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Mass. removes violent games from turnpike rest stops

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:45:00 EST

In response to a complaint and the events in Newtown, Connecticut, the state of Massachusetts has removed nine violent games from rest plazas controlled by the state. The service plazas affected were in Charlton, Ludlow, Lee and Beverly.

If you're curious, the Mass. towns of Charlton, Ludlow, Lee and Beverly are 100 miles, 83 miles, 80 miles and 170 miles away from Newtown, respectively.

"Bottom line is I think there isn't a person who doesn't believe that there isn't too much violence in our society, and games can glorify that," Mass. Transportation Secretary Richard Davey told The Boston Globe. "A video game in a public space could be used by anybody of any age."

Meanwhile, Mayor Robert Dolan of Melrose, Mass. (158 miles), is starting an initiative to persuade families to dispose of their violent video games, movies and toys by offering deals at local businesses and maybe even "get out of homework free" coupons.

Representatives from the games industry met with Vice President Joe Biden today to discuss the role of violent video games in regards to gun violence.

Mass. removes violent games from turnpike rest stops originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mass. Lt. Gov. wants game tax credits tied to job creation

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:30:00 EST

Massachusetts is the fifth largest state for game industry employment in spite of better developer incentives in other states. Nearly 1,300 industry jobs exist in the Commonwealth, but a recent profile of Irrational Games by The Improper Bostonian covers how the state's grip on gaming could slip if it doesn't step up studio stimulus.

A bill for game developer incentives has been floating around the Mass. legislature for about a year, but hasn't gained traction with lawmakers. The state currently provides heavy cuts for the movie industry, despite the game industry pumping more cash into local economies.

"It's ironic," Irrational Games' director of product development Tim Gerritsen said. "If you look at it, where do you want to put your money? We've got 120 permanent employees. They spend all their money here. They pay their rent here. They pay their taxes here. Do you want Dane Cook? He's here for two weeks doing a film, and he's gone."

"When you talk about tax incentives, that's less revenue that you're receiving, so I think any kind of incentive would have to be linked to hard commitments from the private sector," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, who is coming off a win by keeping PAX East in Boston until 2023. The convention will also make donations totaling $325,000 over the next 11 years to MassDiGI.

The state did lose a major studio last year when former Red Sox player Curt Schilling's 38 Studios moved to neighboring Rhode Island for a $75 million loan. The state isn't likely to lose established studios like Harmonix, Demiurge and Turbine. The problem comes founding or incubating new studios without concessions.

Mass. Lt. Gov. wants game tax credits tied to job creation originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mass. bill proposes stepping up state's game dev incentives

James Ransom-Wiley — Thu, 05 May 2011 01:00:00 EST

With EA set to break ground for a new facility at LSU, and Gameloft considering similar "endeavors" in New Orleans, Louisiana legislatures have got to be feeling good about the allure of the state's Digital Interactive Media Credit. 1500 miles to the northeast, Massachusetts is considering enacting similar tax incentives for game developers through a bill filed earlier this year by Rep. Vincent Pedone.

As the bill, affectionately known as "H03301," continues to kick around the Mass. Legislature, representatives of specialty tax services provider Alliantgroup take a look at its proposed "rewards" on Develop. While subject to alteration, the current draft of the bill proposes significant tax credits for both labor- and production-based costs incurred by large and small game-related companies alike, including a potential credit for a "promotional logo of the commonwealth of Massachusetts" placed on a game. In other words, stamp a game with a "Made in Massachusetts" logo (as Alliantgroup dubs it) and a company could earn up to a $75,000 annual credit under the bill's current stipulations.

Of course, the bill has yet to be put to a vote by state lawmakers, who can ill afford to sleep on it for long if they want to keep pace in the "quest" to win over the game industry. In addition to Louisiana, Alliantgroup identifies 16 other "game-friendly" states, including neighboring Rhode Island, which last year lured away Curt Shilling's 38 Studios from Mass.

["Made in Massachusetts" logo source: Massachusetts Bay Trading Co, Inc.]

Mass. bill proposes stepping up state's game dev incentives originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 May 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mass. town to consider lifting 29-year ban on coin-op games

James Ransom-Wiley — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:50:00 EST

In 1982, sensing that its quaint, coastal way of life was being threatened by the coin-operated craze sweeping the nation's youth, Marshfield, Massachusetts banned arcade games from public establishments. The local law was upheld by the state's Supreme Court the following year and has remained in place ever since.

