Boston's WHDH-7 has a report on a retail sting in which local video game shops fared much worse at ratings enforcement than the national average.
The station employed a 15-year-old and a pair of 13-year-olds to attempt to purchase M-rated games
We sent three boys and our hidden camera into five video stores in and around Boston. Time after time, the two 13-year-olds, and 15-year-old, were able to buy M rated games. [The 15-year-old] was successful 4 times in a row...
In all, the boys bought 7 games in 15 tries. That's a 47 percent success rate. And remember - 2 of them are just 13 years old.
In relation to the report, WHDH interviewed Dr. Susan Linn of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Linn is often critical of violent video games. She told reporter Jonathan Hall:
The media industry's self regulation - around ratings - it clearly isn't working.
Hall noted the recent FTC report which showed a massive increase in the level of game rating enforcement by retailers. Only 20% of FTC secret underage shoppers were able to buy M-rated games. WHDH offered a comment from Sean Bersell, VP of the Entertainment Merchants Association:
Is that where we want to be as an industry? No. Our goal is 100 percent for these m rated games sales to minors.
The station also featured a brief interview with Boston Mayor Tom Menino (left), whose proposed video game legislation is currently on the back burner in the Massachusetts legislature. Menino said:
The ratings don't mean a thing. It's about makin' money.
GP: We heard from the EMA's Sean Bersell in relation to this story. Bersell told GamePolitics:
It should be noted that the "sting" did not involve GTA IV, despite the implication in the story, as it was conducted before GTA IV was released. No reason to let facts get in the way of a good story during sweeps!
Comments
Test
Testing, This is a test to see if I can post on Dailytech after the new layout.
Re: Test
SUCCESS,
And I love the new layout by the way. great job
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
Huh, I wonder what the game was actually. I just recently bought "Persona 3: FES" at a game store and after I bought it I realized that it was an M rated game and I had not been carded. I am 27 after all but many stores have a "no exceptions" policy to avoid getting in trouble for the 6-foot-tall 15 year old with a 5-o-clock shadow. I think the main reason I did not get carded was that it was the sort of game that they are not used to seeing as an M rated title (it's an RPG with some really serious story eliments including teen suicide).
So I really have to ask, "What was the game?" Any store clerk should know to card on GTA or Manhunt but not all of them might know about some of the more obscure or odd M rated titles.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
"The ratings don't mean a thing. It's about makin' money."
...as well as EVERYTHING else including trying to get votes.... Before I got my ID I tried to buy God Of War at best buy and Silpknot's Iwoa. Guess what? I walked out with slipknot but had to wait till I got an ID to get God Of War. I was 17 at the time and I am now 21.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
This typing my name in each time is going to get a little used to...
jesse
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
Then register, you won't have to fuss with it.
Next Time
So in their next "sting" they'll have three kids play GTA and then try to carjack people in real life.
Re: Next Time
Jack Thompson going to do that. He doesn't have any volunteers yet.
"The ratings don't mean a thing. It's about makin' money."
"The constitution and the interests of the people don't mean a thing. It's about grabbin' press and political points."
-GRIZZAM PRIME(c)is property of the U.S. Marine Corp. Wetworks Dept., and also The Incredible Hulk-GRIZZAM PRIME is not to be associated with GRIZZAM 512 or any other GRIZZAM entity under penalty of law, so sayith ZARATHOS.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
I bet if these kids would have also put a few R rated movies in with the stack of games in these stores they would have the exact same damn success rate. Why isn't anyone getting in the MPAA's face about the failure of their self regulation?
Why doesn't anyone f*ck with the MPAA?
Because the MPAA doesn't rape babies and urinate on the homeless whilst beating their wives with a sack full of oranges. DUUUUHHH!
-GRIZZAM PRIME(c)is property of the U.S. Marine Corp. Wetworks Dept., and also The Incredible Hulk-GRIZZAM PRIME is not to be associated with GRIZZAM 512 or any other GRIZZAM entity under penalty of law, so sayith ZARATHOS.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
As someone said before, how is this the game industries' fault? Last I checked, you don't go to Rockstar Headquarters to buy GTA, or Microsoft Studios to buy Halo, you go to Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Game Stop, etc.
