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New York is the new Germany; insane legislature crosses the pond [Update!] photo

Gamepolitics, by way of Gamasutra, reports on a bill that was proposed on January 3rd by Democrat Keith Wright that comes up with some truly draconic rules for the sale of games. From the article:

[the bill] would prohibit the sale of video games “containing a rating that reflects content of various degrees of profanity, racist stereotypes or derogatory language, and/or actions toward a specific group of persons.” According to the report, such games would require retailers to check customers' identification as a proof that they are aged 30 or above.

Thirty!?1?!?one?!uno? 

So, Mr. Wright thinks video games are more dangerous for our society than cigarettes (legal age to purchase in New York State: 18), alcohol (legal age to purchase in New York State: 21), being shot at by foreigners (legal age to enlist in the military: 18), pornography (legal age to purchase/perform: 18) and accidental immolation via faulty wiring on a carpet shampooer (legal age to rent: 25)? I've never wished harm on another human being for the sake of the rest of mankind, but I think we can all agree that Mr. Wright should be eaten by a bear.

[UPDATE: Turns out that Ol' Nexy is a moron. I suppose that's what I get for taking Gamasutra's word on that bill I was talking about above. That quote is from their write up of bill A00547, but the truth is that it seeks to force retailers to ID anyone who doesn't appear to be over the age of thirty; people over the age of 18 can legally purchase any games regardless of sex, violence or any of that other awesome stuff. I dropped the ball. Dreadfully sorry about that, but I still stand by my call for ravenous bears to eat Mr. Wright.]


Continue: More New York City stories





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49 comments | showing # 1 to 49

blackacidevil's Avatar
blackacidevil at 01/17/2007 03:41
shouldn't that be against the constitution? that's censorship taken way too far. fucking 30? im not sure but im pretty sure you only have to be 18 to buy a gun. so obviously games kill people, not guns? if a game can influence you to kill, then you're already fucked up and its not the games fault
bluexy's Avatar
bluexy at 01/17/2007 03:42
VOTE YES FOR BEARS!
Fana7ic's Avatar
Fana7ic at 01/17/2007 03:45
Oh noes the Book Burning 2.0 is starting in the US and A. I hope the politicians won´t fuck you up so much as our´s fuck us up.
Fana7ic's Avatar
Fana7ic at 01/17/2007 03:46
Btw: Ban the bears, they´re brutal and teaching how to kill
Fana7ic's Avatar
Fana7ic at 01/17/2007 03:47
/sarcasm
Cruds's Avatar
Cruds at 01/17/2007 03:49
30 is ridiculous, Imagine being 28 and going a store to buy a game with your dad cus your not old enough. At 21 (18 over here) your a full adult by law so any state/country need to tread them as adults.

About New York is the new Germany, don't think the Dutch are too happy with that.
Namelessted's Avatar
Namelessted at 01/17/2007 03:51
30 is such a random fucking age.

when will people realize that video games are just like the rest of media. Its unfair to compare it to cigarettes, guns, and alcohol. Compare it to movies and music. I can legally buy R rated movies and profane music at age of 8 if I wanted. It is completely legal to do so in the US. The fact remains that pretty much all retailers in the US choose not to sell them to younger kids. Video games are pretty much already self regulating with major chains such at Best Buy, Wal Mart, Gamestop (and all its chaing), Circuit City, Target... all requiring an age of 17 or 18 to buy or rent M rated games.

And yet dumb fucks still look to make video games illegal. Why is the US filled with so many fucking idiots?
blackacidevil's Avatar
blackacidevil at 01/17/2007 03:53
we have too much freedom
Rezbit's Avatar
Rezbit at 01/17/2007 03:58
Cruds says:
01/17/2007 03:49
30 is ridiculous, Imagine being 28 and going a store to buy a game with your dad cus your not old enough. At 21 (18 over here) your a full adult by law so any state/country need to tread them as adults.

Hahahaha, you win today's internet, good sir. I seriously laughed out loud.
ctrespeo's Avatar
ctrespeo at 01/17/2007 04:00
Got my signature againts this Keith Wright dude. Is he crazy or what?...31 to buy a videogame.
I'm not from the US, but for those who are, please do not permit this bill. It's againts any kind of reason.
Rainbowblack's Avatar
Rainbowblack at 01/17/2007 04:26
no problem, by the time GTA comes out I should be 30

Namelessted's Avatar
Namelessted at 01/17/2007 04:35
damn you and your pro-bear stance. I shall fight you to the end. I must kill as many bears as possible. We must eat them before they can eat us! if we don't act soon a bear epidemic will sweep the nation. Don't pretend like they haven't been planning the last 200 years.
Serpentish's Avatar
Serpentish at 01/17/2007 04:49
Hey Jim lets go get that new game everyone's talking about. Oh wait, we're 29, damn. Lets rent an apartment instead, get shitfaced and then try to light our cigarettes by shooting at them with our guns with some hardcore porn playing in the background.
Im OK's Avatar
Im OK at 01/17/2007 04:53
How retarded. So then, are they also going to ban anyone under 30 from going to see R-rated movies? Because if not, this would be the most hypocritical law in existence. And, of course, banning video games to people under 30 is just as ridiculous as would be banning under 30s from seeing R-rated movies.