Three decades later, residents are starting to wonder if "the whole hysteria back in 1982," as current Marshfield Selectmen chair Patricia Reilly put it to WCBV Boston, had misguided their good intentions. After all, state law permits Keno to be allowed in bars and other public buildings in town. What could be so wrong about a little Big Buck Hunter edged up against the far corner of the local watering hole?

The video game ban will be challenged at next week's town meeting when voters can overturn the seemingly archaic decree. Of course, there are still those who fear such change could forever alter the character of this South Shore Shangri-La. "We're a coastal town," insists former selectwoman Faith Jean, who helped pass the law back in '82, to CBS Boston. "Now are we an amusement coastal town or are we fishing and swimming and sailing?"

"We are not talking about little video games that kids play or pinball machines. We are talking about slot machines, gambling machines," adds Jean in the WCBV Boston report. "Coin-operated devices are one more thing your kids will be asking money for. What kind of town do we want Marshfield to be?" For the record, Reilly expects the repeal to pass.

[Image credit: drsparc]

Mass. town to consider lifting 29-year ban on coin-op games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rhode Island politicians speak out against 38 Studios deal

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:15:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Though 38 Studios hasn't yet released a video game, it's already bringing together a particular community of people: Rhode Island politicians. The state's Economic Development Corporation (EDC) recently lured the studio over from its current home in Massachusetts with the promise of a $75 million loan -- a sum which just about every Gubernatorial candidate from the state has taken to publicly criticizing since it was first announced.

For instance, Independent candidate Lincoln Chafee called for "the Board to suspend the commitment to 38 Studios," and to reconsider whether its the best way for Rhode Island to spend the loan. Moderate candidate Ken Block released a statement saying "seventy-five million dollars could go a long way to help many small businesses here in Rhode Island," also calling for the deal to be halted. Don't these guys realize that their campaigning might just be imperiling the stability of 450 futurejobs? Cut it out!

Rhode Island politicians speak out against 38 Studios deal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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38 Studios meeting with Rhode Island reps regarding studio move

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

A week before 38 Studios is finally set to reveal its EA-published title, "Project Mercury," former baseball player Curt Schilling's Massachusetts-based studio is playing hardball for tax breaks. The Boston Globe reports studio heads are set to meet with Rhode Island reps on Thursday to discuss, in part, up to $75 million in loan guarantees in exchange for moving the company down south (about a 90-minute drive from its current location).

Representatives from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation state that 38 Studios approached them about the potential move. According to the Globe, Schilling has said the studio plans to hire over 300 workers over the next couple years at 38 Studios and Maryland-based Big Huge Games, which the company acquired last year.

38 Studios meeting with Rhode Island reps regarding studio move originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fallout 3's 'Vault Boy' now delivering pizza, copyright infringement

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:00:00 EST

Ever since Fallout 3's Vault Boy went to space in Mothership Zeta, we've been at a loss for where to find the congenial gent. Alas, we never expected to see his mercurial face gracing the cover of a Massachusetts pizza shop's menu. Expresso Pizza of Billerica, Ma. put the young lad to work on the menu's cover, holding a pizza and pretending he's a waiter. We all know you're a Capital Wasteland Wanderer, silly Vault Boy!

The only question now is "How long until Bethesda shuts this down?" We contacted the Fallout publisher to find out its reaction, and were told, "Well he is a big part of our Fallout brand and is copyrighted, so, yeah, deciding on your own to use him to promote your business or product, or to sell stuff, or whatever, without getting permission from us ... not a good idea." Ruh oh!

(Thanks, Dan)

[Via BadCartridge]

Fallout 3's 'Vault Boy' now delivering pizza, copyright infringement originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESRB's ad campaign with Boston mayor in the wild

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:45:00 EST

Although it was announced a couple weeks ago (we were busy), we finally got a chance to the see the ESRB and Boston mayor Thomas Menino's "public education campaign" about the video game rating system on the side of Beantown buses. Like Mayor Menino, we also totally "suit up" before we sit down for an afternoon of gaming with the local neighborhood children. There are also local radio and television ads.

The campaign is likely part of Menino's continuing penance for making some ill-advised moves against the games industry and hooking up with Jack Thompson to do so. The state of Massachusetts is currently attempting to pass incentives to grow its stable of major developers and turn the city into the East Coast hub of game development.

ESRB's ad campaign with Boston mayor in the wild originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boston mayor forms game development expansion committee

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST

Thomas Menino, who has served as mayor of Boston for nearly 16 years, is one of the most intriguing political figures in the gaming realm. He first antagonized the gaming industry in 2007 by endorsing a Jack Thompson-authored bill that would treat the retail practices of mature games (as deemed by the state) like the retail practices of pornography. It failed miserably, and we doubt any of the many Boston-based game studios sent him any fruit baskets to console him.

