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 California bill see' s M rated games " harmful matter to children."
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whatabout_paul

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  • Location: Leeds, England
California bill see' s M rated games " harmful matter to children." - Sep 22, 2004 12:26
Gamespot has reported the following:


After 10 months in committee and dozens of revisions, the game-regulating California Assembly Bill 1793 has finally become law. Sponsored by Assemblyman Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), the bill, in its original form, would have classified M-rated games under Section 313 of the California criminal statutes as " harmful matter to children."

Under its auspices, anyone caught selling M-rated games to minors could have been punished with a $2,000 fine and received a year in jail. It would have also required game retailers to separate M-rated games and display them where minors could not see them, much like the adult film section of video-rental stores.

However, the bill signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger--who is himself the star of several games, including the recent Terminator 3: Redemption--this afternoon bears little resemblance to Yee' s original. Under the new law, " video game retailers will be required to post signs spelling out the availability of a video game rating system and brochures explaining the system." Pressure from various groups--including the game industry--led to numerous revisions of the bill, which led to the removal of much of its regulatory teeth.


It' s funny how the bill has been changed so much from its original form. Though the beginnings of it did look stupidly strict I do agree with the final bill. Ratings are put on games to show its contents and suitability for children. You wouldn' t want your kid of 8 playing GTA now would you? If educating parents about ratings stops M rated games landing in the hands of another ‘video game killer’ that can only be a good thing, right?

This doesn' t stop everyone under 17 playing M rated games however. A parent could buy a game for that 13 year old if they thought the game suitable. Less law abiding kids could even pay an adult to buy a game for them.

Do you think this bill will effect the selling of games in any other states? Could this become law in other countries too perhaps?
DaRoosh65

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  • Joined: Aug 17, 2004
  • Location: Saint Louis
RE: California bill see' s M rated games " harmful matter to children." - Sep 22, 2004 17:42
You know...there will always be kids playing mature games, because there will always be a big brother (or friend) who lets his little brother (or younger friend) play his mature games.

So, the law is about as useful as t*ts on a two-by-four...

All the law does is make sure that game sellers are held accountable for mature game sales to minors.

Whoopidy Doo!!!

If parents did their job, then kids wouldn' t get access to these games...at least until they are ' of age' .
fathoms

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  • Joined: Feb 23, 2003
RE: California bill see' s M rated games " harmful matter to children." - Sep 22, 2004 19:01
Of course " M" -rated content is unsuitable for children. Are we surprised here? It' s essentially the same thing as an " R" -rating for movies.

And just as a side note, the best parent on the planet would not be capable of shielding their child from that kind of content in this media-oriented society. Not unless they chained them in a closet until they were 18.

Between what happens at school, friend' s houses, and which channel they just happen to flip to at any given time, this is an impossibility. Furthermore, with the horrendous state of family values in this country, I' d say we have long since failed as parents as a whole. We' ve proven we can' t do it...sad as that is, it means that a higher power might have to pass some sensible laws.

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