Arizona's Senate Judiciary Committee killed House Bill 2660 in a 4-2 vote; the legislation would have held media content producers liable for violent acts committed by consumers of video games, movies, TV and books. GamePolitics reports that the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Warde Nichols (R), says he will reintroduce a more concisely-written version in 2009. He believes, "At the end of the day, companies will have to stand before their customers and shareholders and explain why they are OK with the production and distribution of violent, forced, non-consensual sex acts."

The bill was written by attorney Keith Perkins, who runs the Never Again Foundation, and represents rape victims in civil suits. Perkins states under Arizona's current law victims can only sue attackers, but that the money they would collect is minimal -- media groups have much deeper pockets for victims (and their lawyers who get a cut of the settlement). It looks like Nichols' bill bit off way more than it could chew. Sen. Ken Cheuvront (D) put it best when he said the bill was too broad and passing it might have unintended consequences.

A new Arizona bill aims to take on the entire media industry. House Bill 2660, which passed the state House of Representatives last month, aims to make a person "liable for damages if the person produces, publishes or distributes written, audio, video or digital material" that is deemed "dangerous or obscene." Such wording could apply to books, websites, video games, movies, TV shows and Numa Numa.

While the bill sounds ridiculous to the point of fiction, it is causing many to be concerned -- for example, who decides what is dangerous and obscene? The Video Game Voters Network has issued a call to action over the bill, and representatives for the MPAA and the Arizona Newspaper Associations have taken issue with it.

We at Joystiq aren't too worried. Should the bill pass, it would logically self-destruct, seeing as it is also dangerous and obscene written material.

[Via Game Politics]

The Sunburnt Country has never been a very friendly place for video games with adult content. With a maximum game rating of MA15+, games which are deemed unsuitable for the pubescent, corruptible senses of a 15-year-old are often refused classification, and therefore banned. Several North American best-sellers have fallen victim to Australian banning, or been forced to release censored versions for the land down under, such as GTA III, Postal, Manhunt, and (preemptive attack!) Dark Sector.

Luckily for gaming Aussies (50 percent of which are over the age of 18), government officials are considering the addition of an R18+ rating, allowing the sale of more mature titles. This proposition will be discussed at the next Standing Committee of Attorneys-General on March 28. Should the system undergo the change, for the first time in Australian video games, there will be blood, nudity, and strong language. You know, the good stuff.

According to British newspaper The Guardian, a new classification system is set to be introduced for video games sold in the United Kingdom. The proposal would deem the rating system legally binding, making it against the law for retailers to sell games to persons below the recommended age rating.

The Guardian does not state who would be responsible for administering the new ratings, although a likely candidate would be the British Board of Film Classification, who spearheaded the Manhunt 2 ban. Although we're hesitant whenever the government tries to step in and tell us what to play (that whole censorship thing), perhaps with a new system they can implement a rating that would allow games like Manhunt 2 to be carried. (Hey, we can dream.)

The proposal also goes into ways the government can restrict children from seeing unsuitable games (don't forget all new consoles have family settings) and internet content. A commissioned review of violence and video games is due next month.

Grasshopper Manufacture CEO Goichi "Suda 51" Suda has made himself a target for fans angered by a recent display of perceived censorship in the European version of upcoming sword swinger, No More Heroes. Much like its Japanese counterpart, No More Euros has been scrubbed clean of blood, rewarding each violent slash with a spectacular gush of coins. In that sense, it couldn't be a more accurate metaphorical representation of the hitman motif that carries over from Suda 51's Killer 7.

Regardless, a statement issued by Goichi Suda and Marvelous president Yashiro Wada hopes to divert the outrage away from publisher Rising Star games, noting that the decision was made "to release in Europe the same version as has shipped in Japan considering the broadly growing Wii market." Apparently, said broadly growing Wii market is entirely separate from that in America, where it's perfectly alright to add blood to the localized No More Heroes. A pretty weak justification then, likely conjured up to avoid a possible BBFC ban-trum.

Even though your "Bros b4 hos" Gamer Motto may be both poignant and accurate, you may want to rethink it if you plan on playing on Xbox Live this weekend. Savings sultan CheapyD warns that his account was suspended for around 24 hours for his seemingly innocuous motto of "Konichiwa, bitches!" Another user on the site got a similar punishment for "called the šhit þoop," which is probably a bit more fair.

