California M-Rated Game Bill

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Credit - IGN

Calif. Violent Game Ban Moves Forward

A strict proposal to keep minors from M-rated games may become law.

by David Adams

May 6, 2005 - A California bill which would ban the sale of M-rated games to those under 18 has been approved by the state Assembly's arts committee. The bill passed Thursday after reconsideration, winning a 6-4 vote from the committee.

Democratic Assembly Member Leland Yee is sponsoring the bill, which is a revamped version of similar legislation he proposed last year -- but which did not pass. The bill would ban the sale of violent games to minors, levy fines of up to $1,000 on retailers who violate the ban, and allow District Attorneys to close repeat offenders.

"For the same reason we don't allow kids to buy pornography, cigarettes, or alcohol, we shouldn't allow them to go to stores and buy video games that teach them to do the very things we put people in jail for -- abusing women, joining street gangs, killing police officers, or even assassinating President Kennedy," said Yee, as quoted in Reuters.

Opponents of the bill include video game industry groups who claim that the industry is already effectively policing sales to minors. Others say such legislation infringes on First Amendment rights.

The bill now moves to the full Assembly. If it survives Assembly review, it will make its way to the state Senate.

Personally, I think this is an excellent idea and should be adapted by all states. That way idiots can go on blaming the troubles of society on real issues since the kids won't be able to play these games unless their parents buy them.

[apsham]

I see where you're coming from by saying that, but the change should come in "they shouldn't" instead of "they can't".

"For the same reason we don't allow kids to buy pornography, cigarettes, or alcohol, we shouldn't allow them to go to stores and buy video games that teach them to do the very things we put people in jail for -- abusing women, joining street gangs, killing police officers, or even assassinating President Kennedy," said Yee, as quoted in Reuters.

It's sounds almost like Bin Laden might start claiming that the Americans are running their own terrorist training facilities in a more hightech form. Seriously though, I hope something like this doesn't get passed in Canada. It'd suck if I had to have a parent there to buy an M rated game for me.

[zero]

It's sounds almost like Bin Laden might start claiming that the Americans are running their own terrorist training facilities in a more hightech form. Seriously though, I hope something like this doesn't get passed in Canada. It'd suck if I had to have a parent there to buy an M rated game for me.

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The people writing the bill are complete idiots who don't understand video games at all, I certainly agree there, but a law is necessary. What's the point of a rating system if there is no one abiding by it? Specialty stores like EB Games or Gamespot only care about sales, while places like Wal-Mart have clerks that know absolutely nothing about what they're selling. To compare gaming to porn, cigarettes or alcohol is easily the dumbest thing I've ever heard, but we're fighting an uphill battle. There's been little to no evidence that violent games or movies make a person violent, but it's still accepted as fact, so we might as well enforce the ratings system and make these idiotic protesters find something else to bitch about. Now, on an entirely different rant, I feel that if the government says you are old enough to work and earn your own money, you should be able to spend said money on anything you want, but that'll never happen. So, as a 21 year old gamer, I say make the law; that way, moral crusaders can't (but likely still will) fuck with my hobby because they don't know how to properly raise their own children.

[Kaney]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that just mean it'll be like the age rating system we have over here in UK? If it is like that, then I'm all for it, it seems perfectly reasonable to me.

[MDK]

Yup, I agree with Kaney, I think it is a sensible idea. Don't see why people are bitching about it to be honest.

[zero]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that just mean it'll be like the age rating system we have over here in UK?  If it is like that, then I'm all for it, it seems perfectly reasonable to me.

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We follow the ESRB for video games which is broken up into these categories:

E - Everyone 6 and up

E10 - Everyone 10 and up

T - Teen

M - Mature (17+)

AO - Adults only (rarely used, the equivalent of the NC-17 movie ratings)

Now, if this goes into law, the AO rating will essentially mean nothing since the ESRB was suggested age limits. AO means it can only be sold to those older than 17. NC-17 for our movies means no one under 17 can get in, as opposed to our R rating where a parent can bring a child in to the movie. That won't work like that with video games.

But yeah, short answer to your question, pretty much the same as the UK rating systems. Do you guys have the same rating system for all forms of media though? TV, movies, and games?

[Kaney]

As far as I'm aware, it is the same for all media. I'm none too sure but I think it goes

U - Universal, self explanatory.

PG - Parental Guidance, kids stuff that parents might not be too sure off. Your E10, I guess.

15+

18+

I'm 18 myself, so I don't really look at ratings anymore, so it might have changed. I'm just looking at my SDvR case, which has a rating for 16+ so meh. I think it works having specific age ratings, they get followed pretty strictly over here.

[Cactus Drags]

Yeah, the age system from films carries over to games in the UK. My Hyper Street fight Anniversary edition has the 15 certificate.

Splinter Cell Chaos Theory has a 16+ pegi rating, which I think is just a parental guideline.

[Godfatha]

I'm all for it since it'll most likely end that whole excuse about violent child behaviour being due to GTA or what have you.

As a side note, there was some research done with children and violent video games and how they act in the short term. It cannot be conclusively stated that violent games make a non-violent child violent, but there is a slight trend that it can make existing violent children even more violent.

Basically, if you're normal, you're fine. If you're messed up, violent games can certainly add to more messed up behaviour, but it's not the root of it.

[DMN in the House]

While I can understand why people under the age of 18 will be pissed, I agree with this law. Its better to protect the rights of those of age then pander to minors.

What I mean by that is, without something like this, groups will continue to attack the gaming industry, and eventually, it will have an effect. With a law like this, the industry can go 'look, its your own fault if kids get this', and keep making the violent games we like to play.

[Farmer Reil]

Like Kaney and Drags have said, we have that over here already, It's no big deal really.

[Cactus Drags]

Yeah, the lobbyists still get pissed off about games, even with the restrictions and guidelines. Take Manhunt, and the kid with the copycat killing. By law, he shouldn't have got that game, but his parents didn't do anything about him having it, and then when the murder happened, they blamed Rockstar.

[Herr Matzat]

you realy think in a time were every 12 year old knows were to download whatever he wants forbidding something will decreas the number of kids playing such a game

[Dan]

As far as I'm aware, it is the same for all media.  I'm none too sure but I think it goes

U - Universal, self explanatory.

PG - Parental Guidance, kids stuff that parents might not be too sure off.  Your E10, I guess.

15+

18+

I'm 18 myself, so I don't really look at ratings anymore, so it might have changed.  I'm just looking at my SDvR case, which has a rating for 16+ so meh.  I think it works having specific age ratings, they get followed pretty strictly over here.

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You missed out 12+.

And yeah, last year I went with my cousin to rent him a game, and the woman wouldn't serve me for a 15+ game, even though I had ID.

Bastards.