Americans: take action against anti-game legislators

[CptStern]

http://www.videogamevoters.org/


there's a form letter that you can send your senator saying you're against The Family Entertainment Protection Act

The Family Entertainment Protection Act is a bill proposed by Hillary Clinton, Joe Lieberman that would make it a criminal offense to sell/rent mature video games to minors ..they face fines up to $1000 and 100 hours of community service. Here's why you should care:


"As an American parent, I would have to say on the surface, this seems great. After all, the rating systems for games, movies and music quickly let parents know about content.

So, why not enforce the rating system with the weight of the law?

It's simple. What began as a tool for parents now boasts its own "hidden content." The act could take the "voluntary" system and make it anything but.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board currently is in charge of assigning the ratings for games in the U.S. According to its web site, "at least three specially trained raters" set the ratings for games. That means when the teeth of the law are added, a handful of people would have the say in what's right and what's wrong for America's children to play. The power would lie in the government's hands, not parents'.

The ratings system already has become its own form of censorship as parents, too lazy, too busy or too uninvolved to use their own judgment, rely on it for more than advice. Rather than make their own decisions about what their children can or should watch, these parents have empowered ratings panels to do their jobs for them. The act would solidify government power over what children and even adults view and play.

That's censorship, plain and simple.

For game designers, musicians and movie makers, the ratings systems already have put a stranglehold on creativity, expression and quality. Anyone who doubts this should watch for headlines about movie producers or game designers scrambling to obtain permissible PG-13, R or Teen ratings.

If the idea of playing games chopped up to please a panel of raters appeals, by all means support the act. If you'd prefer to play games as they were intended and feel you can make decisions on behalf of your children and yourself, encourage the failure of this act."


http://www.igniq.com/2005/12/opinion-say-no-to-family-entertainment.html

 

[Raziaar]

I'm not normally one who sends stuff to the government by mail, but I may very well fight the procrastination on this one.

 

[Direwolf]

I'm not necessarily in agreement that the current structure (similar to a movie) is "censorship," but it would be over the line for this bill to pass.

The biggest mark against this however would be the fact that its unconstitutional. The ESRB is a private organization, but would be given governmental authority.

 

[CptStern]

the government would scrap the esrb and use it's own system

 

[Direwolf]

Granting that then, I can't imagine them doing that and botching it horribly. All academic anyway, since I'm against the whole bill on principle already.

In addition I always feel bad about this stuff because Lieberman is my state senator.

 

[Steve]

I'm for the criminal fine for selling DIRECTLY to minors...but the three person ratings panel? Eh, no thanks.

 

[Darkwolf]

Lol, glad im not American atm. But please do inform.

What kind of wierdo politician freak doesn't understand that it is really the education system failing here, not informing children of things like real life. How are you going to teach kids by making them think that everything is about stuff being 'just right' and ev eryone lives happily ever after.

Also, scrapping the ESRB is dumb... i think they should make some sort of international agreement for censorship, something like the Kyoto protocols... but for gaming... yeah

 

[Direwolf]

Well thats more a question of psychology rather than education. The distinction between real life and fantasy is made before kids enter the school system. It again leads right back to the parents.

 

[gick]

*cough*

http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=102496

 

[CptStern]

whoops, but in my defense this thread is more about The Family Entertainment Protection Act than the website itself

 

[gick]

whoops, but in my defense this thread is more about The Family Entertainment Protection Act than the website itself

Ah, fairy nuff.

But yeah, censorship FTL.

 

[Fishlore]

I simply don't care about this issue at all. I'm fully against the sale of violent video games to minors though. I don't think a three person government body is the best group to decide on ratings, but who cares? I'd buy a game in question for my kid if I wanted them to be able to play bad enough.

Movies are censored. I have no problems with the way that system works and it doesn't turn every movie into a CareBear movie. I don't watch an adult movie like Sin City and think to myself, "damn they censored the hell out of that movie. It really needed more violence, death and destruction for it to be a good movie." The same is true for violent video games except you participate and make decisions in video games as opposed to simply watching a movie.

 

[CptStern]

I simply don't care about this issue at all. I'm fully against the sale of violent video games to minors though. I don't think a three person government body is the best group to decide on ratings, but who cares? I'd buy a game in question for my kid if I wanted them to be able to play bad enough.

