Joystiq

House bill proposes fines on retail games without ESRB ratings, prohibition of some sales to minors

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:00:00 EST

Bill H.R.287, or the "Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act" as it will likely be more widely known, seeks to accomplish three goals: To make illegal the act of selling or renting video games that have not been evaluated by the ESRB, to legally prohibit the sale of Adults Only/Mature games to anyone under the age of 18/17 respectively, and to institute a fine not in excess of $5,000 in the event of noncompliance.

The bill's second and third provisions aside, mandating that all games be rated doesn't sound too wildly outside the scope of reason, save for the fact that the industry's current architecture supports that already. Granted, indie games that end up on Steam or other PC/Mac distribution platforms may not seek out ESRB evaluation, but any game released for any console must have an ESRB rating, as Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft will refuse licensing otherwise.

If the rest of what VGREA is attempting to accomplish sounds familiar, it's because the Supreme Court of the United States already declared such legislation unconstitutional way back in June of 2011. So, unless time is cyclical and this bill is actually what the court ruled on in 2011, the chances of this new one getting off the ground are pretty slim.

House bill proposes fines on retail games without ESRB ratings, prohibition of some sales to minors originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Events 2012: SOPA

Jordan Mallory — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 16:30:00 EST

The Stop Online Piracy Act, had it been successfully enacted, would have given US law enforcement agencies the ability to legally bar search engines from linking to websites that were deemed to host copyright-violating content (whatever that may be), provided said agencies were able to obtain a court order.

It also would have given law enforcement the ability to bar advertisers and e-commerce payment providers from doing business with offending websites, but the bill's real party peace was its ability to block access to infringing websites at the ISP level.

If you think that sounds oddly familiar, that's because it's essentially what The Patriots were trying to accomplish in Metal Gear Solid 2, although the bill's less clandestine methodology wouldn't have required the construction of a massive submersible aquatic fortress.

As troubling as all that sounds, internet legislation isn't really in our wheelhouse since we're a video game website and everything. Once Nintendo, Sony and EA all put their weight behind the bill, however, the issue suddenly fell under our jurisdiction and became much more complicated, especially once Microsoft, Apple and a consortium of other tech giants expressed their support.

Of course, anything that threatens the Internet's right to free speech is swiftly met by the razor-sharp blade of e-activism, with the whole of the Internet collapsing into a singularity of outrage aimed directly at the companies in support of the bill. As public objection grew, Microsoft, Apple and the other members of the Business Software Alliance rescinded their support almost immediately. Nintendo, Sony and EA followed suit shortly thereafter, though the ESA (of which they are all members) remained in support of SOPA.

Rep. Lamar Smith (who had originally authored the bill) eventually announced that he was removing the DNS-blocking portions of the legislation, making the proposed bill somewhat less insane, but still plenty dangerous. Shortly thereafter, House Oversight Committee chairman Darrell Issa cancelled a scheduled hearing and indefinitely postponed voting on SOPA, effectively placing the bill into a state of suspended animation. A similar hold was placed on SOPA's Senate sister PIPA, which sought to accomplish the same goals. It was not until both pieces of legislation had effectively been killed that ESA withdrew its support.

Events 2012: SOPA originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet Bill, the grizzled elderly gentleman in The Last of Us

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST

Bill's doing fine on his own ... then Ellie and Joel come busting through his boobytraps, calling on old favors for him to piece together a workable vehicle. Like so many characters we've seen in The Last of Us, Bill isn't what we'd call "all there." The end of society will do that to a man, it seems.

Meet Bill, the grizzled elderly gentleman in The Last of Us originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oklahoma's tax on violent games killed

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:15:00 EST

The Oklahoma bill that would have placed a 1 percent tax on "violent" video games was viciously murdered by the state's House Revenue and Tax Subcommittee on February 20. The bill, submitted by Representative Will Fourkiller, would have placed the tax on Teen, Mature and Adults Only-rated titles. Rep. Fourkiller tried to compromise with the "Oklahoma Task Force on Video Games' Relationship to Obesity and Aggression"... it also failed.

