L.A. Times: Don't Appeal California Video Game Law to Supreme Court
L.A. Times: Don't Appeal California Video Game Law to Supreme Court
February 28, 2009
While Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown ruminate over whether to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court over a 9th Circuit ruling that California's 2005 video game law is unconstitutional, the editorial board of the Los Angeles Times offers some advice:
Don't.
From the L.A. Times editorial:
The [California] law raised a multitude of constitutional concerns. First... one of the definitions of "violent" was too broad. A game was violent if a player "virtually" harmed not only human beings but "characters with substantially human characteristics" (good news for centaurs and bipedal hedgehogs). But even when that language was severed from the rest of the law, the appeals court said the statute was unconstitutional...
Important as it is, the court's legal analysis doesn't identify an easy alternative for parents who are justifiably concerned about the effects of violent video games, films or comic books on their children. But the primary responsibility for protecting minors from potentially harmful influences lies with parents, as it did long before video games were a twinkle in a programmer's eye. Parents don't need a law to urge makers of video games to strengthen their current voluntary ratings systems. More important, they don't need permission from a legislator or judge to keep an eye on what their children are doing -- or playing.
GP: BTW, the pic at left is none other than Gov. Schwarzenegger as portrayed in a violent video game. It's safe to assume that he was paid for the use of his likeness...
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Posted 03/20/10 at 10:32pm
Aliasalpha: Ding dong the witch is dead eh? Maybe we'll finally be treated as adults here and women can have small tits again!
Aliasalpha: Ding dong the witch is dead eh? Maybe we'll finally be treated as adults here and women can have small tits again!
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:28pm
JDKJ: Survey says no opinion either way. But approval is high among wombats.
JDKJ: Survey says no opinion either way. But approval is high among wombats.
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:25pm
BearDogg-X: JDKJ: What does the wallabies and crocodiles think of Skippy?
BearDogg-X: JDKJ: What does the wallabies and crocodiles think of Skippy?
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:24pm
Andrew Eisen: Beardogg-X - Not staunchly, no. However, only one AG has gone on record as supporting an R18+ rating. The rest either stated no position or declined to comment.
Andrew Eisen: Beardogg-X - Not staunchly, no. However, only one AG has gone on record as supporting an R18+ rating. The rest either stated no position or declined to comment.
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:23pm
JDKJ: Of 437 koala bears surveyed, 420 disagree with choice of Skippy for interim AG.
JDKJ: Of 437 koala bears surveyed, 420 disagree with choice of Skippy for interim AG.
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:21pm
BearDogg-X: With Atkinson stepping down, the question now becomes was there any other AG besides him that was against R18+? His stepping down does make R18+ more likely to be approved.
BearDogg-X: With Atkinson stepping down, the question now becomes was there any other AG besides him that was against R18+? His stepping down does make R18+ more likely to be approved.
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:18pm
Andrew Eisen: Well, Adelaide readers seem pleased with Atkinson's decision. 420 out of 437.
Andrew Eisen: Well, Adelaide readers seem pleased with Atkinson's decision. 420 out of 437.
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:15pm
JDKJ: BREAKING: Vacant Aussie AG post to be filled by Skippy, the Bush Kangaroo.
JDKJ: BREAKING: Vacant Aussie AG post to be filled by Skippy, the Bush Kangaroo.
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:12pm
Andrew Eisen: Flamespeak - Gamecube and Xbox came out in late 2001 with contollers pretty similar to the Dual Shock. You never know thoug. This Fall may be when the standard controller changes from the Dual Shock to a motion wand. *shudder*
Andrew Eisen: Flamespeak - Gamecube and Xbox came out in late 2001 with contollers pretty similar to the Dual Shock. You never know thoug. This Fall may be when the standard controller changes from the Dual Shock to a motion wand. *shudder*
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:09pm
Flamespeak: at a quicker rate these days.
Flamespeak: at a quicker rate these days.
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:09pm
Flamespeak: I believe that was launched in the first part of 1998. 2 years seems kind of fast too, but then again the world seems to move
Flamespeak: I believe that was launched in the first part of 1998. 2 years seems kind of fast too, but then again the world seems to move
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:05pm
Andrew Eisen: Flamespeak - Not when you consider Sony's been using the same controller since the PS1.
Andrew Eisen: Flamespeak - Not when you consider Sony's been using the same controller since the PS1.
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:03pm
BearDogg-X: Andrew Eisen: I meant that it won't take as many people to change their votes next election. Besides that, it's become a moot point now that he's stepping down as AG as soon as the election's over.
BearDogg-X: Andrew Eisen: I meant that it won't take as many people to change their votes next election. Besides that, it's become a moot point now that he's stepping down as AG as soon as the election's over.
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:02pm
Flamespeak: Seems kind of early considering the PS2 didn't launch until well into 2000.
Flamespeak: Seems kind of early considering the PS2 didn't launch until well into 2000.
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:01pm
Andrew Eisen: Fleamespeak - I'd say since around the turn of the century.
Andrew Eisen: Fleamespeak - I'd say since around the turn of the century.
Posted 03/20/10 at 10:01pm
BearDogg-X: BREAKING NEWS: Atkinson will step down as South Australia Attorney-General; will remain in Parliament
BearDogg-X: BREAKING NEWS: Atkinson will step down as South Australia Attorney-General; will remain in Parliament
Posted 03/20/10 at 09:59pm
Andrew Eisen: BearDogg-X - Not sure what your point about Atkinson having only 8500 votes is, seeing as that's around 65% (of the total votes counted at the time).