The game industries' self-regulation is fine. It's the REATAILERS that are the ones the sell the games. If these politicians and people like JT going to blame anyone for their half-assed agendas, they should at least blame the right people.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
Thompson to cling t othis in 3... 2...
in any case, aren't these stings illegal since it's obvious law enforcement wasn't involed?
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
it's not that they are illegal, it's that they can't be confirmed or used by anyone except Jacky boy.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
Why are they illegal? No laws were broken.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
So they did a retail sting for Video Games but didn't bother to do one for Films, DVDs, Music CDs, Magazines and/or Books. I guess these people only care that little Johnny isn't playing GTA 4 but all the hardcore violent films, music and books are A.O.K.
Personally i could care less about the sting. The fact of the matter is it's the sole responsibility of the parents (not the nanny-state) to keep their kids from media/speech they find inappropraite or unsuitable for them. Doesn't matter whether it's the Holy Bible, Holy Quran, Charles Darwin's Origin of the Species, Harry Potter novels, or GTA 4.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
Well, at least this is better than those 'insurmountable' sample sizes of one. (and legal)
They still needed to do more, though. A LOT MORE.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
WHDH-TV CONTACT INFO:
Reported by:
Jonathan Hall
Contact
JHall@whdh.com
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
I want to know what stores they went to. Was it a big retailer, or some small out-of-the-way store that's more like a hobby shop or something?
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
I love how sweeps month brings out the worst in Journalism.
"I'm not responcabel fer my comuter's spleling errnors." -- Xlorep DarkHelm
Found: idiots for cash
I honestly think these people are proof that we as a human race are truly boned. Besides the simple fact that GAMES DO NOT CAUSE VIOLENCE. and the fact that 7/15 doesn't really mean anything, the amount of bias in the people they interviewed alone tells that.
Susan Linn is no better IMO than jack thompson for interviewing, same goes for menino.
I mean you MUST love the tv station that interviews the mayor, but doesn't mention that he's trying to introduce a bill that will be shot down faster than balloon by a SAM missle.
This is bringing sweeps to a new low, and I thought House was qqing.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
What were these 'M-rated games' they bought? There's a whole range of 'M-ratedness', from just barely past 'T for Teen' to 'One F-bomb away from an Adults Only rating'.
It's entirely possible they told the boys to buy the most mild M-rated games possible, and that's why these unnamed game retailers (Probably Wal-mart, a K-Mart, a couple pawn shops, and a Sears) didn't card them.
'The media industry's self regulation - around ratings - it clearly isn't working.'
Uhhhh....I've seen people bring six year olds to PG-13 movies. Hell, I was at Iron Man opening night, and a good quarter of the people there were under thirteen. A good 10% of the crowd must have been under ten. And this doesn't even TOUCH upon the kind of stuff they show on television at night..not even during Prime Time.
Also, as somebody said, even the Booze, tobacco, and porn industries, which are FEDERALLY regulated have nowhere near a 100% enforcement rate. But I suppose we shouldn't be too surprised...this is Boston. They're still afraid after the attack of those horrible, horrible Lite Brite(tm)s.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
I can one up you on that. I used to work part-time at a movie theater a few years back and you would be surprised at the number of toddlers and young kids parents bring with them to R-rated moves. And I mean the hard R rated ones on the line with Hostile and Saw. Yet because their parent was with them and they had a ticket, they had to be let in.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
Raven wrote:
"...you would be surprised at the number of toddlers and young kids parents bring with them to R-rated moves. And I mean the hard R rated ones on the line with Hostile and Saw. Yet because their parent was with them and they had a ticket, they had to be let in."
And parents controlling what movies their kids should be allowed to watch is bad because...?
Look, if you want to take away the responsibility of parents to decide what their kids watch, say so. But I don't think you'll find many supporters. When strangers determine what kids watch the situation gets much worse than when parents decide. Now personally I wouldn't take a toddler to see Hostel or Saw, but that doesn't mean it's wrong for someone else to do so. The fact is, violent media has NO KNOWN DETRIMENTAL EFFECT on kids, so if an adult wants to bring his kid to see Saw there's nothing at all wrong with that.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
This is one of those things that I agree with you in theory, but the practice leaves a bit to be desired.
