Watchdog group the Parents Television Council has issued an "action alert" urging parents to rally behind HR5990, the proposed Video Games Rating Enforcement Act.
The bill, introduced in Congress last month by Reps. Lee Terry (R-NE) and Jim Matheson (D-UT), would require game retailers to check IDs of mature-rated game buyers and would also mandate that information detailing the ESRB rating system be posted in view of customers.
From the PTC alert:
The proposed legislation codifies the video game industry’s own voluntary policies and will ensure better enforcement by requiring all retailers to check IDs from any child trying to buy or rent Mature (M)-rated or Adult-Only (AO) rated games. It does not limit adults’ access to any games they want to buy for themselves or for their children – it merely helps ensure that children can only access age appropriate video games if they are accompanied by an adult.
However, the Entertainment Consumers Association, representing video game consumers, has issued its own alert in opposition to HR5990:
The Video Games Rating Enforcement Act, is another Congressional attempt to unconstitutionally regulate the sale of video games. If it’s passed, the federal courts will find it unconstitutional – and at great expense to taxpayers.
By raising our voices now, we can let Congress know that we, as taxpayers and constituents, would rather they use their time and our money to discuss more pressing issues such as the war in Iraq, universal healthcare and the national economy.
Full Disclosure Dept: The ECA is the parent company of GamePolitics…
Comments
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
I think you're spot on and it also highlights the common perception that video games are more child oriented than anything else. While this may have been the case with the old Atari systems, many of use raised on older systems have grown up and the video game industry has matured as well. It's not just a youthful passtime but something that is being enjoyed by many people in many different age groups.
If there is a regulation to be handed down it should be handled by the retailers and the parents, not enforced by government institutions which should be dealing with more important issues. Maybe things have changed since I was a kid but I recall being driven to the store and having my dad with me when I made my game selection. It's not the much effort to find out what your kids are playing, especially if you want to become involved in their lives.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
it's wrong because it only addresses one type of medium (not movies or music, just video games.) other bills that have tried to do this have 'passed' but were ultimately struck down as being unconstitutional. then the government had to pay for the lawyers for the esa on top of having to pay for their own. lets not waste the money. it could really be of more use in other things.
besides, retailers are already doing this, and are much better at carding video games than they are at carding for movies or music. there was an ftc (i think it was the ftc) report recently that showed this. it's actually easier for a teen to get his hands on an unrated copy of saw IV than it is for the teen to get his hands on GTA IV.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
I don't see the problem. Stores should do that anyway, right?
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
MechaCrash brought up a very good point above. This legislation would give the opinions of a private entity (ESRB) the equivalent of the force of law, without any direct public recourse. In the United States, that just won't fly. US and state legislative bodies are the only entities allowed to create law AFAIK. The only way around this is to make the ESRB a government entity, answerable to the public and under the supervision of federal bureaucracy. Even then, I'm not sure that this type of legislation would meet the Consitutional "Smell Test".
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
If you think you have some God-given right to tell me what I should or shouldn't do in my privately owned store, that's a problem. Mind your own household, parent your own kid, and stay out of my business.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
Couldn't of said it any better
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
Do stores get handed a $5,000 dollar fine if they sell an R-rated movie to a 16 year old? No, so why should they for M-rated games?
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
As the above post says, do they do this for movies, book, music? No, it singles out video games and thats uncontituational. Good going PTC, you guys fail yet again.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
Do they do it for books?
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
The nuts of the PTC in support of this, I'm shocked!
Can't wait for the "I don't see anything wrong with this, my country already does something like this" replies that completely miss the point.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
Please donlt flame, but that['s exactly my position on this. Please could you explain just what point it is that i'm missing? :)
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
The point is, the government in this country CANNOT regulate protected(Free) speech. That is the first and most important RESTRICTION on US governmental power and the children be DAMNED.
The only timethe government can have any say in the matter is when something is ruled obscene, I believe they use the miller test for that. If someone wants a game ruled obscene then they had better be ready to fight it all the way to federal court.
There are other things it violates, but this one alone should have every news outlet screaming bloody murder.
rant
Not to mention I don't give a flying fuck how other countries do it, if I did, I'd be living in the that country.
/rant
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
I suppose the difference in Australia is that the OFLC not only classifies most media (music, tv, movies, games but not books as far as I'm aware) but is also a part of the federal government.
I'd normally suggest the ESRB should be absorbed into the government so they could be a publically accountable entity with the force of law but then there's probably a lot of people in the american government who'd want to just ban stuff & corruptly manipulate the organisation, worse yet they'd just appoint jack thompson to head the department...
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
I've find more accountable non profits than I've found accountable politicians.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
I agree - the BBFC being a case in point, IMHO.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
There are two problems here. The first is that it singles out video games. There is no similar legislation for books, movies, or any other form of entertainment. The second (and bigger problem) is that this is blatantly unconstitutional. And not in terms of "free speech," it's because it would give a private orginization (i.e. the ESRB) the force of law, and that is a no-no.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
Ok why make a law to make retailers do what they are anyway? Does this make sense to anybody?
Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
Because it sets a precedent that the government can enforce regulations imposed and defined by the private sector. Once that door is opened, the RIAA can demand swat teams and shock troops. The PTC can use military might to shutdown naughty cable programming, and Haliburton can forceably drill wherever they want because "they said so".
Also, you'll find organizations like the PTC and NIMF seeking to supplant the ESRB rating system. Thus ensuring that our children can only play the games that THEY claim are wholesome entertainment. Mario cart will be rated M, while "Dial M for Moses" and "Murderous Crusade: Retake the Holy Land" will be rated E for everyone.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
They could successfully enforce it 99.9% of the time but these groups would still bitch about the .1% and still demand the government to step in because then it would be one big step in what their real goal is.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
Not even cigarettes and alcohol are enforced that well, and giving those to a minor nets you jail time and fines, has for years... In New Jersey in 2002, nearly 20% of minors could still buy cigarettes. This was an improvement from the 85% of minors who could buy cigarettes in 1994...
I hate the comparison, but just to give us a baseline of *other* things the government currently enforces age ratings on... So even the government does a crummy job.
-- If your wiimote goes snicker-snack, check your wrist-strap...
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
The point was that no matter what is done or how well retailers enforce the rating, groups like the PTC would never be happy, they want government involvement because they know what that could lead to and it fits perfectly with their true agenda. It also would make them feel warm and fuzzy inside just like the somewhat failure that are age restrictions of alcohol and cigarettes gives groups like MADD and whatever anti-smoking groups that are out there.
But yeah, the goverment sucks at it just like it does at most everything else.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
Also, wasn't this the bill that gave out harsher fines for selling video games (not proven hazardous) to minors than are currently mandated for selling alcohol or cigarettes (proven hazardous, as they are technically poison) to same minors? A lot of people find that strange - although pointing this out may just motivate the government to raise the fines for selling minors alcohol and cigarettes.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
Why pay taxes? We should just set a big pile of money on fire every year.
Re: Parents Television Council Backs Congressmen's Video Game
That would probably be a cheaper heating alternative during the winter, too.