Taxpayers in Oklahoma should probably burst out into song and thank their lucky stars. Similar legislation has been defeated in other states, with the ESA recouping costs on lawyers fees. California has paid out nearly $2 million for its unconstitutional attempts to pass laws on the matter.

Oklahoma's tax on violent games killed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oklahoma attempts violent-game tax, ESA responds

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST

O-K oy vey -- some States just never learn. Oklahoma State Representative William Fourkiller has proposed a 1 percent tax on Teen, Mature and Adults Only-rated games.

Fourkiller says, "Violent video games contribute to some of our societal problems like obesity and bullying, but because they raise a lot of revenue, they can also provide part of the solution." The proposed bill would have half of the money go to a bullying prevention fund and the other to get kids out of the house.

You can imagine the Entertainment Software Association, which just last week got the State of California to agree to reimburse it $950,000 in legal fees (on top of another check back in 2008) for fighting Brown v. EMA up to the Supreme Court, has something to say on this subject.

"We are disappointed that even in the wake of an overwhelming decision in the United States Supreme Court finding proposals such as this to be patently unconstitutional, there are those who still try to attack video game with outdated notions of our industry," the ESA told Joystiq. "Taxing First Amendment protected material based on its content is misguided."

California will have paid the ESA more than $1,327,000 to reimburse legal fees, while other states have also had to pay back the industry's lobbying and political arm for fighting similar bills. Turn back now, Oklahoma. Turn back now while you still can!

Oklahoma attempts violent-game tax, ESA responds originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple and Microsoft join Nintendo et al in support of Internet-censorship bill

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST

Initially we though Apple and Microsoft had come out in support of sopaipillas, the delicious and flaky fried pastry treat served in parts of Central and South America, as well as the North American Southwest. Imagine our surprise when we discovered that what they're actually supporting is the far less scrumptious SOPA, or "Stop Online Piracy Act" which Nintendo, EA and Sony have already put their weight behind.

The supporting statement didn't come from Apple or Microsoft directly, but rather through the Business Software Alliance; a trade group that represents both Apple and Microsoft, as well as other tech giants such as Adobe, McAfee, Dell and Symantec. Meanwhile, Internet-technology companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter and Zynga have taken a vocal ~~anti-sopaipilla~~ anti-SOPA stance, going so far as to purchase a full-page ad in the New York Times.

We're pretty worried this bill is going to pass, truth be told, so we're going to take this opportunity to say everything we won't be able to say once Internet censorship becomes the norm. Okay, ready?

Hey Internet, [REMOVED].

Apple and Microsoft join Nintendo et al in support of Internet-censorship bill originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Let's Play' videos may soon make you a felon thanks to Senate Bill S.978 [Updated]

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 22:30:00 EST

[Update: This Is My Next's Nilay Patel has published an extensive break-down of S.978, and it looks like the bill, if passed, wouldn't actually change much of anything for the majority of people who don't profit from their YouTube videos. "Some of the outcry here is a little overblown, as the text of the bill isn't quite as bad as you might think."]

Hold on to your butts, Internet, because this party is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets any better. According to Game Informer, a Senate Bill has been introduced which, if passed, would make streaming unauthorized copyrighted material a felony, resulting in up to 5-years of jail time.

Bill S.978 states that "10 or more public performances by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of 1 or more copyrighted works" will result in "not more than 5 years" of imprisonment, so long as the performance in question is valued at at-least $2,500 USD, or if the value of a license to legally "perform" the content is valued at $5,000 or more.

These are, in essence, the same criteria that allow for DMCA take-down notices to be issued by copyright holders, however jail time and felony status are not currently associated with this particular flavor of copyright infringement. Should this bill jump through all the right hoops, its broadly worded contents could potentially cover everything from homemade gameplay clips (commonly referred to "Let's Play" videos), to fan-made music videos, webcam cover songs, and anything else that involves copyrighted music or video. S.978 could also potentially cover cell-phone videos of concerts and press events, making 13-year-old Beliebers and jaded gaming journalists alike equally in danger of losing their right to vote.

