America to write a law that would criminalize the sale of games to kids

majnu

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I think its a step in the right direction. As you've pointed out jason g, it won't stop parents buying games for their kids. But, hopefully, it will increase awareness that video games have ratings just like films. And maybe the knock on effect will result in parents will take more of an interest in what sort of experience lil Jimmy will expect to have when playing Fear, Condemned, GTA or Duke Nukem.

I'm not one of those people that thinks video gaming = serial killer in the making. But I certainly believe 7 year olds should not be playing violent video games in the same way they shouldn't be watching horror films. I think there's a common myth that video games are for kids - we need to hammer home the fact that some are, and some aren't. Just like movies.
 
I think its a step in the right direction. As you've pointed out jason g, it won't stop parents buying games for their kids. But, hopefully, it will increase awareness that video games have ratings just like films. And maybe the knock on effect will result in parents will take more of an interest in what sort of experience lil Jimmy will expect to have when playing Fear, Condemned, GTA or Duke Nukem.

I'm not one of those people that thinks video gaming = serial killer in the making. But I certainly believe 7 year olds should not be playing violent video games in the same way they shouldn't be watching horror films. I think there's a common myth that video games are for kids - we need to hammer home the fact that some are, and some aren't. Just like movies.

I don't think that's really the problem, I reckon the problem is more that they think it is ok for their child or don't understand it fully rather than not knowing there's an age rating.
 
I don't think that's really the problem, I reckon the problem is more that they think it is ok for their child or don't understand it fully rather than not knowing there's an age rating.

Exactly. My next door neighbour allowed his 13 year old to play GTA4.
 
i pointed out a while back that i would rather a child be inside their home playing COD, GTA4, etc rather than be out on the streets in a gang armed with knives, this is a real problem.

the media hypes up video game violence far too much imo, everytime something happens, video games are to blame, well bad parenting i think is more to blame than a game.
 
i pointed out a while back that i would rather a child be inside their home playing COD, GTA4, etc rather than be out on the streets in a gang armed with knives, this is a real problem.

the media hypes up video game violence far too much imo, everytime something happens, video games are to blame, well bad parenting i think is more to blame than a game.

Maybe the law is there to punish bad parenting. Leaving a child playing COD/GTA all day will eventually initiate a violent tendency and spill out into the streets.

I've played COD and these kids really do have a foul mouth; banning them from playing 18 rated games is a good thing in my opinion. If a parent allows their child to play violent games, then they need to a find a balance and restrict the amount of hours they play.

I remember when I was a kid., I was never allowed to play Goldeneye on my N64 on a school day and I would only play probably 2 hours on a Sat and Sun.

Video games have now become convenient baby sitters as social habits have changed.

I blame the Government because of petrol prices making it expensive for parents to take their kids out.
 
i pointed out a while back that i would rather a child be inside their home playing COD, GTA4, etc rather than be out on the streets in a gang armed with knives, this is a real problem.

the media hypes up video game violence far too much imo, everytime something happens, video games are to blame, well bad parenting i think is more to blame than a game.

Are they the only options in today's society?

Either a child is playing video games all day or they are out on the street in a gang, I'm sure that is not the case is it?
 
Are they the only options in today's society?

Either a child is playing video games all day or they are out on the street in a gang, I'm sure that is not the case is it?

i never said they were the only 2 options, i was saying i would prefer the child to be playing video games then be on the street in a gang causing problems to people.
 
Its the same in the uk if someone sell an BBFC 18 rated game to a minor its against the law aswell and subject to a fine

USA overacting, why is it such a bad thing to ensure underage people are checked properly at point of sale?
 
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i pointed out a while back that i would rather a child be inside their home playing COD, GTA4, etc rather than be out on the streets in a gang armed with knives, this is a real problem.

the media hypes up video game violence far too much imo, everytime something happens, video games are to blame, well bad parenting i think is more to blame than a game.

It might just be games like GTA that have added fuel to the gang era of today.
Im not saying there the whole cause of it as it more comes down to lack of discipline and respect at schools, also easy access to disturbing things on the net, but some of the things that are in these games are a bit too much for kids to be playing.
 