Movies are censored. I have no problems with the way that system works and it doesn't turn every movie into a CareBear movie. I don't watch an adult movie like Sin City and think to myself, "damn they censored the hell out of that movie. It really needed more violence, death and destruction for it to be a good movie." The same is true for violent video games except you participate and make decisions in video games as opposed to simply watching a movie.

you dont seem to understand the implications ..why would a game developer create a game like GTA if it meant they may or may not get negative publicity or worse it may be forced into an AO rating (which is the death of any game) or sink even more money into it to censor parts that people who have absolutely nothing to do with the creation of game feel is appropriate when it's much easier to play it safe and make a cookie cutter game that will appeal to a wider audience? this sort of stuff kills creativity. All you have to do is look at summer block busters where testosterone fueled effects laden films take precendent over well written films with plot and character development. It's already difficult for creative types to push studios into investing in films that arent FX laden or has a high explosion count. The studio system is exactly why the film industry is losing their audience. People are getting tired of seeing formulatic movies ..the same will happen (has happened) with games

 

[Fishlore]

you dont seem to understand the implications ..why would a game developer create a game like GTA if it meant they may or may not get negative publicity or worse it may be forced into an AO rating (which is the death of any game) or sink even more money into it to censor parts that people who have absolutely nothing to do with the creation of game feel is appropriate when it's much easier to play it safe and make a cookie cutter game that will appeal to a wider audience? this sort of stuff kills creativity. All you have to do is look at summer block busters where testosterone fueled effects laden films take precendent over well written films with plot and character development. It's already difficult for creative types to push studios into investing in films that arent FX laden or has a high explosion count. The studio system is exactly why the film industry is losing their audience. People are getting tired of seeing formulatic movies ..the same will happen (has happened) with games

Believe me, I see where you're coming from. The costs to get games to market is the issue here in my opinion, not protecting a child from a game like GTA. The costs of creating games is stifling creativity not the threat of little kids being unable to contribute to it's sales. Publishers are becoming un-needed, but still contributing heavily to the bottom line. The costs to create high end graphical content are exponentially increasing. The addition of things like Steam (online distribution) and games like Spore (procedural programming) will help bring the costs down a bit and help with bringing some creativity back. Besides, how many 14 year olds buy ALL of their own software? Parents always have been a part of the equation and with this legislation, they might become bigger pieces. To me, that's a good thing.

GTA deserves an AO rating and if you think there wouldn't be enough sales to warrant it's production with an AO rating, then we'll have to agree to disagree on this particular point. In fact I think that an AO rating would actually help the sales of GTA. Look at what all the bad publicity did for San Andreas.

I despise the "summer blockbuster." The term "hate" doesn't do my feelings justice. But if CGI is doing anything for films, it's allowing the writers/directors to fulfill more of their vision, not less. It's allows them to create a bigger vision. Star Wars prequels are perfect examples and help illustrate both of our sides of the discussion. Lucas could finally create his vision. Fulfill his creative wishes. That doesn't mean though that they weren't three of the worst films I've ever seen in my life though.

To finish up this post, I agree that creativity is taking a massive nose dive. I don't think that allowing little kids to buy whatever games they want will help the game industry in the long run. When the next Columbine happens, the game industry will be the first and most obvious target to legislators. If they don't have their act together at that point in time, then I'll start to worry about the future of the industry.

 

[CptStern]

Believe me, I see where you're coming from. The costs to get games to market is the issue here in my opinion, not protecting a child from a game like GTA. The costs of creating games is stifling creativity not the threat of little kids being unable to contribute to it's sales. Publishers are becoming un-needed, but still contributing heavily to the bottom line. The costs to create high end graphical content are exponentially increasing. The addition of things like Steam (online distribution) and games like Spore (procedural programming) will help bring the costs down a bit and help with bringing some creativity back. Besides, how many 14 year olds buy ALL of their own software? Parents always have been a part of the equation and with this legislation, they might become bigger pieces. To me, that's a good thing.

GTA deserves an AO rating and if you think there wouldn't be enough sales to warrant it's production with an AO rating, then we'll have to agree to disagree on this particular point. In fact I think that an AO rating would actually help the sales of GTA. Look at what all the bad publicity did for San Andreas.