If accepted into law, these addenda will be attached to existing copyright laws and will not only apply to YouTube users, but to the sites that embed YouTube content as well. Internet activism group Demand Progress has set up a web-form for those who disagree with the legislation and wish to communicate their displeasure to their local representatives. We would be concerned about the bill's implications as well, but fear not dear reader: the legislation doesn't cover puppet shows as far as we can tell, so Joystiq Playhouse's shadow-kabuki production of Battle Arena Toshinden should still be on track.

'Let's Play' videos may soon make you a felon thanks to Senate Bill S.978 [Updated] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Jul 2011 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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Warhammer Online 'billing error' results in massively multiplayer overcharge

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:06:00 EST

Just like that, we suddenly understand some peoples' stern distaste for subscription-based MMOs. A recent bug in the Warhammer Online billing system charged some players its $14.99 monthly fee dozens of times on their monthly due dates. The amount of the overcharge differs from user to user -- reports on this forum thread average between $200 and $500. One player, who claimed to be repeatedly charged for a $77.94 six-month subscription, was hit with fees totaling $1013.12.

The cause of the error is currently unclear, as is the scope of its impact on the game's subscriber base. EA's billing support department is now in full-on crisis recovery mode, working with each affected player's financial institution to refund the fees within "24-36 hours." Considering that this debacle could have likely led to any number of overdraft fees and bounced rent checks for the over-charged, it could prove quite a costly recovery for EA.

[Via Kotaku]

Warhammer Online 'billing error' results in massively multiplayer overcharge originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brazilian senator hopes to ban sale of 'offensive' games

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST

[Rondonia Digital]

Though Brazil is no stranger to banning video games, a recently proposed bill from Senator Valdir Raupp certainly seems pretty drastic. Raupp's bill, which was recently passed by the Education Commission of the Senate, and will now go to vote in the Committee on Constitution and Justice, seeks to "curb the manufacture, distribution, importation, distribution, trading and custody, storage [of] the video games that affect the customs [and] traditions of the people, their worship, creeds, religions and symbols."

According to Brazilian news site UOL, if the bill passes, folks caught violating the law could be subject to one to three years imprisonment. That's quite a bit of jail time to serve for just importing a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV, dont'cha think?

[Via GamePolitics]

Brazilian senator hopes to ban sale of 'offensive' games originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Venezuela could completely ban the sale of violent video games

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:00:00 EST

If a bill currently being reviewed by Venezuela's parliament is formally approved by the nation's president, then gamers living in the country may have (legally) purchased their last M-rated title. The "Bill for the Prohibition of Video Games and Toy Weapons" aims to completely ban the sale of violent video games (and, as you may have guessed, toy weapons) in the country. It was approved by the National Assembly yesterday, and now must be approved in one more debate and signed by the president to become a law.

The bill was written out of concern for the negative effect violent video games and toys are having on the nation's youth (sigh), but was also created to prevent the use of toy weapons in real crimes. We'd scoff at this, too -- but we just watched a harrowing cinematic example of this type of criminal activity. It must be stopped!

Venezuela could completely ban the sale of violent video games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jack Thompson writes bill for Utah, tries new angle

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:12:00 EST

Shockingly, Jack Thompson still has people who'll listen to him, as the disbarred former attorney has gained some traction in his crusade against video games in Utah. State Rep. Mike Morley (R) has presented a new bill, written by Thompson, which hits retailers with false advertising charges for selling mature games or films to minors. A previous Thompson-written bill in Utah failed.

Speaking with a lobbyist familiar with media content issues, GamePolitics notes that this new bill, along with the state of Utah, is a little different than the last time Thompson tried his shenanigans. Even with Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's support of the game industry, the conservative wing of the Utah legislature has recently been reinforced and could pass a bill that might pass judicial review. However, as always, we know the ESA's lawyers are sharpening their knives and getting excited about all those billable hours if Utah passes anything. If the past is any indication, the ESA will win and Utah taxpayers will foot the bill.