As Cheapy points out, a warning probably would have been sufficient, instead of automatically suspending a paying customer's account. There's still no word on whether or not Van Halen fans will get similar punishment for using their mottos to celebrate For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.

The United Arab Emirates might have just gotten the Xbox 360, but the country's government doesn't want people playing some of the more violent games out there. That's OK, though -- the citizens of the country seem to have no trouble getting hold of the banned games, according to a recent report.

Gulf News reveals that UAE retailers routinely sell games like Grand Theft Auto under the table for 170 to 180 dirham (about $45 - $50) despite an official ban from the country's censorship department. "Smaller stores tend to buy games from wholesalers without getting official approval, or import it directly, many of which would be sold under the table." said Lalit Vase, Regional Manager at Take Two Regional Distributor Red Entertainment and Distribution in an interview with Gulf News. Even if the local UAE stores don't have it, it's usually possible to get around the law with Internet ordering.

It begs the question: If video game bans aren't effective in relatively closed states like the UAE, how effective would similar bans be in more liberal societies?

In an article published today titled "The Breasts that Broke the Game", The Escapist re-visits a bit of news that should have caused a commotion but barely grabbed our attention. In April of last year, the ESRB changed the rating of Oblivion from "T" to "M", citing newly-discovered gore and violence as well as a user-made mod that made all the female characters topless. Bethesda crafted the perfect response, agreeing to comply with the ratings upgrade but reminding everyone it has no control over third-party creations.

The mod was created because a woman named Maeyanie hated "government/society/whatever forcing companies to 'protect our innocent population from seeing those evil dirty things 50% of them possess personally anyways'". The Escapist points out that the mod was tame, featuring little more than Barbie doll-style nudity, yet the ESRB still flipped out.

User-made content is fast becoming the focus of videogames (see Spore, LittleBigPlanet, The Sims), and with that will come an influx of sex-related creations. How should the ESRB respond? With a new ratings category ("W" for "We're not responsible")? Slapping an "M" on every game that gives you an iota of customization control?

Capcom tells Joystiq that the Wii edition of Resident Evil 4 will not be censored following rumors the survival-horror masterpiece would be altered for the console. The rumor started when a report surfaced that the Japanese Wii version had been "weirdly censored." The reporter for NextGen wrote, "I suppose Capcom is undertaking some kind of social responsibility, trying to keep kids from understanding that shooting someone in the head kills them, though really, am I the only person who finds it kind of ridiculous?"

We aren't that well aware of the Japanese version of the game, but reports have it that the original RE4 in Japan for the Gamecube and the PS2 version never had the level of violence seen in the international version. We're guessing that if there was some new censorship in the Japanese game, Famitsu probably would have mentioned it in their 9.5 rating for the title. A Capcom spokesperson told us, "The RE4 Wii edition that I've played is not lacking in the elements that gave it an M rating."

Should video games be expurgated for perceived obscene and/or indecent content? At 4:00 p.m. EDT today, Xfire Debate Club will be hosting talks concerning video game censorship. The heated exchange of words will be moderated by Henry Lowood of Stanford University. Other participants include:

• California State Senator Leland Yee
• ECA CEO Hal Halpin
• Game Politics Editor (and Joystiq contributor) Dennis McCauley
• Russ Pitts of Escapist Magazine
• Video game researcher Matteo Bittanti
• Dan Isett, Parents Television Council

Those interested in participating in the debate can contact Xfire directly (Xfire account is required), although you may not be able to reach them this close to the start. A transcript is forthcoming.

Update: the transcript is now available.

Brenda Brathwaite is a vocal advocate within the industry known for frank discussions on sex, censorship and ESRB issues. Recently she was awarded the 2007 Presidential Fellowship at the Savannah
College of Art and Design to create a lecture and gallery exhibit titled, "What You Don't Know About Video Games..." The installation is aimed at parents and others unfamiliar with video games and the industry. The lecture is designed to cover all kinds of topics like ratings, game content, career options and the good video games are doing in all kinds of fields.

The portion that Brathwaite is most excited about is the exhibit. It'll be in an actual gallery space and will give parents a hands-on guided tour of video games at every rating level from E to AO. The latter, of course, will not be readily viewable, and not at all viewable by those under 18. Brathwaite says, "For me, the motivation comes from both being a parent, a game designer and an acquaintance of many parents who know little about our industry, or believe that video games 'are just for kids,' or some great violence-filled, blood-soaked evil ... Hopefully, they'll come away more knowledgeable about our industry, excited about the games we make and better able to make informed choices at retail."

