Cali got a new law

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brianv

brianv

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Schwarzenegger signs game-restriction bill

Measure won't become California law until January, but the ESA is already planning a suit.

One was a Democratic Chinese-American child psychologist and anti-media-violence advocate representing San Francisco's sleepy Sunset district. The other was a Republican Austrian bodybuilder who became governor after making millions starring in violent Hollywood blockbusters. But today, Assemblyman Leland Yee and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger found common ground over one subject: video games.

This afternoon, Schwarzenegger signed California bill AB1179, which Yee penned, into law. The bill, which will come into effect January 1, 2006, bans the sale or rental of "violent video games" to children. What exactly is a "violent video game"? According to the state's legal summary of the bill, a "violent" game is defined as a "game in which the range of options available to a player includes killing, maiming, dismembering, or sexually assaulting an image of a human being." That definition would seem to cover virtually every M-for-Mature-rated game and many T-for-Teen rated games as well.

Under the new law, retailers that sell such games would be subject to a $1,000 fine. It will also require "violent" video games to bear a two-inch-by-two-inch sticker with a "solid white '18' outlined in black" on their front covers. That's over twice the size of the labels that currently adorn game-box covers and display the familiar Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) rating.

Given Schwarzenegger's close ties to the entertainment industry, it must have been a difficult choice to sign the bill. However, the governor played up the decision as a proactive move to shield youngsters from harmful material. "This gets the parents involved in the decision-making process," he said in a statement. "I believe as an actor in the ratings system. It is very important to protect children."

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the top US game industry lobby and parent of the ESRB, was quick to respond. "We are disappointed that politicians of both parties chose to toss overboard the First Amendment and free artistic and creative expression in favor of political expediency," said ESA president Doug Lowenstein in an statement. "AB 1179 is punitive against retailers, will waste limited taxpayer dollars, and when it is struck down by the courts, as has been the fate of similar statutes, parents will be no better off for this effort to damage one of the state's fastest growing and most exciting industries that is providing some of the most compelling entertainment in the world today." Lowenstein said the ESA is already planning a lawsuit to have the bill deemed unconstitutional.

California is the latest state to restrict the sales of video games. It follows Michigan and Illinois, both of which passed measures restricting the sale of violent or sexually explicit games. Oklahoma and Mississippi are considering similar measures.

By Tor Thorsen -- GameSpot
Posted Oct 7, 2005 4:13 pm PT
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Glad I don't live anywhere near California.
 
EEEEEH?

Sorry, but wasn't that already applied? I though that vendors wasn't able to sell games to people if they don't have the enough age, according to the ESRB. I mean, children only can buy A rated games, teens A and T rated games, and adults all the games. (Note: "A" means for "All people", or "All public" or something like that, I don't remember).
 
Sik said:
EEEEEH?

Sorry, but wasn't that already applied? I though that vendors wasn't able to sell games to people if they don't have the enough age, according to the ESRB. I mean, children only can buy A rated games, teens A and T rated games, and adults all the games. (Note: "A" means for "All people", or "All public" or something like that, I don't remember).
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Um, doens't A mean Adults only??
 
brianv said:
Sik said:
EEEEEH?

Sorry, but wasn't that already applied? I though that vendors wasn't able to sell games to people if they don't have the enough age, according to the ESRB. I mean, children only can buy A rated games, teens A and T rated games, and adults all the games. (Note: "A" means for "All people", or "All public" or something like that, I don't remember).
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Um, doens't A mean Adults only??
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That's AO.
 
Eh, I live in Cailfornia, so I heard this on the radio a few days ago.
This is BS, I hate the jackasses that blame their crimes on video games :/.
Meh, I could swear it was illegal to sell M rated games to kids anyways.. maybe that's just a policy for specifc stores or something.
 
This couldn't of come at a more terrible time for Quake and Serious Sam fans living in that state. Both sequels are coming out tommorow!
 
I don't see why the gaming community has such a problem with this. I actually agree with it. It's just the same as needing an ID to go watch an R rated movie at the theatre.

If you want to play an M rated game, get your parents to buy it for you. If you can't, then you shouldn't be able to have it. This is such common sense, really.
 
"Mommy, buy me this game! It may SAY that there's castration and head-exploding, but they're just kidding. Honest."
"I don't know, Billy... That sounds pretty violent. What does this "M" mean?"
"Um... 'Meant for kids?'"
"Oh, how clever. I'll take this to the cashier."
"YAAAAY!"

I just wish this would actually help keep super-violent games out of little kiddie's hands. I don't usually take a conservative stand on this sort of thing, but putting better warnings on games may mean that less blame can be pinned on video games for acts of Juvenile violence, and more on stupid and careless parents.
 
GB250 said:
I don't usually take a conservative stand on this sort of thing, but putting better warnings on games may mean that less blame can be pinned on video games for acts of Juvenile violence, and more on stupid and careless parents.
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Exactly.

People complain about policitians complaining about violence in video games, but when the politician actually does the correct decision, we complain even more?

Gimme a break.
 
Well, hold on, it really depends on a few things here:

* T-rated games are NOT covered by this law.
* M-rated games require ID proof that you are SEVENTEEN years old, not EIGHTEEN. AO is 18+, M is (and always has been) 17+. Probably won't be an issue; R is 17+ too, IIRC.

If those two issues are true, then I could care less about the law. Otherwise, it needs revision.
 
Ok students, time for Professor Chaos to teach you all a lesson.


*HOW TO GET RATED M GAMES WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF MOMMY AND DADDY* By Professor Chaos the Hedgehog

Go online to the store's website and conduct recon. "an you buy stuff online with gift cards?"Is a common recon question. Now, go to this store IRL ("n real life"for all the n00bs that don't know) And buy a Gift card. Put $5-$10 extra for shipping. (ex. $50 dollar game? Put $60 on the card) Now, go to *insert store website here*.com, and choose your game and purchase. Watch your mail.If your parents intercept your mail and read or open your packages, watch like a hawk.


~This material may not be posted on other websites w/o the consent of Professor Chaos the Hedgehog *shot*
 
Luckly I live in Texas. I just bought Halo PC on my own money at Gamestop, they didn't give a *Shot
 
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