James Delahunty
4 Mar 2005 22:30
Lawmakers across the United States continue to propose legislation they claim will safeguard kids from the effects of video game violence. Most violent video games in the United States are rated M (meaning Mature) by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. For example, Senator Shawn Womack authored a bill that would require all stores that rent or sell video games, to display games with a rating of M at least five feet away from the floor. A vendor who violated the law could be fined up to $500.
Washington State representatives Mary Lou Dickerson, Jim McCune and Jim McDermott have authored a bill that would hold game companies accountable when a minor commits a violent act that may have been inspired by a game they played. "These games choreograph violence in a stylized and romanticized way that encourages children and adolescents to associate violence and killing with pleasure, entertainment, feelings of achievement and personal empowerment," the bill states.
An Alabama family recently filed suit against Take Two Interactive over its Grand Theft Auto games after a young man killed three police officers. All games are created with one of their major aims being to get an emotional response from the player. What I would like to know is how can you blame that emotional response you got from a video game after you murdered three police officers? It's not fair to blame gaming companies for your own actions. In fact, this just gives people (mostly offending minors) a way out by simply blaming a video game at home for their actions.
Attempting to hide something out of the view/reach of minors is not always the best option. Right now, playing violent video games is not a very "big" thing to do since you can get a violent video game easily from stores. However, I believe as soon as the violent games hit the top shelf and the stores start asking for I.D., it will become a big deal because the minors will feel the need to do what they are not supposed to. If you were a kid, wouldn't you like to play a violent video game when you are ordered not to?
Source:
News.com