New York, the state that seems to be in love with videogame legislation, is at it again, this time thanks to Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright. Wright is the man who wants to combat games that enforce racist stereotypes, but he also wishes to do something quite astounding -- he longs for those evil, nasty, violent videogames to be sealed away in locked containers like plutonium.
This defender of children's sanity wishes to protect all the kiddies from any game that "glamorizes ... the commission of a violent crime, suicide, sodomy, rape, incest, bestiality, or sado-masochism ..." Games would be expected to carry warning labels -- since so many of them feature sado-masochistic bestial sodomy -- with a potential fine of $1,000 for those publishers that don't comply.
It's the proposal, however, that such games be made "inaccessible to the general public" or "in a sealed and locked container" that really astounds me. Videogames are now as harmful as nuclear waste, it would seem, and should be kept away from society for fear of contaminating the population.
If you want to read the proposal, check it out. It's quite badly written and probably won't go anywhere, because it's absurd and based on purely subjective assumptions. Still, if any state would write it into law, New York would.
When is that city just going to admit its politicians are loopy and start actually forcing Blu-ray discs to stand trial as if they're alive?
Contest:
1:57 AM on 01.29.2009
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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keith-LT-Wright/35686998471
And a number, 212-866-5809.
I'd tell you all to give him a ring. I would.
Man this bill is really pissing me off now. Fucking people, learn some responsibility. I swear to god there are worse things on public television than in most video games.... Wow I got mad. Good article?
Either way, I find it to be a waste of tax dollars. The same crap has been attempted with every other form of media in the past, and It's pretty sad to see video games being the scapegoat all the time. Not only does an ESRB Rating have to be present on a game, but the reasons why are on it as well. Why do Movies get away with a simple "R", or a CD with a simple "Parental Advisory"? Can't they just accept the fact that games are maturing along with the generation that grew up with them?
so nothing is gonna change till we get some degraded asses that support our media
God bless America ( despite obama - zing prolly first)
The jokes on him!
The ones with all the crap he described are usually free, online!
I knew that, I knew that...
P.S. God Bless America... :/
Oh, here's something. Maybe fine and/or jail any parent of a child who uses the video game defense. Hey, if a game is rated M and your 12-year old commits a crime because they supposedly learned about if from a video game, why weren't you around to monitor their activity? Huh? Huh?
I don't think there should be any laws governing my hobby, but if there has to be one, target the parents.
@zombiekiller13: I agree with the parent taking the blame too, but it shouldn't be an absolute measure. What if little Timmy went to a friend's house to play the murder simulator and the parents of both households didn't know? Granted, parents should be adept at being able to detect anything like that by the times are of that age, but still. And, any law-savvy kiddie could merely look at this, do some nasty deed and blame a game--presto, both the kid and the parents are in jail. Talk about absolute teenage rebellion.
But in all seriousness, the ratings in America are almost nonexistent on the game box itself. I received an import copy of Call of Duty: WaW, and found the PEGI ratings as a big red badge on the front, back, and spine of the case. It went so far as to say a parent had to be present to play the game. On my imported copy of Siren: Blood Curse, there are GIANT (i mean like 2/3 of the box) stickers proclaiming in 3 languages that the contents of this box may offend, and cannot be sold, shown, projected, or provided to minors in any way. I always thought the ESRB ratings were pretty obvious, but in comparison, they aren't nearly as effective as their foreign counterparts. This is, of course, if the parent actually cares and is present for the purchase of the game. It's not going to stop a kid who wants to play it, hell I know I'd be more enticed by it.
#2 COMMISSION OF A VIOLENT CRIME is listed, which would mean assault, so any fighting game would fall under this- including things like mario - the funny thing though is that military games would then be exempted as killing nazis or other such actions weren't illegal- also RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE is listed- what does that mean? does that mean assassin's creed would be in there? what about any other historical game? also SADO-MASOCHISM is a pretty weird one, does that mean that I can't play voldo in soulcalllibur?
#3 bills like this make things worse because you will have a game like postal or gta or saints row that really shouldn't be played by kids in the same place as something like the sims (since the sims has sexual activity) or the hulk (which has violent crime)
#4 aren't we supposed to be encouraging the economy and not trying to slow it down?