For those who have seen Brathwaite speak, she knows how to keep an audience's attention. She explains large concepts in a clear and entertaining manner. If there is anyone we think can explain the industry to parents evenly by showing the good and the bad -- it's Brathwaite. We'll learn more about exhibit details and look forward to some preview photos as the opening draws near. What we're really hoping for is a good internet video of the lecture and exhibit for those who can't get to Savannah but want to see it -- or show it to someone who should.

Spectrobes, Disney Interactive Studios' answer to Pokemon, seems to harbor a secret grudge against software developer Sega. When naming your captured creatures the "naughty words list" prevents you from using the company's name. Other development studios are fair-game, so why pick on Sega?

Relax. While the word "Sega" conjures images of blue hedgehogs in our minds, the word brings up a very different set of images for Italians. It appears Disney Interactive is taking their word censorship efforts above and beyond the English language. Siliconera tried entering a few French swear words and received the same response.

The moral of the story: if you want to name your Spectrobes with dirty words, consider using 1337 5p34k.

[Via DS Fanboy]

In his final speech as president of the ESA, an inspired Doug Lowenstein took to the D.I.C.E. podium and called on industry professionals in attendance and beyond to join the 'fight' to defend games from unconstitutional censorship. Lowenstein reprimanded the unnamed publishers and developers who "cut and run" when their games become media and political targets; and he criticized the overwhelming tide of apathy, epitomized by a lack of support for the Video Game Voters Network. "No one has bothered to take the time to do that, and it makes me sick," barked Lowenstein. "No matter how good we are, and we're good, we can't win the war without an army. And you're the army. And most of the people in this room who have the most at stake are too lazy to join this army ... Don't let others fight the fight for you, because in the end we won't have enough soldiers to succeed."

In considering these grave remarks, Gamasutra posed the following question to professional game developers: "Is Doug Lowenstein fair in his farewell speech comments that game professionals are failing to stand up for their freedom? If he is, what should we each be doing to ensure that censorship is not an issue in the game industry?"

Replies have since been posted, revealing some predictably polarized comments. But the respondents all seem to share a fundamental adoration of games; there's a sense that each has been deeply touched by the medium. It's difficult enough to protect those things which bleed and suffer, but it's the duty of us gamers (not just the professionals) to provide the freedom for our beloved to grow.

[Via /.]

San Francisco's Art Institute of California administrators confiscated copies of a magazine due to one piece. The offending work was Simone Mitchell's story Homicide, a tale of three black youths who go on A Clockwork Orange-style romp. The big twist ending is that it was all a video game being played by three white boys in the 'burbs. That's a better ending than M. Night Shyamalan's last piece of schlock.

Mitchell, who is black, says, "There are so many stereotypes in games, of African Americans as thugs, for example. Video gamers are exposed to this kind of violence and offensive language all the time and need to think about what they are doing."

Teacher Robert Ovetz (pictured) who protested the censorship was fired. State Senator Leland Yee, who actually wrote California's controversial game law, attacked the school for the censorship and for firing Ovetz.

How can an art school, typically a bastion of free thinking, censor a piece of work? The school even went so far as to not allow a copy of the magazine be kept in the school's library archive. We'd rage and scream, but we've seen Leland Yee in action and we're sure he'll do a perfectly good job. Maybe defending a violent story, about a violent video game, will help Yee finally tie the two things together in his mind. Mitchell's work may have more ripple effects than originally expected.

EU justice commissioner Franco Frattini wants to establish "basic standards" in games during "design stage, production and retail sale." The retail details are setting parental advisory warnings and age restrictions on sale, it's the "standards" for the "design stage" and "production" that should make gamers in Europe nervous.

It is still unclear whether these "design" standards would affect game content developed in Europe being shipped off the continent. More details will be given at an EU justice meeting next month in Germany. Frattini is supported by British Home Secretary John Reid, but Reid has been quoted as saying he's more concerned about child pornography being a danger than video games.

There was a time when American politicians were the ignorant ones, but with recent changes by the most powerful outspoken critics in the states, it looks like Europe can take the crown. It's about time Europe gets a powerful First Amendment going because it's the only thing that protected games in the states from "design" censorship.

See also:

• Kiddie porn trumps video games
• UK study suggests games contribute to dearth in vocabulary