Oklahoma passes Games = Porn Bill

[CptStern]

But that game is quite clearly suitable only for adults. Therefore being 'adult only' should not affect its saleability.

but it does, when was the last time you saw a AO title on the shelf? at any store ..walmart wont carry it, best buy wont, eb games wont ...that's a massive share of the distribution chain

If any chains refuse to sell it, then they would be doing so at their own cost.

at their own cost? they wont shell ot a single dime or lose business because NO one will carry it ..if the distribution isnt there there is NO game ..what publisher would risk millions on the chance that the 10 copies they send to random independent retailers around the US in the hopes they sell out. Wal-mart in part dictates the industry because it is guarenteed sales (wal-mart in order to be competitive buys multiple copies of new games for every store across the US ...that's hundred of thousands of copies right there)

Besides which, if Valve can make a product like Steam work, what makes you think that other developers won't follow suit?

because other companies dont have the huge cashflow to make steam a reality ..in fact developers have next to no cashflow ..that's why they need publishers ..they pony up the cash for development, they control the purse strings

 

[Parrot of doom]

but it does, when was the last time you saw a AO title on the shelf? at any store ..walmart wont carry it, best buy wont, eb games wont ...that's a massive share of the distribution chain

There are many threads in this forum complaining about the wrong conclusions being drawn from games that are unsuitable for children which are purchased by their parents, and subsequent unrelated incidences of crime.

So why is everybody suddenly concerned when the legislature decides that age limits will be enforced? Whats your problem - its what you've all been complaining about, that children should not be playing games that are unsuitable?

at their own cost? they wont shell ot a single dime or lose business because NO one will carry it ..if the distribution isnt there there is NO game ..what publisher would risk millions on the chance that the 10 copies they send to random independent retailers around the US in the hopes they sell out. Wal-mart in part dictates the industry because it is guarenteed sales (wal-mart in order to be competitive buys multiple copies of new games for every store across the US ...that's hundred of thousands of copies right there)

Refuse to stock a particular product, and you lose business. Unless the item is grossly offensive (games are not considered so), its simple. I think it highly unlikely that shops will refuse to sell a product that the government have decided carries similar moral 'values' to pornography, since most people understand the distinction between children viewing sex products, and children viewing computer games.

because other companies dont have the huge cashflow to make steam a reality ..in fact developers have next to no cashflow ..that's why they need publishers ..they pony up the cash for development, they control the purse strings

If publishers can't sell their games in shops, then it doesn't take a giant leap of faith to see how they'll get around that, and online distribution is easily a good way for them to increase their profits - just look at music downloads and the silly prices charged there.

 

[CptStern]

There are many threads in this forum complaining about the wrong conclusions being drawn from games that are unsuitable for children which are purchased by their parents, and subsequent unrelated incidences of crime.

So why is everybody suddenly concerned when the legislature decides that age limits will be enforced? Whats your problem - its what you've all been complaining about, that children should not be playing games that are unsuitable?

I just finished explaining why this sort of legislation is harmful for all gamers not just minors ..what part of it are you not understanding?

Refuse to stock a particular product, and you lose business.

to whom? if none of the big retailers (your competition) are selling it then who are you losing out to?

Unless the item is grossly offensive (games are not considered so), its simple. I think it highly unlikely that shops will refuse to sell a product that the government have decided carries similar moral 'values' to pornography, since most people understand the distinction between children viewing sex products, and children viewing computer games.

what you "think" and what's actually reality are 2 different things entirely. Walmart, Best Buy, etc wil NOT purchase AO games because it goes against their policy just like they wouldnt sell pornography. When the Hot Coffeee scandal broke and GTA got re-rated and slapped with a AO label Wal-mart immediately pulled GTA off the shelves ..and it remained that way till take two repackaged the game with the offending parts taken out and it was rerated as M

But while they sound similar on paper, the AO and M ratings have one very big difference in real life. Namely, most major chain stores, including the all-important retail behemoth Wal-Mart, will not carry AO-rated games.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6129500.html

If publishers can't sell their games in shops, then it doesn't take a giant leap of faith to see how they'll get around that, and online distribution is easily a good way for them to increase their profits - just look at music downloads and the silly prices charged there.

retail is king. It took years and millions in losses for the music industry to sell online ...the costs in running huge bandwidth necssary to provide online distribution s prohibative to only the largest game developers (like valve) whereas anyone with a personal site can host their album and sell to the public

 

[Sulkdodds]

This argument here is stemming from a weird difference between the UK and the US:

- in the UK shops who sell any kind of media will stock 18s but only sell them to over-18s. If you're a teenager here you can't walk into Game or even Woolworths (I think) and buy GTA or Terminator 2. So it really doesn't matter if a game's 18-rated. Nobody gives a shit. It's not an issue.

- in the US, shops will not stock AOs but do not as far as I know enforce age restrictions. An AO is SERIOUS BUSINESS OH NOES.

 

[CptStern]

yes because AO is traditionally reserved for porno games (because of pornographic content) ..the kind that only sells in Adult video stores

rated M games sit side by side next to Teen games or what have you ..it's up to the retailer to enforce age restrictions

 

[DEATH eVADER]

I guess the phrase 'stiff-ass brit' kind of backfired for the US

 

[Sulkdodds]

In other news...booze-up! Yes!

 

[Parrot of doom]

So basically:

Games unsuitable for children (violence, sex etc) will not be stocked on the shelves of large chain stores. That means that children won't be able to buy them easily.

Whereas adults (to whom the games should be marketed) will find no problems buying the games - because adults have things called 'telephones' and 'credit cards' and 'addresses'

I still don't see a problem. You're all bitching that games unsuitable for under-18s will not be on the shelves of chain stores, but under-18s shouldn't be playing them anyway. Over-18s will find it very easy to buy the games still.

Sorry, but something does not compute.