See, Colbert was wrong. Bears really aren't the number one threat in America. Idiots like this guy are. So yeah, let's get Mr. Wright a guest spot on this show. (Hell, while we're at it, let's see about getting Jack Thompson a guest spot on there as well, since he likes being on TV so much.)
questworld's Avatar
questworld at 01/17/2007 04:59
"Adult by law" means squat to me. By nature, sure. Now if mean adult with regards to maturity, well, I know kids with more maturity than some adults (by nature). Frankly, I wouldn't mind abolishing smokes, alcohol, etc. (w/ the exception of medical reasons). And people being allowed to just pick up guns from a store? Not really comfortable with that idea since the checks and balances are obviously faulty. And don't even talk about "well, what about knives" 'cause the last time I check, people don't use their guns to spread butter on toast or carve their turkeys and steaks with.

That said, thirty years old is kinda high and I'm more willing to have content with some censoring and restrictions. I mean I'd rather not hit that mark when gamers will start defending a rape-based videogame as an "acceptable" theme or part of the freedom of expression or some twisted interpretation that keeps moving "the line" til society hits the borders of societal hell (y'know like in those Robocop or Judge Dredd movies). And yes, I do believe what you put out there, whether that be on a personal basis (like swearing around kids) or through the media (games, movies, television, etc.), can affect people's behavior and how they perceive and operate in the world (like conning a good samaritan which makes that person only bitter and become less inclined to be helpful in the future).
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 01/17/2007 05:05
Some people don't even make it to age 30. Take Elliott Smith for example. He was in his late 20's when he killed himself.
GodLen's Avatar
GodLen at 01/17/2007 05:55
Ban gay bear marrage!
Milofo's Avatar
Milofo at 01/17/2007 06:05
I always laughed at how before being 21, I was old enough to die for my country but not old enough to buy a drink. As far as I am concerned, if you are old enough to be in the military then you are old enough for anything else. Wars tend to kill the most people last time I checked.
Vorin's Avatar
Vorin at 01/17/2007 06:09
I am expecting to see a homicidal maniac beating random people to the ground with a Bloody Wii Mote in his hand or some depraved man beating people with a Gears of War case down.
SpiderChrist's Avatar
SpiderChrist at 01/17/2007 06:27
Surely not! surely there is no possible way they could ever put 30+ plus on any form of media...But maybe its just to discourage people from playing games and go buy Guns and alcohol instead, like the old days, when your country was safe.
Detry's Avatar
Detry at 01/17/2007 07:35
BULLSHIT

From the actual BILL

[i] 1 INDICATING THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS AT LEAST EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. SUCH
2 IDENTIFICATION NEED NOT BE REQUIRED OF ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO REASONABLY
3 APPEARS TO BE AT LEAST THIRTY YEARS OF AGE, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH
4 APPEARANCE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A DEFENSE IN ANY PROCEEDING INVOLVING
5 SALE OR RENTAL OF ANY VIDEO GAME, TO AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS
6 OF AGE.[/i]
SixSider's Avatar
SixSider at 01/17/2007 07:59
Yes It is that you have to be 18, but they are required to check ID if you appear to be under thirty. This is the same as it is with booze and cigs. Relax guys. Do your research.
Aetsen's Avatar
Aetsen at 01/17/2007 08:44
I have a less arbitrary way of deciding when one should be able to purchase violent video games. After a person's 313th moon after the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after March 21 (the day of the ecclesiastical vernal equinox). Simple really.
BahamutZero's Avatar
BahamutZero at 01/17/2007 08:45
Over the Hedge makes me want to kill
maximum0v3rdriv3's Avatar
maximum0v3rdriv3 at 01/17/2007 08:51
Oh who would have thought.. Another overdramatized article about video game legislation. You know if you guys can't do some research and look into this sort of thing first. before going batshit about it. Maybe, just maybe you're not grown up enough to handle those "adult" games
SixSider's Avatar
SixSider at 01/17/2007 09:01
I agree with maximum0v3rdriv3.

You should have to be able read and understand the legistration before you can purchase an "adult game." I'm sorry, Nex. No game porn for you.
Cruds's Avatar
Cruds at 01/17/2007 09:02
Sure, research.... Ut's on Dtoid isn't It? Enough reason for me to believe there some truth to the story. Who got the time anyway to back check ever lil' post made here, I'm here for some entertaining value not for news facts. I bet if you was here a few hours earlier you been shouting along with the rest of us.
PITT sauce's Avatar
PITT sauce at 01/17/2007 09:03
Maybe this legislation will make gamers look cooler the same way cigarettes make me look cool.
maximum0v3rdriv3's Avatar
maximum0v3rdriv3 at 01/17/2007 09:13
@cruds

I mostly met my comments for Nex. I mean techically it is his "job" to back check things maybe just a little before throwing them up here.