Andrew Eisen: BearDogg-X - Not sure what your point about Atkinson having only 8500 votes is, seeing as that's around 65% (of the total votes counted at the time).
Posted 03/20/10 at 09:57pm
Flamespeak: I remember when the NES controller held that honor and the stand alone one button joystick before that.
Flamespeak: I remember when the NES controller held that honor and the stand alone one button joystick before that.
Posted 03/20/10 at 09:56pm
Flamespeak: artistic rendering of things associated with gaming? Even GP has a rough version of one in their logo.
Flamespeak: artistic rendering of things associated with gaming? Even GP has a rough version of one in their logo.
Posted 03/20/10 at 09:56pm
Flamespeak: Just out of curiosity, when did the PS2 controller become the 'standard' for video game controller representation in most
Flamespeak: Just out of curiosity, when did the PS2 controller become the 'standard' for video game controller representation in most
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Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
It's simple. Want to teach a parent how to regulate what kind of games they play? They should use the parental control settings and set it so that the console won't play anything over a Teen rating.
I think the Guv is not going to appeal it period(due to the Economy being in the shitter)
Watching JT on GP is just like watching an episode of Jerry springer only as funny as the fights
California's economy can't be THAT bad if they have money to waste on crap like this...
----
Papa Midnight
http://www.otakutimes.com
http://www.thesupersoldiers.com
maybe their economy's bad BECAUSE they waste money on crap like this
岩「…Where do masochists go when they die?」
hmmm....major newspaper advocating parents taking charge, and not law making to restrict games.
Slight amount of disbelief, but good none the less.
LA TIMES FTW!!
Now if only some of their illiterate politicians could get someone to read the article to them.
Just let it DIE. You FAILED. Give it up, before you waste MORE taxpayer money. Just accept that there's no chance this will make it onto the 100 cases the supreme court hears a year.
---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.
I would think the only reasonable thing for them to do right now would be to appeal it. That way their pretty much bankrupt state can put off paying those industry legal bills a while longer.
More like don't bother.
It's dead no matter what those self righteous jerks try.
The law is unnecessary and here is why:
-Minors buying M-rated games is very rare to begin with.
-Most stores have policies not to sell M-rated games to minors.
-Enforcement of those policies is very good and getting better every year.
-All games are clearly rated so it's easy to tell by glancing at the box if it's appropriate for your child. You can even look at the box when your kid brings it home from the store. It's not too late!
-All consoles have parental control so if you're too damn lazy or incompetant to pay attention to what your kids is doing, lock out M-rated games and junior won't be able to play it even if he does manage to buy it.
-Rating and content descriptors not enough? In addition to the new summary at the ESRB site, the web is littered with oodles of info on whatever game you're not sure about!
-After all this your kid is still playing an M-rated game? Don't worry, contrary to popular belief, it won't hurt him.
Andrew Eisen
It's no wonder California is broke with their stubborn attitude towards this law it's getting really really old...really fast and I think when it comes up...Arnold and Yee should be outta our government...-_-
And the budget just passed right? Though the recession's still going on, so I'd like to think 'violent videogames' would be a hell of a lot lower on people's lists than say, finding/keeping a job. *eyeroll*
300 Episodes and counting: http://www.orangeloungeradio.com/
Certainly a better example could be used than Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines with the image taken from IGN? With no mention that the "violent game" was rated T. There's plenty of hypocrisy out there for Ahhnold, why not use something more fitting? Granted IIRC the law would include this game, but still.... It was rated T...
Still a guy who made a career making R-rated movies that are incredibly violent and very adult in content advocates what people should and should not watch? Whether his likeness was in Teen rated game...he has Conan The Barbarian, Terminator, Predator, etc etc under his belt.
"Good news for...bipedal hedgehogs"
Gotta give the paper serious credit for the sonic reference
Here's hoping they don't appeal it. Gives Jack more of a chance his case will be heard.
(Yes, I want them to hear his case. Makes him look even more stupid when he fails.)
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If JT's Case Comes Crashing down around his ears It'll be hilarious
Watching JT on GP is just like watching an episode of Jerry springer only as funny as the fights
I would like to say that the law is not a shickel, it is a sledge hammer,
and anything that those Christian pandering politicians say does not even take the real law into account.
Perhaps they need to do their own research into the 1st Admendment and understand that they can't force anyone to do anything.
Politicians just don't understand the 1st Admendment or even they have never even understood a single thing about Videogames to begin with.
It would be easier to have a IQ test for parenting..... IE keep people stile until they show they are capable of parenting right...
Gore,Violence,Sexauilty,Fear,Emotion these are but modes of transportation of story and thought, to take them from society you create a society of children and nannys, since adults are not required.
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com
The governator was a hypocrit for signing this into law.
Legislating violent media when he himself made money from violent media.
I fail to see why most pols need to appeal this (or any) game law- they already have something to mention in their campaign ads simply by voting for the legislation in the first place. Mission accomplished.
Regardless of whether the law is overturned, they can still make the campaign commercial like thus: "[INSERT NAME HERE] fought for families to protect our children from harmful videogames" Done.
The only pols with any real, practical reason to appeal these things to hell and back are the few who are truly pushing the nannystate/theocracy.