Boston Mayor to Partner with ESRB on Ratings Awareness Campaign
Boston Mayor to Partner with ESRB on Ratings Awareness Campaign
May 27, 2009
He has been one of the video game industry's most aggressive critics in the past, but GamePolitics has learned that Boston Mayor Thomas Menino (D) will partner with the ESRB on a public service ad campaign designed to raise parental awareness of the video game rating system.
The campaign, unveiled in Boston by Menino and ESRB President Patricia Vance, will feature T.V. and radio ads as well as outdoor print ads. Of the media blitz, Menino said:
Parents want control of the media that comes into their homes, and the entertainment that their children enjoy. That’s why it’s so imperative that we educate parents about useful and informative tools like the ESRB ratings and rating summaries, so they’ll be empowered to make informed choices about which games they deem appropriate. I’m proud to be educating parents in our city about the tools at their disposal.
With today's news, Menino joins a number of high-profile elected officials around the country who have partnered with the ESRB on game ratings awareness campaigns over the past several years. Given Menino's track record as a video game industry critic, the turnabout is especially significant.
In 2006 Menino led a campaign to have Grand Theft Auto ads removed from public transit. In 2007 his office flirted with video game legislation authored by Jack Thompson. The Boston Mayor's video game bill was eventually submitted to the legislature in 2008, but died in committee.
Menino, who earlier this year touted Boston as a game industry-friendly city in an effort to attract jobs, is running for an unpredecented fifth term as mayor.
A PUBLICATION OF THE ECA
SUBSCRIBE
LOGINGamePolitics ShoutBox
Posted 11/07/09 at 11:33pm
JDKJ: BREAKING: In photo-finish at the wire, House passes health care reform bill. Relatedly, in fit of pique, Austin Lewis kicks innocent dog.
JDKJ: BREAKING: In photo-finish at the wire, House passes health care reform bill. Relatedly, in fit of pique, Austin Lewis kicks innocent dog.
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:26pm
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:23pm
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:18pm
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
Posted 11/07/09 at 03:34pm
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Copyright © 2007 ECA. All rights reserved.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
Jack Thompson saying this guy is raped by the video game industry and supporting his rapist in 3...2...1
Nice to see a former game hater doing the right thing for all of us who play video game.
Parents want control of the media that comes into their homes, and the entertainment that their children enjoy. That’s why it’s so imperative that we educate parents about useful and informative tools like the ESRB ratings and rating summaries, so they’ll be empowered to make informed choices about which games they deem appropriate. I’m proud to be educating parents in our city about the tools at their disposal.
At least he knows what he is saying. He makes me proud of how to be a good parent. Take that Jack Thompson, you see this former worker of yours knows what he is saying.
YES! Someone finally got it right! Thank you, Good!
Alright, am I the only one who thinks this guy is a load of bullshit? He's doing this for one of two reasons:
A. His opinions of video games truly have changed, and now, instead of banning games, he wants to educate others about the ratings system so people can make their own decisions...
Or...
B. His opinion hasn't changed; he's still against violent games, and secretly stands by his anti-video-game stance. However, due to the recent recession, he's trying to attract game devs to Boston to increase the money flow in the city, and takes this new stance to save face from his support for the failed JT bill so he can win re-election. Then, after the election is done and his victory has been secured, he'll (probably) turn on the games industry and go after violent games and game content again...the scumbag...
I would prefer A., but B. is also probable.
What do you guys think? Could he be making a move to secure his career, or am I a bitter, cynical shell, a husk of what once was a gentle, caring, gullible young man? (I'll be 21 this year, so yes, I am a young man.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Game on, brothers and sisters.
Or:
C: He doesn´t really care if games are violent or not. He just want money. Plain and simple.
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
C. Definitely C.
He's a politician, after all.
There's also D: he's against violent video games, and since his other approaches have failed, he's decided to join forces with the ESRB to use the last option available to prevent kids from playing violent video games: inform the parents and hope for the best.
I don't think that's a cynical view at all, just a realistic one. BACK PEDDLE FASTER!
I'm not against repentance, but some show of appology would be nice. "I'm sorry for acting like such a douche; I promise to do what I can to educate parents in ratings, protect their rights, and keep our First Amendment intact."
Still, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt until he turns into an asshole again.
Huh? What'chu talking about "back-peddling" for?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Game on, brothers and sisters.
Oh, my bad. I thought you were telling me to "back peddle faster". My mistake.
Judging from his pic, I doubt he's that in shape. XD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Game on, brothers and sisters.
The ESRB must have threatened his life with a Lite Brite...
1-31-07 Nevar forget.
Ahhhhh Jack's "allies" seem to be jumping ship. Probably realized that you know....actually supporting the current generation and their recreation activities might be more profitable than trying to be censor happy?
"Parents want control of the media that comes into their homes, and the entertainment that their children enjoy."
Here's the first stupid thing that most of these politicians hoping to use video games as a ratings springboard say. It sounds positive and pro-parent, but the truth should be told. What he should have said is "Parents ALREADY CAN control the media that comes into their homes, and the entertainment that their children enjoy."
I know it's important that we educate parents about the rating systems, but I really think a line has to be drawn at some point where video games ratings stops being something that can help a parent, and where it becomes something you expect a parent to know about or to at least have the common sense to understand. I really hope that this will come about without having to wait for our generation to be those parents and authority figures, but unfortunately i can't see it happening.
Wow, common sense. This guy is SO not getting re-elected!
That or it is a cynical scam as Leet Gamer Jargon surmised
Whatever happened to those stickers that used to warn of explicit language on CDs? Haven't seen those for years, did everyone just think "fuck it"? Has 2 Live Crew finally won?
>Whatever happened to those stickers that used to warn of explicit language on CDs? Haven't seen those for years, did everyone just think "fuck it"? Has 2 Live Crew finally won?
Nah, it just became cheaper to sticker the non-explicit language CDs instead.
/b
It could just be that as video games become more promenint in our culture, the critics begin to see it as something that should be embraced, not feared.