Jack Thompson writes bill for Utah, tries new angle originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oklahoma senator proposes tax incentives for devs of non-Mature games

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Politics

Oklahoma offers a surprisingly accommodating atmosphere for media producers -- the state offers tax incentives for many creators of TV shows, films and commercials, provided they do said production in-state. Now, Sen. Anthony Sykes (R) is attempting to offer the same sweet deal to creators of video games, but with one small caveat -- the incentives would only apply to developers of games that garner a Teen rating or lower from the ESRB.

It's a policy that's not exactly equal to somewhat similar restrictions placed on the other types incentive-earning media -- for instance, to be eligible, films and TV shows cannot contain child pornography or obscenity, meaning an R rated film or TV-MA show could ostensibly earn the incentive, while a video game adaptation of said film/show likely would not. It's not clear whether the bill will pick up enough momentum to get passed, though a similar bill was successfully adopted in neighboring state Texas.

Oklahoma senator proposes tax incentives for devs of non-Mature games originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Federal legislation proposes ID checks for video game retailers

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:26:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

A bipartisan bill proposed in the House seeks to require video game retailers to check IDs before selling M- or AO-rated games to minors. Variety reports Reps. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) and Lee Terry (R-Neb) have proposed the Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act to protect children, as Terry puts it, from some games where "scores are often earned by players who commit 'virtual' murder, assault and rape."

As GamePolitics points out, both representatives have tried and failed at taking on video games before. If the bill becomes law, retailers who don't post a sign explaining the ratings system or sell an M-rated game to a minor would be charged a $5000 civil penalty.

[Via GamePolitics]

Federal legislation proposes ID checks for video game retailers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 May 2008 13:26:00 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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Minnesota's game bill loses again on appeal

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Politics

The 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld a ruling from 2006 stopping a Minnesota bill which attemped to fine minors $25 for trying to buy M- or AO-rated games. The Star Tribune reports a three-judge panel concluded that violent video games fall under First Amendment free speech protections and therefore the law can only hold if it is proven as "necessary to serve a compelling state interest and ... is narrowly tailored to achieve that end." The state introduced evidence, but could not prove a causal relationship between violent video games and aggressive behavior in children. Massachusetts politicians should probably take note, as they drive eyes wide open into a similar legal wall.

In a statement sent to Joystiq (full text after the break), the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) stated it is both "pleased and encouraged" by today's ruling. The organization believes a combination of parental choice and oversight is the "only legal, sensible, and most importantly, effective way to empower parents." Expect a bill for the court fees soon enough, Minnesota.

[Thanks Chris, Via GamePolitics]

Continue reading Minnesota's game bill loses again on appeal

Minnesota's game bill loses again on appeal originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bill seeks to legalize video game betting

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, First Person Shooters, Online, Competitive Gaming, Politics

A new bill to be proposed by Florida Rep. Robert Wexler (D) would seek to exempt "games of skill" from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). While the obvious goal is to protect poker from the UIGEA, the bill would presumably allow for the establishment of online betting networks for most video games. While casinos in Second Life (featuring games of chance, like slots, roulette, etc.) would remain illegal, theoretically, a company could establish a site that took round by round bets on Halo 3 matches, inviting leet slayers to put they monies where they mouths at.

Of course, the UIGEA was established in part to quell the enormous debt that online poker players have amassed, so don't expect this bill to float on by Congress. Still, just imagine the hustler-like subculture that would grow from out of the basements of red-eyed gaming junkies if the bill did pass. Sorta terrifying. Sorta tempting.

[Thanks, dark54555]

Bill seeks to legalize video game betting originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo Wii takes Engadget Awards

Jason Wishnov — Mon, 14 May 2007 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

Nintendo Wii Fanboy is related, in an odd sort of second-cousin once-removed kind of way, to the hyper-popular Engadget, which like totally everyone reads all the time forever. As such, their annual Engadget awards are nothing to sneeze at, and so we look with great pride (we helped, after all) at their selections for 2k6. Let's take a glance at the honors:

Reader's Choice: Most Innovative Peripheral
Reader's Choice: Game Console of the Year
Editor's Choice: Game Console of the Year
Reader's Choice: Gadget of the Year (!!!)
Editor's Choice: Gadget of the Year (!!!)

