The RWP

Yuoko · #1 8th June 2006, 01:19 AM

"Last Friday, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed a bill restricting game sales into law. Though it was immediately challenged in court by the Entertainment Software Association, its rather mild terms didn't exactly sow panic among gamers. The law would fine minors who attempted to buy Mature- and Adults Only-rated games $25 and ask game retailers post a sign warning of the fine in their stores.

Late yesterday, another game bill moved one step closer to law in Louisiana. However, the measure has stirred up a much larger controversy in the industry for two reasons: its draconian terms, which are based on previously upheld obscenity laws, and its coauthor, vociferous antigame activist Jack Thompson.

Written by Representative Roy Burrell (D-District 2) and Thompson, HB1381 would make it illegal to sell, rent, or lease a game to a minor if it met three conditions. First, if the "average person" would think "appeals to the minor's morbid interest in violence." Second, if it "depicts violence in a manner patently offensive to prevailing standards." Lastly, a game would only qualify if it "lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors." Violators could be fined between $100 and $2,000 and sentenced to up to 12 months in a state prison.

After being approved by a key committee last week, HB1381 was passed last night in a 35-0 vote in the Louisiana State Senate, according to watchdog site GamePolitics.com. The bill will now be presented to Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco, who made national headlines during the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina last fall. The Governor is expected to sign the bill, given the unanimous vote and the recent linking of games and teenage murder suspects in the Louisiana media. If that happens, expect an ESA legal filing to follow shortly."

Source= http://www.gamespot.com/news/6152466.html
I don't know what's scarier, this actually passed, or no one's stood up to it yet.

Banjo's Banjo · #2 8th June 2006, 02:14 AM

- The first law (ala the Minnesota one) doesn't seem to be an issue at all. Besides the fact that it doesn't seem to be easy to enforce (along the lines of jaywalking, movie hopping, etc), it actually, you know, makes sense.

- The second one however does raise some flags however. Besides being a Thompson endeavor, the terms of said law seem to be condescending in several different ways. Beyond the wording, it also could result in a slippery slope effect which could lead to huge video game debate issues later down the line. (If any of this actually had an effect on me, I'd probably go into greater detail, but considering this only impacts minors I figured I'd be brief.)

- This reminds me a lot of the net neutrality debate in that it's relevant but hasn't hit the mainstream media. Not a good thing if you ask me.

vaticandrummer · #3 8th June 2006, 02:35 PM

I hate Jack Thompson. What a *****ing douchebag. Yeah, so that'll be a great idea, you stupid prick. Put guys who sell M-rated games to minors in jail, along with rapists, murders, theives and the like. Not to mention the government will take $2000 out of their pockets, $2000 that they won't have. *****ing stupid.

Yuoko · #4 8th June 2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vaticandrummer

I hate Jack Thompson. What a *****ing douchebag. Yeah, so that'll be a great idea, you stupid prick. Put guys who sell M-rated games to minors in jail, along with rapists, murders, theives and the like. Not to mention the government will take $2000 out of their pockets, $2000 that they won't have. *****ing stupid.

Thompson couldn't care less what we think.
After all, Thompson, we shoot people in the face, right?

LaorBR · #5 8th June 2006, 05:53 PM

So, let me see if I got it right: a mature-rated game can only be sold to children if their own parents go to the store and pick it up, right?
I think that this way the responsibility will fall on their parents. So if their kids decide to go killing someone, the parents are the only ones to blame, after all they were warned what they were bringing home in the first place.

No more "I didn't know that game was soo violent" BS.
I dunno, but I kinda like this idea.

Gold Jinjo · #6 8th June 2006, 06:08 PM

Kids aren't supposed to be buying/playing Mature and Adult Only rated games anyway. This really doesn't effect most of us who are already 17/18+

I think what this is really about is government regulation, which is what the ESRB is supposed to keep at bay. This is why Penny Arcade are backing them up with their new line of ads. The ESRB needs to have a bigger and better presence so that this same thing doesn't happen elsewhere. Screw kids, they shouldn't be playing these games, like I said. But when the government steps in... that's where I have a problem.

vaticandrummer · #7 8th June 2006, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gold Jinjo

Kids aren't supposed to be buying/playing Mature and Adult Only rated games anyway. This really doesn't effect most of us who are already 17/18+

I think what this is really about is government regulation, which is what the ESRB is supposed to keep at bay. This is why Penny Arcade are backing them up with their new line of ads. The ESRB needs to have a bigger and better presence so that this same thing doesn't happen elsewhere. Screw kids, they shouldn't be playing these games, like I said. But when the government steps in... that's where I have a problem.

I agree. The ESRB should enforce these ratings, but, if these kids want to play these violent games bad enough, they'll get them.

I think it shouldn't be up to the government to regulate all this crap, it should be up to the parents. The ESRB is meant to be a warning to parents about the content in games, but these parents are blaming (and sueing) the ESRB and game companies for the content in their games. It's like those idiots sueing fast food companies for making them fat, when they know that the fast food is not particularly healthy for them.

Not every kid who plays a violent game goes out and kills people, that's the big misconception. Thompsonator thinks that every "pinhead gamer" is a "trainee" in "murder-simulators". If he would pull his head out of his ass, he would realize he's committing a horrible act of prejudice based on a few extremists' actions.