New Jersey State Senate President Richard Codey (D) has teamed up with the ESRB on a public service announcement designed to remind parents about video game content ratings.
Timed to coincide with the holiday shopping season, the PSA will air on local television and radio. Codey and ESRB President Patricia Vance unveiled the new campaign during a press conference at the Statehouse in Trenton yesterday.
In addition to his long service in the State Senate, Codey also served as New Jersey's interim governor after the 2004 resignation of James McGreevey.
Of his involvement with the ESRB, Codey said:
As a father, I know parents face tough decisions these days about the media they allow into their home. There’s simply no substitute for parental involvement and responsibility, and it’s important that parents play an active role in choosing games for their children. With the ESRB ratings, parents don’t have to feel like a Scrooge if their kids want a game that’s not appropriate for their age. The ESRB is a great resource that provides plenty of tools for parents to determine if a game is appropriate or to find a suitable substitute...
While many parents are aware of the ratings, and are making sensible game purchase decisions as a result, there is always more that can be done to raise awareness. Working with ESRB, we hope that these ads will help arm parents with the information they need to make the right choices about the video games they deem appropriate for their children and families.
Vance added:
Video games are no different than movies and TV shows in that they are created for a diverse audience of all ages. That is why it is so important that parents remember to check the rating when purchasing games for their children. I’m pleased to be joining Senator Codey in announcing this effort to reach out to New Jersey’s parents and educate them about the ratings.
Also on hand to support the campaign was Diane Zierler, president of the New Jersey Parent Teacher Association.



Comments
Re: New Jersey Senate Leader Teams with ESRB for Ratings
Okay, but still, even with poorly raised kids, the issue isn't the access to mature rated videogames. The issue is the parenting. If I can bring up a well mannered and behaved kid after letting them play GTA IV at, say 14, then poorly-raised kids who have that same access aren't being damaged by it. It's the other factors that are doing the damage.
Re: New Jersey Senate Leader Teams with ESRB for Ratings
Why do we tolerate stupid parents anyways? In this day and age, how hard would it be to make a device that fries the baby making bits of people from afar?
Re: New Jersey Senate Leader Teams with ESRB for Ratings
That's been around for years. Flamethrowers, x-ray machines, etc. The problem is the immorality of involutary sterilization, followed by the question of who gets to decide who gets sterilized.
For instance, if I was in charge of deciding who gets sterilized against their will, you'd be on my list. I'm sure you'd dispute that you should be on the list of people prevented from every having children, but it wouldn't matter, because by the time you find out about it, you'd be shooting blanks.
-Gray17
Re: New Jersey Senate Leader Teams with ESRB for Ratings
LOL he used the same footage from another commercial about the same thing. XD
Re: New Jersey Senate Leader Teams with ESRB for Ratings
I'm tired of hearing idiot politicians saying violent video game will harm our children. What a bullshit broken record.
--- Official Protector of Videoland!
Re: New Jersey Senate Leader Teams with ESRB for Ratings
Where did he say that?
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"What for you bury me in the cold cold ground?" - Tasmanian devil
Re: New Jersey Senate Leader Teams with ESRB for Ratings
Of his involvement with the ESRB, Codey said:
Vance added:
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Why are they so concerned about parents not buying kids M rated games?
--- Official Protector of Videoland!
Re: New Jersey Senate Leader Teams with ESRB for Ratings
Dude, there's NOTHING in that passage like what you're saying. I think you're reading into the article a bit too much.
"There is no sin except stupidity." - Oscar Wilde
Re: New Jersey Senate Leader Teams with ESRB for Ratings
"Why are they so concerned about parents not buying kids M rated games?"
Because that's what the ESRB ratings are for? Where have you been for the last decade?
Re: New Jersey Senate Leader Teams with ESRB for Ratings
Yeah I read that too, it seemed he was just praising the ESRB and I didn't see anything really condemning games, not in any explicit sense. I think you're getting too worked up over this.
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"What for you bury me in the cold cold ground?" - Tasmanian devil