Yeah, that's right. That means the Wii pretty much wins at life. It's quite a series of awards, but which console will take home 2007? It may come down to one showdown: Halo 3 vs. Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Which will suck up more of the average gamer's free time? Bring it, Chiefy.

Nintendo Wii takes Engadget Awards originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 May 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indiana game bill put on ice

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

The Indiana State Senate has elected to stall legislation that would have made the sale of M- and AO-rated games to minors unlawful and punishable by up a $1,000 fine. Despite being approved by a Senate committee earlier this week, the bill has been deemed unconstitutional in its current state and will be passed along to a study committee for further evaluation -- and, as co-sponsor Sen. David Ford (R) hopes, revised to pass under the First Amendment. "Eventually we're going to have to deal with it," warned Sen. Vi Simpson (D), the bill's other co-sponsor.

[Via GamePolitics]

Indiana game bill put on ice originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jack Thompson and Utah AG have spat

Alexander Sliwinski — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

Earlier this week, Utah's Jack Thompson-authored video game bill was pulled by Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff because he believed the bill would be found unconstitutional. This, of course, sent Thompson into a whirling tizzy and caused him to do the typical press release pimp-slap against Shurtleff.

Thompson writes, "This is a constitutional bill. I ought to know. I drafted one nearly identical to it for Louisiana, and we got it passed unanimously... The federal judge declared it unconstitutional because, he said, 'there is no evidence that these games are harmful. The Attorney General has provided me no evidence.' And the judge was right, because the Louisiana AG took what we call 'a dive.' ... because he wanted the law to fail."

Thompson is in Utah today giving a speech at the ultra-conservative Eagle Forum in Salt Lake City -- so we're sure some lovely barbs will be thrown at Shurtleff. AG Shurtleff probably wasn't too keen on having Utah suffer the same fate as Illinois, which was forced to pay back the gaming industry the half-million they spent fighting a similar bill that was deemed unconstitutional. Next stop on the Thompson anti-game express: Massachusetts. All aboard!

Jack Thompson and Utah AG have spat originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Jan 2007 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA's "spyware" targeted by CA lawmaker

James Ransom-Wiley — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Business

California Assemblywoman Lori Saldana could soon introduce a bill into state legislature that would halt companies like EA from including spyware technologies in their games. Battlefield 2142 has come under scrutiny for requiring players to install software that collects personal data from users' PCs and transfers it to foreign servers for advertising purposes. Consumers aren't warned of the adware application until opening the game box.

Beth Givens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse calls EA's methods "particularly vile," prompting Saldana to consider legislation. "A parental notice telling them private information might be at risk is important to have," Saldana told a local news station.

[Via GamePolitics]

EA's "spyware" targeted by CA lawmaker originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Proposed legislation: ESRB must complete every game

Zack Stern — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Business

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) has proposed a bill that would require the ESRB to play games in their entirety before providing a rating. This, like so much other legislation, establishes how little the government knows about games, making us concerned when it tries to legislate gaming.

The punch-line, as you've guessed, is that there's not enough time for the ESRB to play every game. That's like asking a chef to make every possible meal before rating a restaurant. And how do you decide when an MMO, or even a repetitive game like Tetris, is complete?

Under the current rating system, publishers provide the ESRB with video of the gameplay and detailed information about a game's content. The ESRB may also play the game, but the group relies most on publishers' full disclosure. If the publisher lies about the game, that company faces fines and the possibility that the ESRB won't rate its future releases. (Most major chains won't stock unrated titles.)

Legislation like this, where our representatives don't understand the subject of their bills, makes us uncomfortable. We hope that logic will end this proposal, but logic seems to evaporate the closer we get to Congressional elections.

[Via: Digg]

Proposed legislation: ESRB must complete every game originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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