January 4, 2008
Last month the National Institute on Media & the Family issued its annual Video Game Report Card, chiding the video game industry for what it termed “an ominous backslide on multiple fronts.”Not surprisingly, both the ESRB and the Entertainment Merchants Association (representing retailers) took issue with the report and its conclusions. On the other hand, Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum threw her support behind NIMF’s conclusions.
So we’ve heard from game industry types and politicians, but what about parents?
Mother of four and GamerDad columnist Colleen Hannon took a critical look at the NIMF report from a real-world parental perspective. On NIMF’s insistence that parents need to become better educated about and enforce the ESRB ratings:
Yes, parents should be more educated and involved. But I'm sorry, you can't dictate what media content parents allow into their homes. Parents don't agree on most of the details of raising children... Even among the Gamerdad staff you'll find each person has their own unique approach.
Nor was Hannon thrilled with NIMF’s list of games recommended for children and teens:
One of [NIMF's] main concerns with games in general is exposing kids to a "culture of disrespect". Online situations definately fit that definition in my book, and with Madden's increasing emphasis on the XboxLive aspects I don't understand why [NIMF] suggested it. And speaking of that culture, Need for Speed Pro Street is all about gangs and street racing...
Every year we read through this report and shake our heads. There is so much misinformation here it's hard to get any real good out of it. But if it makes even one parent start looking at the covers of the games coming into their home and thinking, then I guess it's worth something. But there needs to be more. Parents need to be involved.
Via: GamerDad
-Reporting from San Diego, GP Correspondent Andrew Eisen
Comments
My favorite part.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
Or is it three? I can't remember.
The article quoted was written by Colleen Hannon a mother of four. GamerDad is not the only one who writes for that site.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
Just thought I'd correct something.
"And speaking of that culture, Need for Speed Pro Street is all about gangs and street racing…"
I don't really like any of the NFS games after 6 (9 being the exception). But I don't like it when someone puts forth a mis-informed comment. Pro Street has no street racing whatsoever (unless you count speeding on race tracks and legal road courses as illegal street racing)
she didn't say illegal street racing, she said street racing.
That's kinda along the same lines as saying cocaine use is different from illegal cocaine use. The concept of street racing is a race on an unofficial course with traffic, which is illegal in any reference.
I know that.. Anonymous thought it was GamerDad, so he said "father of four". I corrected him by saying GamerDad only has 2 or 3 kids. I think it's three..
Yeah but I was mistaken, he is talking about Colleen Hannon, and I griped on the "mother" bit, not on the number of children. I think GamerDad indeed only has two kids, then again, it's me doing the thinking so please tell the third I'm sorry I forgot him.
Other than that Gamerdad's team is just talking sense as usual.
and they completely misreported on the Manhunt 2 events which is either an attack or a great deal of laziness on their part to not get the facts right.
That NIMF report didn't get nearly the criticism it deserved.