In the midst of this political blunder, Mayor Menino announced he was interested bringing more game developers to work in the city. We thought it was solely a political soundbite -- but the city recently formed an advisory "Steering Committee," composed of local industry figures, to inform the mayor on how to bring further game development to Boston. In addition, the city launched PoweringUpBoston.com, which provides info and resources to Boston's game studios and potential new developers. Wicked Ahhhsome!

Boston mayor forms game development expansion committee originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stephen King speaks out against violent video game bill

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Politics

The oft-proclaimed "Master of Horror" never was much of a gamer -- he'll be the first to admit that. That's probably for the best; it would be hard to consistently produce the pants-soiling stories he's known for if he spent his days wasting away in front of his computer, looking for a PUG for the Hellfire Citadel. However, that doesn't mean he'll sit idly by as the gaming industry gets remorselessly hassled by The Man.

In a recent column for Entertainment Weekly, Stephen King decried HB 1423, a pending bill in the Massachusetts state legislature, which would outright ban the sale of "violent video games" to minors -- effectively circumventing the ESRB ratings system altogether. King, who knows a thing or two about violence, dissects the bill as eloquently as you'd expect, saying that politicians use pop culture as a "whipping boy," to illicit a passionate response from fans of the beleaguered medium, and to ignore "the elephants in the living room." Wait, you mean the popularity of violent video games isn't the biggest crisis facing the country? Get out of town!

Stephen King speaks out against violent video game bill originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boston Herald editorial questions Mass. game bill

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Politics

As Massachusetts legislators meet today to discuss HB1423, a bill that would restrict access of minors to video games deemed too violent by the state, the normally obtuse Boston Herald has weighed in on the issue with a shockingly sane editorial.

The newspaper lays out that the bill is another example of Boston Mayor Menino, who drafted the bill with Jack Thompson, trying to throw a "big idea against the wall in the hope that it might stick." The paper points out that just yesterday a similar, constitutionally murky bill failed, and asks if "lawmakers sponsoring the bill [are] willing to find money in their budgets to fight the inevitable court challenge?" The Boston Herald piece concludes that the mayor needs to make better use of his time than going after "such low-hanging fruit." We don't know about low-hanging, but it's definitely rotten and is going to cause taxpayers financial pain later between court costs and inevitably paying back the ESA for wasting its time.

[Via GamePolitics]

Boston Herald editorial questions Mass. game bill originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mass. legislators considering 'games-as-porn' bill

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Politics

Tomorrow the Massachusetts legislature will discuss a bill that would make it illegal for minors to buy video games deemed too violent by the state (not through ESRB ratings such as M or AO). No similar law exists for movies, music or books. House Bill 1423 is dubbed a "games-as-porn" bill because the rationale used to prevent minors from buying violent video games is the same used on porn. The original bill was drafted by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino (pictured) with assistance from Jack Thompson and legislative sponsor Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry (D).

GamePolitics points out HB1423 is based on a failed Utah bill and, given the history of other similar bills, it seems odd that Massachusetts would potentially be putting itself (and taxpayer dollars) at risk of repaying the ESA for fighting this bill in court.

Mass. legislators considering 'games-as-porn' bill originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massachusetts tries Jack Thompson's failed Utah game bill

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 23:05:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Politics

Massachusetts' legislators have been offered up HB 1423, a game bill which seeks to "restrict the sale of video games wih [sic] violent content to minors." "Harmful to minors" is defined as content describing or representing nudity, sexual conduct or sexual excitement, "so as to appeal predominantly to the prurient interest of minors." Section four of the bill is where the civil rights lawyers are going to have a field day. It states a game is harmful to minors if it "lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors." That's about as broad as making brush strokes with Mr. Fantastic's super powers.

Why does this all seem oddly familiar? This bill was created with the assistance of Jack Thompson and similar versions were shot down in Utah and deemed unconstitutional in Louisiana. Mayor Thomas Menino, one of the petitioners of the bill, was one of those who pushed through a ban on M rated game advertisements on the subway and got very upset during the infamous Aqua Teen Hunger Force bomb incident. Hopefully this bill will die somewhere along the path, because we're sure the citizens of Massachusetts aren't looking to pay back the ESA when this bill is deemed unconstitutional in the courts ... again.

Massachusetts tries Jack Thompson's failed Utah game bill originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 23:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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