Minnesota sued over video game clampdown

Suit aims to overturn a new bill that would fine children and teens for buying or renting mature or adults-only games.

The story "Minnesota sued over video game clampdown" published June 6, 2006 at 9:25 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[unknown unknown]

How would this work?

It's up to the store to enforce this right? So they have to agree to rent or sell a minor an "M" rated game, take the kids money and say that will be an additional $25.00 fine. That's asinine, what nitwit came up with this law? Do they not think before they write these bills.

[perfectblue97]

This is a joke, right?

Let me get this straight.

Today, more than ever, parents are afraid of the level of violence that their children are exposed to, and are calling for state governments and federal autorities to do something about it, yet the courts have torn down laws

1) Preventing shops from selling violent games to kids

2) Preventing kids from buying violent games from shops

How on Earth are we supposed to protect our children?

Parents can't even make an informed choice about what their kids play because they can't check a game to see if it has sex or violence in it, or how graphic its contents actually are, before they buy it because game companies have successfully lobbied against mandatory labelling., and what labels there are are 'self regulatory' which pretty much means that the people who want you to buy their games get to choose the ratings.

And you can forget reading the reviews to see what game content is like because, the only people who rate games based on sex and violence are ultra liberals who always ramp up everything to scare you off, and so can't be trusted anyway, or are adult player who wouldn't know what was and wasn't suitable for a kid.

What is a parent to do?

[perfectblue97]

This is a joke, right?

Let me get this straight.

Today, more than ever, parents are afraid of the level of violence that their children are exposed to, and are calling for state governments and federal autorities to do something about it, yet the courts have torn down laws

1) Preventing shops from selling violent games to kids

2) Preventing kids from buying violent games from shops

How on Earth are we supposed to protect our children?

Parents can't even make an informed choice about what their kids play because they can't check a game to see if it has sex or violence in it, or how graphic its contents actually are, before they buy it because game companies have successfully lobbied against mandatory labelling., and what labels there are are 'self regulatory' which pretty much means that the people who want you to buy their games get to choose the ratings.

And you can forget reading the reviews to see what game content is like because, the only people who rate games based on sex and violence are ultra liberals who always ramp up everything to scare you off, and so can't be trusted anyway, or are adult player who wouldn't know what was and wasn't suitable for a kid.

What is a parent to do?

[rpms]

Dang that Constitution! Dang those kids I have to spend time with!

"[P]arents ... are calling for state governments and federal autorities to do something about it, yet the courts have torn down laws..."

It is important to uphold the Constitution.

"How on Earth are we supposed to protect our children?"

Sit down with your children at the computer every once in a while, so that they will know you care and you will know what they are up to.

[richto]

What a parent can do.....

You could:

a) Get a life and make sure your children are bought up with a balanced enough view of life not to go mowing down their classmates with a submachine gun just because some dude in a video game did and because you left your guns lying around after you finshed target practice on the fridges in your front garden.

or you could.

b) Move to an Armitage settlement with no electricity or TV.

[burlap]

No joke. It is not the governments job

Whether or not parents are afraid of the level of violence, it is their job, not the governments to raise their children. More government intrusion into our lives is not the answer. Concerned parents will spend time with their children, be aware of what they are doing, and through communication, consistent ruules, and good example, provide the parenting that the children need. they will do this on a daily basis because it is their responsibility.

The techniques for doing this are the same as for books. See what your children are reading, or playing, and if it is not appropriate, explain why, and provide something that is better suited to them. That is the way I raised my children. I didn't need the government to do it, because it was my job.

[VI Joker]

Nope. No joke.

All games have ratings on them now, so you do not have to buy it to know what it contains. The ratings are fairly accurate in relation to the content. If you do not have faith in ratings you can always rent the game and see for yourself. If you think its a bit much then all you have done is blown a couple bucks in the pursuit of safeguarding your child. In the event you do not think spending money to rent the game is worth the effort ask your child if one of their friends has the game (I am sure they would), and talk to that child's parent. If you do not believe the parent has the same view as you, ask to borrow the game to see for yourself or ask if the parent would mind if you observing their child play the game. This option is threefold it lets you see what your kid would be allow to play at someone else's house, you build a relationship with another parent, and you get to see the content of the game prior to purchase it.

Its time for parents to parent. For those who are going to use time as an excuse. Think about the lesson your are teaching your kids, which is if you do not want to do work have someone else do it for you and when a mistake is made or a problem occurs its not your fault. My brother says, (not sure if he came up with it or read it somewhere) "You make time for things that are important to you, and nothing else." Are your kids important to you?

[Dave_Brown]

This must be a joke!

Why not punish the government for starting illegal wars and torturing people? Are video games really more violent then real life? Gimme a break! And like a previous poster said, how do you collect $25 from a kid? Should it not be the store that is fined for selling the game? This law is totally unenforceable. Good luck with it Minnesota!

Dave

[Earl Benser]

ESA wants a free license to sell crap.......

.... and they violently oppose anyone who believes that the ESA crap
is not worth selling. Adults can buy crap if they wish, but not kids.

[windsamurai]

Crap?

You know, Grand Theft Auto and Stubbs the Zombie aren't the only games out there.

[Andrew J Glina]

Welcome Back!

I haven't noticed you hear for a while. I thought you might be dead! Especially when there have been several Adobe stories without Earl comments.