Case 1, the ideal case: Parent brings child into the movie, explains any issues (within the limits of the understanding of the child). The parent wanted to bring the child to the movie, either to explain these issues, or the child wanted to see it.
Case 2: The parent couldn't find and/or was too cheap for a babysitter and the child is just baggage.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
Uhhhh....I've seen people bring six year olds to PG-13 movies
Uhhh, so? What's the P in PG-13 stand for? As long as the parents are there, the rating is being observed. It's when those 6 year olds are dropped off in a PG-13 that there's a problem.
Fudging the ratings
Isn't that interesting that most people are fine with fudging the T and PG-13 ratings for kids at any time for any game or movie, but if it's an M or R rating, OH HELL NO! Somebody's gettin' sued!
-GRIZZAM PRIME(c)is property of the U.S. Marine Corp. Wetworks Dept., and also The Incredible Hulk-GRIZZAM PRIME is not to be associated with GRIZZAM 512 or any other GRIZZAM entity under penalty of law, so sayith ZARATHOS.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
WOW!! Such monumental journalism!
I mean it would be a horrible article if it didn't state WHEN they did their sting, WHO the retailers were, and WHAT the game was that these kids picked up.
EPIC FAIL!
I'll bet money they were purchasing Halo 3.
The only thing "proven" in this story is that the reporters need to be educated on how to be reporters.
-Loudspeaker
"Volume helps to get a point across but sharp teeth are better."
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
The station also featured a brief interview with Boston Mayor Tom Menino (left), whose proposed video game legislation is currently on the back burner in the Massachusetts legislature. Menino said:
"The facts don't mean a thing. It's about earnin' votes."
**There we go, fixed the article for you ^^
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
Only 15 stores? Not very scientific. If I took a poll of only 15 people it wouldn't tell us anything.
Ok granted there a re a lot less gaming stores than people and it would take longer than polling 15 people but still.
Why aren't they taking this to the individual stores instead of blaming the entire industry?
Oh and 100% is very much unrealistic considering how many stores there are and the fact that alcohol tobacco and porn probably don't have 100% and they all ready have legislation.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
It's better than everyone's favorite attorney's stings. One store, one kid, one game (while he stands in sight of the register). Proof.
So far the only well done set of stings has been performed by the FTC. And yet no one is willing to note that video games consistently score better than everything else. Yet, all we see from these politicians and public figures are their anti-video game crusades.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
5 stores; 15 was the age of the buyer.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
100% may be unrealistic, but, as a representative of the Entertainment Merchant's Association, it'd be a bad idea to say they were shooting for anything less. People will spin anything, and the less you give them to spin, the better.
It's not the gameplay, it's the game sales
Yes, indeed. Play all the M-rated games you want you underage little darlings but by golly gosh, don't buy them! We can't have that!
"The ratings don't mean a thing. It's about makin' money." -Menino
And where does a 13-year-old get $59.99 plus tax?
Andrew Eisen
Re: It's not the gameplay, it's the game sales
The same place they always do. From Mommy & Daddy who took them shopping.
Re: It's not the gameplay, it's the game sales
Exactly.
Andrew Eisen
Re: It's not the gameplay, it's the game sales
That's exactly what I've been saying. How does a 8yr old, 13yr old, etc afford a $300 game system and $60 games? God forbid any of these parents who want unconstitunional laws enacted actaully be a parent. They should be thankful with such lack of supervision, and giving out money without concern, the worse thing their kids are buying or trying to buy is a video game. There are a lot worse things they can do with that money.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
Wow... 5 whole stores? How scientific. There's more than that within 5 miles of my house, and all of them have carded me at 24.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
So, did they 'sting' the movie section as well?
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
Of all the TV news stations in Boston, WHDH ranks #2 as having the least journalistic integrity (of course, behind Fox). Frankly, I wouldn't doubt for a second that they made more unsuccessful tries than reported.
Re: Sweeps Month: Boston TV News Stings Game Retailers
And once again I fail to see how the retailers not checking IDs somehow is the fault of the video game industry.
Well thanks a lot, retailers.
You're just making both we and the game industry look worse... and worse... and worse... and worse...
We need to jettison our complaints over to them.