Leaving a child playing COD/GTA all day will eventually initiate a violent tendency and spill out into the streets.

Seriously? You can just happily state that as a fact!? I'm not arguing it isn't bad parenting, but there is no proof that violence in entertainment manifests as violent "tendencies", let alone actual violent behaviour. Despite this being the bogeyman for all of societies ill's since the first time young people started doing something older people disapproved of.

Teenage Mutant NINJA Turtles didn't turn me into a violent person, despite the media outcries at the time (which forced it to be renamed HERO Turtles in some parts of the world). Yes "in my day" it wasn't violent video games that would turn us all into violent criminals before we turned 13, but violent cartoons. How silly does that sound now?

Hell, me and my brother always had fights (in the literal sense, not even virtual) this didn't make us violent people who would go out and lead a life of crime.

The general public's ignorance is a far bigger risk to the children than video games, sadly we can't pass a law to do anything about that.

I guess at least I can look forward to blaming violent neural-implanted-virtual-reality-simulations for the behaviour of young people in 20 years time ;)
 

Court ruled 7-2 that the California law criminalizing the sale of ultra-violent games to minors was un-Constitutional.

I think this is what it boils down to (Basically Good Parenting):

The gaming industry's ratings, administered by the ESRB, are sufficient: " This system does much to ensure that minors cannot purchase seriously violent games on their own, and that parents who care about the matter can readily evaluate the games their children bring home.
 
I started playing COD about 3 years ago when I was 14 years old, it never harmed me at all.

As for the sale of games to minors in the UK, there is a very easy workaround for this. Most of my friends who bought Modern Warfare 2, rated an 18 in the UK, were only 16 at the time of release. They went on release day to purchase the game from supermarkets such as ASDA and they saw people as young as 12 buying the game without an adult accompanying them and also buying the game without even a slightest question about age even though it is completely obvious that a large amount of people buying the games on release day aren't of the correct age.
 
This subject has reared its head again....IMHO (the 'O' stands for Opinion!) The laws in this country are a bit odd, it is NOT ok to subject a child to some adult materials (read: porn), and rightly so. However, it seems to me that 18 cert games are fine, as I believe the law only governs who can BUY, not use them. That being said (and no doubt someone will prove me wrong in some way on my above OPINION!) I think that there should be stricter controls in place for gaming. I think that there is too much of an attitude in this country that video games are 'pretend' or 'make believe' or just like cartoons, as they aren't really live action like a film (some games are close now tho).
To a degree, yes, games are about suspending belief, they aren't 'real' etc...but nor are a lot of things out there.

I for one, will not play any age rated game when my daughter is about (she's 5). I, as a parent, do not think that it is responsible of me to allow her to hear swearing, view disturbing images, or hear disturbing sounds (screaming, gunfire etc...) But the reason I don't allow her to see these things is NOT because I think she will become a serial killer if she does, but just...well I can't really put my finger on it - maybe because I have a good moral compass, where others perhaps don't?
And perhaps to summarize my odd half 4 in the morning waffle, maybe thats all we need to do as a society, just be able to say, well actually its just wrong because I/ we/ society feel it is.....

I shall try not to trip as I step down from the soap box....
 
Seriously? You can just happily state that as a fact!? I'm not arguing it isn't bad parenting, but there is no proof that violence in entertainment manifests as violent "tendencies", let alone actual violent behaviour. Despite this being the bogeyman for all of societies ill's since the first time young people started doing something older people disapproved of.

Teenage Mutant NINJA Turtles didn't turn me into a violent person, despite the media outcries at the time (which forced it to be renamed HERO Turtles in some parts of the world). Yes "in my day" it wasn't violent video games that would turn us all into violent criminals before we turned 13, but violent cartoons. How silly does that sound now?

Hell, me and my brother always had fights (in the literal sense, not even virtual) this didn't make us violent people who would go out and lead a life of crime.

The general public's ignorance is a far bigger risk to the children than video games, sadly we can't pass a law to do anything about that.

I guess at least I can look forward to blaming violent neural-implanted-virtual-reality-simulations for the behaviour of young people in 20 years time ;)

I'm not stating it as fact. There is no scientific evidence to suggest otherwise. Everything should be done in moderation.

