June 26, 2008
The Entertainment Merchants Association, the trade group which represents the interests of a large bloc of video game retailers, has issued a statement on Tuesday's passage of video game legislation by the New York State Senate:
The bill is unnecessary and seeks to solve a problem that does not exist. But we do not anticipate that video game software retailers will have a problem complying with its requirements. (It is important to note that NY law already requires DVD packages to display the rating of the movie.)
With passage in both the New York State Senate and Assembly, the measure now proceeds to Gov. David Paterson, who is likely to sign it into law.
Comments
Re: Game Retailers Trade Group Reacts to Passage of New York
Hi all..Anyone who thinks that there aren't any negative effects in playing video games is kidding themselves, fooling themselves because there is a negative impact of everything we do, and is more likely to give the fervant anti-gamers more ammo.
Lets take an established example shall we, footbal in this case (the soccer kind not american), if we look at all the negative impacts of football, breakage of limbs, straining of muscles mob violence and even death.
So clearly following this logic, football is the biggest peril that we know to man and should be clearly banned, made ilegal and all footbal couches should be sentanced to life in prisonment for the damage that they have caused society.
Clearly, this hasn't happened.
And why is this?
Because no study in football has been conducted without also looking into the positive aspects, rather than just the positive ones.
So anyone who says that games are completely harmless fun is obviously unaware to the geeks who can't hold down a social life, but clearly, this isn't true of all gamers, its the same with booze, one of the more social accetable bad habits, nearly everyone drinks but only a small percent of those people go on to comit DUI.
Another thing here, I see "unconsitional" thrown alot around here, and I also see the violent negative reaction that it is met with almost everywhere, but in this case i feel that the reaction is unjustified, for what I can make out what many in the anti-video game are trying to do is introduce laws which say that you can't be a 12 year old and walk into a store and buy GTA, and I whole heartily support them in this measure, and if you really feel that your, or your kids rights are being violated, buy it for your kids, really its that simple, the state deems that content A is not suitable for people a below a certain age and believe that the state is wrong in this conclusion, then by all means, buiy your son GTA, if you happen to be said son, I don't beleiev that as a child that you have the power to make a informed decesion and that the power of state and parent makes that decesion for you.
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Re: Game Retailers Trade Group Reacts to Passage of New York
I really could care less about what the bill is trying to do, these actions in and of themselves are not all that dangerous. The danger is this sets a mark on the law that other laws of this sort can use. What I'm saying is the passage of this into law will make it much easier for other gaming laws to come to pass that could do much more damage to the industry.
It's times like this I feel embarassed to think I came from that state...
Re: Game Retailers Trade Group Reacts to Passage of New York
I'm really glad this stance is made.
I believe this is a issue between the consumer, the merchant, the publisher and the developer. The government should have absolutely nothing to do with it.
Re: Game Retailers Trade Group Reacts to Passage of New York
If the Senate's version of this bill is similar to the Assembly's A11717, I doubt the industry will sue. It costs money to fight in court, and the bill doesn't require ratings for games that haven't already been rated.
I do wish this were overturned, as the mandate to display any ratings at all, even for games already rated, is a form of compelled speech. I understand the requirement to label food and other stuff that may kill us, but video games are speech and should not be required to display any ratings. Consider: If NY law were similarly amended to regulate comic books and Marvel decided to republish an old comic, it would be required to include the Comics Code Authority seal of approval in those comic books, whether it wanted to or not. That's not free speech.
Re: Game Retailers Trade Group Reacts to Passage of New York
So movies are required to have it to. I didn't know that. Still i think this bill is just a waste. Just makes politicans look like they are doing something useful when they really are not. Ugh.
What will come of this? What if the ESRB shuts down?
Re: Game Retailers Trade Group Reacts to Passage of New York
If there is a similar law regarding DVD cases, and this law is simply bringing things into line with current practice for New York, then, personally, I don't have a problem with it. Though, I'm surprised that establishments in the US are so eager to ignore their own constitution.