Schwarzenegger signs video game bill

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation to outlaw the sale of sexually explicit or extremely violent games to teenagers.
The New York Times

The story "Schwarzenegger signs video game bill" published October 8, 2005 at 9:53 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[Scott W]

what's the fuss?

more scapegoating then? instead of tackling the problem directly, your US government decides to attack the eastiest target it can find. reminds me of saddam in iraq. well, it's only a matter of time before the UK follows suit :(

[whiterabbit--2008]

Basically this new law does nothing.

What bad thing exactly is this law protecting against, that is happening right now. The law is only banning AO games from sale to minors. There are virtually no retailers that sell AO games. No one was selling AO games to minors in the first place!

The selection of AO rated games available today makes up less than a single percent of the video game market. Of the thousands and thousands of rated games, only 19 titles have been given the AO rating.

I would be surprised to learn that more than, say 5 minors (an extraordinary insignificant number anyway,) have obtained an AO rated game in the past, by means that would be illegal under this new law.

[wrwjpn]

Reading Comprhension?

Please read this:

"The law does not refer to the existing rating system, but James Steyer, founder of Common Sense Media, a group that pushed for the law, said video games affected by the law would be those rated "M" or higher."

The hint is: "video games affected by the law would be those rated "M" OR higher."

[RurikLoderr]

It's just a beginning

The reason you don't allow them to make this law is because it's just a start. No other media in this country has government stepping in to limit it. It's all self regulated, just like games are now. If you let them step in and say what can or can't be done it's like saying "Yes, video games are more dangerous than other forms of media, and yes it needs to be regulated." Believe me you don't want them having even a little power over something considered sacred in the constitution. (Yes, this would be freedom of expression) They'll start small, taking away the things you think aren't worth time or effort to fight for. Then they get bigger, each time you'll think it's not that bad.

If you ever let anyone take even a portion of a right, even if that portion doesn't effect you, you're giving them the power to take it all away.

[heystoopid]

Hmm, always the spoilsport

What's old veto arnie upto, the wanna be president and governor who endorses the sales of the fuel guzzling Ford's SUV's worried about?????? afraid it may corrupt the morals, of the next gen???????? What a spoilsport, oh well, we live in interesting times, but beware some things we do may come back and haunt us at a future date!

[bob donut]

He gave in

afraid it may corrupt the morals, of the next gen????????

It's not that. I think that he essentially gave in to the right wing. Think about the movies he's been in. He doesn't care about violence.
<b>bold</b>[b]bold[/b]

Error in report

In the news report you noted that there was a sexual scene included in GTA:SA, but you failed to mention that someone would have to hack the games code in order to access said scene. As in, it was going to be included then it wasn't, and the code was left just sitting around in there.

If we're going to use that as an example, then why wasn't Windows burned at the stake when their released source code had swearing/racial comments in it?

funny how a man who made his living killing in movies suddenly is against..

funny how a man who made his living killing in movies suddenly is against violant video games this new law applies to california only so it makes it a pain in the ass for game distrbuters to put this new lable on games that are rated mature