to minors ever made it to the docket he would affirm it, but that's not what the Minnesota law is about. The question before the court would be whether Minnesota would have the right to fine a minor $25 for attempting to buy an M- or AO-rated title.
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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

]]>game-billgamebillgamelawgamelawsminnesotaFri, 09 May 2008 18:00:00 EST