I despise the "summer blockbuster." The term "hate" doesn't do my feelings justice. But if CGI is doing anything for films, it's allowing the writers/directors to fulfill more of their vision, not less. It's allows them to create a bigger vision. Star Wars prequels are perfect examples and help illustrate both of our sides of the discussion. Lucas could finally create his vision. Fulfill his creative wishes. That doesn't mean though that they weren't three of the worst films I've ever seen in my life though.

To finish up this post, I agree that creativity is taking a massive nose dive. I don't think that allowing little kids to buy whatever games they want will help the game industry in the long run. When the next Columbine happens, the game industry will be the first and most obvious target to legislators. If they don't have their act together at that point in time, then I'll start to worry about the future of the industry.

a few things, under the current proposed bill (at least in tennesse) parents buying M games for their kids can get a fine of $1000 or community time

games dont have to cost a lot to develop ..the publishers push tech specs over content therefore selling their product as "the next must have product because it features x shader whatchamacallit" not as "the revolutuonary game that stresses gameplay over cutting edge graphics ...as it stands only a small percentage of gamers can actually play it at full specs ...and that's not going to change anytime soon

the AO rating for GTA killed sales ..if not for the fact that they had sold most of their copies before the shit hit the fan, it would have been a tremendous loss, in comparison to the$40 odd million they lost because of it.

the hot coffee thing is completely stupid, first of all it just affects Pc versions (xbox version is very difficult to crack and offers none of the same content as the pc version has) Second of all it took a mod for the game to even work

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/07/22/news_6129661.html

 

[ríomhaire]

a few things, under the current proposed bill (at least in tennesse) parents buying M games for their kids can get a fine of $1000 or community time

games dont have to cost a lot to develop ..the publishers push tech specs over content therefore selling their product as "the next must have product because it features x shader whatchamacallit" not as "the revolutuonary game that stresses gameplay over cutting edge graphics ...as it stands only a small percentage of gamers can actually play it at full specs ...and that's not going to change anytime soon

the AO rating for GTA killed sales ..if not for the fact that they had sold most of their copies before the shit hit the fan, it would have been a tremendous loss, in comparison to the$40 odd million they lost because of it.

the hot coffee thing is completely stupid, first of all it just affects Pc versions (xbox version is very difficult to crack and offers none of the same content as the pc version has) Second of all it took a mod for the game to even work

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/07/22/news_6129661.html

I heard that you can get it on the PS2 version with gameshark. But yes, the Hot Coffee thing was rediculous, for one reason IMO. You could already have sex in the game and you could already see naked women! Somehow when these 2 things are combined it makes the age rating jump up? I think GTA should have been AO from the begining, I think censors are far too leniant on sex.

 

[CptStern]

it never showed penetration ..it was about as "graphic" as something you'd see on a soap opera but with nipples

 

[ríomhaire]

it never showed penetration ..it was about as "graphic" as something you'd see on a soap opera but with nipples

Penetration, what bull.
"It's OK, they're only naked, OH NO LOOK AWAY NOW THERE'S PENETRATION!"

WARNING, THE FOLLOWING PICTURE CONTAINS SCENES OF SEX WHERE THE MALE HAS HIS PANTS ON!
http://xirdal.lmu.de/xirdalium/xpix/hot_coffee_03.jpg

 

[Razor]

The act would solidify government power over what children and even adults view and play.

Just to clarify, how would it sensor what American adults can view and play?

 

[CptStern]

that quote isnt mine


because just like in film if a publisher wants a certain rating the developer needs to cut back on questionable material ..as it stand now the esrb is rating guideline that's voluntary. What this bill proposes is strict adherence to whatever guideline they impose.

 

[DeusExMachina]

While I will be joining in on the cause, I know it will never pass. It is unconstitutional. You'd have to start doing this with film, books, music, comics, etc.

 

[CptStern]

heh:

"Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Connecticut), introduced the Children and Media Research Advancement Act (CAMRA), which would establish a $90 million program to research the effects of television viewing and other media on children."

"A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize funding for the establishment of a program on children and the media within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study the role and impact of electronic media in the development of children."

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:s.01902:


"[the program will fund] and energize a coherent program of research that illuminates the role of media in children's cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and behavioral development.

The research will cover all forms of electronic media, including television, movies, DVDs, interactive video games, and the Internet and will encourage research with children of all ages--even babies and toddlers."


http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/consumerawareness/a/joeporker.htm

 

[DeusExMachina]

...what the ****.

Of all people, its the Democrats. How quaint.