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There seem to be three major categories for video game
articles: the past, the present, and the future. Articles that explore the past
look back at forgotten releases of yore, often with a healthy dose of
nostalgia, and longing for simpler times; or at least, seek a good chuckle at
the famous missteps of our favorite publishers. Articles based in the present
explore game reviews, the current generation of the console wars, and give
forum to contradicting complaints of “ Industry is too sequel heavy!” and “ Why
doesn’t this game have a sequel?”
We’ve been swept away by the jubilant madness of Mario Kart
Wii and GTA IV these past couple weeks, focused on the here and now of these
mighty titles. Its time to keep an eye on the horizon, and see what’s in store
for the future of the game industry, because already we can feel the rumbling
of big, BIG things, that will seek to sate your gaming hunger once you’ve
finished your current titles.
Of course, more new and awesome game titles aren’t the only
thing that’s been set in motion this past week. The great beast of politics is
also stirring in its slumber…
Now that we have GTA IV and Mario Kart in our hot little
hands, what do we have to look forward to? Well, Nintendo owners can look
forward to Kid Icarus for the Wii, announced in the past couple weeks. Id
entertainment has also announced Doom 4, the newest installment in the aged and
revered sequel. Also from the PC’s glory days, Diablo3.com was recently
procured by Blizzard Entertainment, so we could finally have that sequel on the
way. For the kids out there, Rare is releasing Banjo Kazooie 3. And Guitar Hero
4 has started to be whispered of by developers; it is planning to add drums and
vocals to the game ala Rock Band, as well as customizable song notes, artists,
and guitars.
All of this sounds so sweet, what could possibly go wrong?
Well, you’ll be sorry you asked. In the wake of GTA IV’s tremendously
successful first week (to the tune of $500 million, if you hadn’t heard) some
congressmen are once again trying to pass litigation limiting the availability
of M rated games.
Ah, censorship. Be sure that I’m just as tired of writing
about it as you are of ‘the man’ trying to pass it. But it IS important to be
educated about these things, so lets look at the details.
This week, Lee Terry of Nebraska
and Jim Matheson of Utah (so if
you’re in these states, run these guys out on a rail, eh? Lee’s Republican, and
Jim’s a Democrat too, so we can’t even blame just one party!) introduced a bill
that would restrict the sales of any M rated games to anyone under 17, and
require an ID for purchase. Failure to do so would result in the offending
store receiving a $5000 fine from the FTC when discovered.
The ESA (Entertainment Software Association) is quick to
point out that the ESRB rating system is voluntary and not strictly
enforceable, much like movie ratings from the MPAA, which would mean that for
this bill to pass and function, the Government would also have to be placed in
charge of the reviewing and rating of video games.
Mike Gallagher, President of the ESA, states that
“Empowering parents, not enacting unconstitutional legislation, is the best way
to control the games children play.” His association also points out that,
according to a recent survey from the FTC, most retailers have already been
curbing the sales of violent games to minors. The number of minors observed
successfully purchasing M rated games upon attempt has dropped from 40% in 2006
to 20% in 2008. Game Stop was of particular note for having rejected 94% of M
rated game sales to minors.
Representative Matheson believes that the law is needed to
bolster this already remarkable improvement. “ As a parent, I know that I’m the
first line of defense against my kids playing mature-rated video games. But
parents can’t be everywhere monitoring everything and some reasonable, common
sense rules ought to be in place to back things up.”
While the argument has an earnest basis, the fact remains
that the first amendment has protected movies and books from the same kind of
legislation, to pass this against video games would be an unprecedented step.
To date, US Federal courts have ruled video game-sales prohibiting laws to be
unconstitutional nine times in various states.
By this point, it should be pretty obvious the position of
BMX.com about the censorship issue. Objective journalism is a great thing most
of the time, but we have never been able to hold our tongues on this matter.
We’ve always believed it to be solely on the backs of the parents to police
what their children play. I personally believe stores should curb what they
sell to minors, and only sell M rated games to kids with parent accompaniment.
If the government started monitoring game ratings and sales, they would
suddenly have a law in affect that lets them legally decide the morality of
and, to a lesser degree, be a part of the rearing of our children.
I dunno about you, but I don’t want any amount of red tape
to decide what is and is not appropriate for my kids…er, future kids.
We’ll see what the future holds for this type of
legislation. So far, Federal courts have done an excellent job protecting the
industry from those who would deny it its first amendment rights.
And Mr. Matheson, if you don’t know everything that your kids
are playing and have in your household, then maybe you need to spend more time
at home, eh?
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