Total Biscuit's view, skip to 9:30 in the video

YouTube - ‪The Mailbox 28/06/11‬‏
 
what's the point, as most parents buy the games for their kids anyway.

That is the parents responsibility though (same with if a parent chooses to give them booze) but it helps empower parents to allow THEM to decide what their kids can or cant see & do.

(sure going round their scally mates who have them is still an issue)

I think this is a good idea. If pressuring retailers to not sell adult games to minors, and putting in child locks on consoles means that the adult games i like do not get cut/banned then I am all for it.

And if a parent lets their kid play manhunt and said kid goes off the rails, the blame there is squarely with the parents (& child) not the games.

I watched horror movies as a kid, and also had my pr0n stash... what kid doesnt, and I have yet to turn into a psychopath but i still think this weird view that it is ok for a shop to sell COD MW2 to a 12 year old but wrong to sell an 18 movie... if anything a game being interactive, is worse than a film not better.


BUT at the same time I do not see why my gaming should be affected just becasue some parents do not give a toss what their kid does.
 
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I think the problem is down to a few different factors now. Its partly down to bad parenting as parents are often unaware of what these games contain and don't make an effort to find out, as well as many parents using video-games as a form of babysitting. Its also partly down to the retailers that choose to sell games to people that are clearly under-age.
The sale of rated games should be treated exactly the same as films whereby ID should be checked to ensure the purchaser is old enough and retailers should be subject to fines for knowingly selling a game to someone under-age or someone old enough who was intending to pass the game on to someone under-age.
I, like many others, will not play or watch anything older rated when the kids (5 & 8) are around. I firmly believe that they will see more than enough of the nasty stuff when they get older so for now the kids should just get to be kids without having to worry about seeing violence and swearing, and not having nightmares due to what they've seen on screen.
 
I, like many others, will not play or watch anything older rated when the kids (5 & 8) are around. I firmly believe that they will see more than enough of the nasty stuff when they get older so for now the kids should just get to be kids without having to worry about seeing violence and swearing, and not having nightmares due to what they've seen on screen.

Too true that... Kids nowadays are subjected to far too much already. They are expected to be too grown up by their parents a lot of the time. Even in schools they are expected to know more than they should at the age they are.
 
Too true that... Kids nowadays are subjected to far too much already. They are expected to be too grown up by their parents a lot of the time. Even in schools they are expected to know more than they should at the age they are.

There's nowt wrong with a child genius. But programmes like toddlers and tiaras should be banned as that is just wrong on every level.
 
There's nowt wrong with a child genius. But programmes like toddlers and tiaras should be banned as that is just wrong on every level.

So true.... REALLY what is the target demographic for that program??

I am all for punishing retailers who break the law, and it is so so easy for parents to control what their kids do in their own home.

ignorance is simply not an excuse.......

(No one in their right mind would suggest banning alcohol from sale because of the off chance that a kid may drink some)
 
im sick of being swore at and having abuse hurled at me from pre-teen kids while playing games on-which they're not allowed.

Hopefully (but doubtfully) this will stem the stream of little twits that cant handle the games their parents allow them to play on, lets hope this is a sign of things to come in the gaming revolution.

Didnt realise that it had been sorted all ready .... oops
 
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Maybe the law is there to punish bad parenting. Leaving a child playing COD/GTA all day will eventually initiate a violent tendency and spill out into the streets.

I've played COD and these kids really do have a foul mouth; banning them from playing 18 rated games is a good thing in my opinion. If a parent allows their child to play violent games, then they need to a find a balance and restrict the amount of hours they play.

I remember when I was a kid., I was never allowed to play Goldeneye on my N64 on a school day and I would only play probably 2 hours on a Sat and Sun.

Video games have now become convenient baby sitters as social habits have changed.

I blame the Government because of petrol prices making it expensive for parents to take their kids out.

Ahh Goldeneye. Getting a tear in me eye.

Hopefully parents will see this and stop the pre-pubeasant tits from ruining the COD franchise from a no scoping hacking ****** music being played from a whigger sort of way. Then the adults can swear in a total guilt free manner.:cool:
 
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