It doesn't take that long to look up the bill using google. I was in the process of doing so when i decided to read the comments first. Thanks Detry for saving me the trouble.

All i'm saying is that before jumping on the "OMG CENSORSHIP IS THE NEW STYLE" bandwagon. MAYBE make sure you have the facts? It's the adult thing to do.
turdferguson's Avatar
turdferguson at 01/17/2007 09:21
I think alot of you guys are misinformed as to the scope of the 1st amendment, it merely prevents the federal government from pass legislation repecting an establishment of religion, abridging the freedom of speech or the press. It's not something that gives you a right as is limits the power of the federal government. The NY state constitution's 8th section reads as "Every citizen may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press." Quite different and far more specific regarding free speech than the federal constitution. And so far, any similar legislation has been struck down as unconstitutional. There is really a very simple solution to this, check what your elected representitives', and canidate's policy regarding government regulation of video games, as well as other speech, than vote accordingly.
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 01/17/2007 09:27
Ban the Bears. Stop the madness, Nex.
BahamutZero's Avatar
BahamutZero at 01/17/2007 10:00
PITT_sauce is right. we need all the help we can get attracting chicks (at least you guys do). being outlaws will help
Magesx's Avatar
Magesx at 01/17/2007 10:25
Let's look at this this way: It's just a proposal. The chances of it passing are slim to zero.
DannyBoy's Avatar
DannyBoy at 01/17/2007 10:52
@ turdferguson:

Under Gitlow v. New York, the Supreme Court applied the incorporation doctrine to the 1st Amendment's provisions of free speech and freedom of the press, so that it will basically be the same analysis as if this were a federal statute under fire.
reddye_5's Avatar
reddye_5 at 01/17/2007 11:06
"various degrees of profanity" huh?

So that means games with a T rating for mild language should be banned for people under 18?

Never will pass.

The idiots who run our country don't seem to get that the courts have ruled video games are protected speech. Just like books, movies and music. Even shitty games like Manhunt.
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 01/17/2007 11:09
Manhunt FTW
BlindsideDork's Avatar
BlindsideDork at 01/17/2007 11:15
NEW ARTICLE!
zorock's Avatar
zorock at 01/17/2007 11:26
It helps if one actually reads the bill they are sponsoring. I almost made the same mistake of assuming this was true until I read it. The key part that this appers to be pulled from is stated below. It does not say you have to be 30. It says that if one looks under the age of 30, they should be asked for identification to confirm they are 18. This is no different than other stores that has an age you should appear to be and if you look younger than that, they are required to ask for identification. One should really do their research before they cause pointless uproars on their comment section. Commentors should also investigate the subject at hand before just believing what they read is true.

Bill Text - A00547
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A00547&sh=t

A. 547 2

1 COUNTRY; OR (C) AN IDENTIFICATION CARD ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES,
2 INDICATING THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS AT LEAST EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE. SUCH
3 IDENTIFICATION NEED NOT BE REQUIRED OF ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO REASONABLY
4 APPEARS TO BE AT LEAST THIRTY YEARS OF AGE, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH
5 APPEARANCE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A DEFENSE IN ANY PROCEEDING INVOLVING
6 SALE OR RENTAL OF ANY VIDEO GAME, TO AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS
7 OF AGE.
Jordan Grim Devore's Avatar
Jordan Grim Devore at 01/17/2007 11:28
We need a bear attack video game.
Detry's Avatar
Detry at 01/17/2007 11:51
zorock

Commentors should also investigate the subject at hand

Pot, meet kettle

I already posted that part of the bill earlier in the thread. :P
Axle's Avatar
Axle at 01/17/2007 11:53
Everyone knows that people who are (or even appear) to be over the age of thirty don't play games apart from Minesweeper.

Naive.
Topher Cantler's Avatar
Topher Cantler at 01/17/2007 12:00
Indeed, bears ftw. Especially those of the polar persuasion.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 01/17/2007 12:41
I only skimmed this, but if Will Wright is killed by bears then I'll never get to play Spore.
Joseph Leray's Avatar
Joseph Leray at 01/17/2007 13:27
@mxyzptlk -- Too bad it's Keith Wright that will be eaten. Incidentally, it will be Will Wright's bears that actually eat him.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 01/17/2007 13:54
Will Wright has trained killer bears? Awesome!
Tondog's Avatar
Tondog at 01/17/2007 14:30
BEARS ARE GODLESS KILLING MACHINES!
Vorin's Avatar
Vorin at 01/17/2007 15:03
[u]God No[/u]..... I hope the BB code worked.
Vorin's Avatar
Vorin at 01/17/2007 15:03
Nope no underlines :(
wario67's Avatar
wario67 at 01/17/2007 19:58
can't we just buy the stuff on the I don't know Internet
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