Joystiq

Minnesota game law's only recourse is Supreme Court

Alexander Sliwinski — 2008-05-09T18:00:00+00:00

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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Video Game Voters Network starts Stop Schwarzenegger Campaign

Justin McElroy — 2007-08-14T14:13:00+00:00

Filed under: Culture, Politics

You have to give it to the Video Game Voters Network: They've got guts. The organization is attempting to do what T-1000, Sinbad, a kindergarten class, and yes, The Devil himself could not: Stop Arnold Schwarzenegger. As you may already know, the governor of California (does anyone else still get the feeling we're living in Bizarro World?) is moving forward on an appeal of a judge's ruling that proposed AB 1179, which would legally ban minors from buying "violent video games," is unconstitutional.

The VGVN is trying to preempt the action, asking Californians to send this letter or one of their own creation to Schwarzenegger as they implore him to drop the bill and instead focus on education. "But Joystiq," we hear you ask, "if it's already been ruled unconstitutional, why does he continue to fight? What could Schwarzenegger possibly have against the Constitution?" Oh dear, sweet reader. We should think it would be obvious.

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Governator says California game law will be back

Alexander Sliwinski — 2007-08-07T11:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Culture

Following yesterday's belief that the California game law had been terminated, comes word that Gov. Schwarzenegger isn't done protecting the bill's targeted youth. GamePolitics reports the governor's office sent out a press release that he will appeal the judge's ruling from yesterday which placed a permanent injunction on the bill. Schwarzenegger says, "I will vigorously defend this law and appeal it to the next level."

If this thing is going to make a second pass, it might be time to take a quick refresher course on AB 1179. The bill would put another layer of California red tape on top of the ESRB's rating system. Any game deemed "violent" would have a big ol' 18 sticker on it and retailers would be fined $1000 for selling it to minors. Although this does sound perfectly reasonable, it essentially deems certain games on the level of porn and just irks First Amendment advocates. Also, let's not even open up the Pandora's box of irony that Arnold Schwarzenegger is the figurehead on this -- how many of you saw T2 for the first time underage in the theater?

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