Florida laws against "violent video games"

Silviar · Post by **Silviar** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 12:06 pm

Once again, video games are under attack, check out this link:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/fun.games/ ... index.html

"...I think parental consent is required."

Duh.

"Have they ever watched Cartoon Network?" North Miami video store owner Bob Richardson told the Miami Herald. "It's the most violent network on television."

First of all, violence in cartoons is what is called exagerrated violence. Most of it is not physically possible through the laws of science. Any child would tell you you can't do that stuff in real life, like having a anvil magically drop on your head from out of the clear sky.

"A similar St. Louis County, Missouri, law was struck down by a federal appeals court, which ruled that games were a protected form of free speech, and a judge blocked a Washington state law that would have restricted sales of games depicting violence against law enforcement officers. "

If they already have two cases of similar action that have been struck down, most likely this will too. Because video gamers are not going to back down on this issue. Just because some people are stupid and can't separate fantasy from reality, or others get their panties in a wad because they think video games are targeting ethnicities, doesn't mean that all video gamers live in a fantasy world, nor does it mean they're actually targeting specific groups in video games for hate crimes. There are a lot of gangs in any big city, and they are, like it or not, ethnically separatist. If these people really want to bitch, then go to the gang leaders and complain about their lack of diversity. I'm sure you can get a lot more accomplished that way.

Games are set up to give some sort of realism to their game, whether it's to immerse you in a fantasy setting, be a believable gangster shoot-out, or even to be a realistic plane in a flight sim. Books are the same way, and people always try to ban them. Ironically, it's the banned books that are read more than the others. People need to stop taking things so personally and look at it a little more realistically.

VideoDrone · Post by **VideoDrone** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 12:15 pm

*rolls eyes* They just don't stop, do they?

Anyway, even if this law was passed, it wouldn't help much. They need to do some research, because I work for EB Games in Kansas when I'm home from college and GameStop while I'm at college in St. Louis, and at both places, parental consent is required to sell Mature and even Teen rated titles to underage kids. It's company policy, and we'd do it anyway if it weren't. 95% of the time its the parents buying the games for their kids, despite us retailers pointing out its rating, despite the descriptions we give to the parents regarding the games. The other 5% is kids trying to buy the game, at which time we promptly ask them for ID and when they can't provide it, tell them to get their parents to come in with them. This is in hopes that the parents will see what their child is purchasing, and not allow them to do so, but half the time this isn't the case, and we can't really stop our companies from making money.

I'm just sick of the video game publishers and retailers being targeted when this entire matter is the responsibility of the parents.

Juan The Pirate · Post by **Juan The Pirate** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 3:11 pm

After 2 years of working at K-Mart Corp. in O'Fallon, IL, I have seen many different changes throughout the industry, namely the increased monitoring of game sales to minors. Many employee's didn't even understand that it was illegal to sell an "M" game to minors. (Doesn't M mean minor?) It isn' till the register prompts the cashier to enter an age before they realize that they should be carding the kids.

Flash back a few years ago, this young boy and girl come into the department and ask to view some playstation games. I kept post letting them route through the greatest hits games till they came up with some smash 'em up twisted metal wannabe.

I told them that I was unable to sell them the game due to the 'M' rating, but if they wanted to come back with a parent, their parent could purchase the game if they deemed it appropriate. They said "no thanks" and ran off, leaving me in a pissy mood after about 10 minutes of waiting. Soon I saw them approaching with this old dude in a suit, and I was like "great, what the hell is this about". I approached the man and ask if he was related to the kids, if not I couldn't sell the game, and that it was illegal for him to do the purchasing

He then proceeded to pull out documentation telling me that he work for the Illinois Secretary of State and was fining local businesses for sales of video games to minor. Stores that failed: Wal-Mart, Target, Babbages. (this was 3 years ago). K-Mart was the only local (Fairview, O'Fallon, Belleville) store that did not sell the 'M' rated game to minors.

I felt proud

Realm · Post by **Realm** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 6:19 pm

Juan wrote:He then proceeded to pull out documentation telling me that he work for the Illinois Secretary of State and was fining local businesses for sales of video games to minor. Stores that failed: Wal-Mart, Target, Babbages. (this was 3 years ago). K-Mart was the only local (Fairview, O'Fallon, Belleville) store that did not sell the 'M' rated game to minors.

Wasn't the store man, it was you. Good job man.

I believe we should follow laws. Plain and simple. If you shouldn't sell the game (movie, knife, gun, whatever), don't. Kids are going to try to buy them though, it ain't THEIR asses on the line. I work in a grocery store, and I have to deal with the carding-when-selling-tobacco thing all the time. The rule is: if they look under 27 you have to card them. If a customer bitches, I just have to say, "Sorry man, gotta do it. I could get in big trouble if I don't."

As for violence. I'm afraid this will just be our "thorn in the side" as a gaming subculture. I don't think we'll ever get rid of this argument, just as Hollywood never has. Every year you see some magazine bitching about "increased movie violence." I just want to say this: how on earth could movie violence have increased every year for the last 50 years!?! It's all just a tool of fear used by the ignorant to control the masses, for the benefit of certain individuals in charge of activist groups, and politicians. We'll never be done fighting this fight.

phylof · Post by **phylof** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 6:27 pm

I'd like someone to post the law or a link to a government site with the law that makes it illegal to sell games to minors. Officially, it is EB's position to "inform not restrict" or something like that. We are to inform about the rating of the games, but we don't have to refuse sale. I agree with the ESRB and their plight. They are doing checks and are cracking down on this voluntary ratings system. Also, don't be suprised if the government does try to do some sort of regulation if the ESRB falls out. There are a bunch of old stupid people in Washington that have been out of common society for most of their lives. (Strom Thurman anyone?) The sad thing is that the people running the country anymore are not running it for the people, they are running it for personal gain. It should not be a profession to be a Senator. Personally I feel that there should be a term limit on these jack holes just like there is on the president. But, alas, people are dumb.

Realm · Post by **Realm** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 8:59 am

phylof wrote:The sad thing is that the people running the country anymore are not running it for the people, they are running it for personal gain. It should not be a profession to be a Senator. Personally I feel that there should be a term limit on these jack holes just like there is on the president. But, alas, people are dumb.

Dude, you're a fucking poet. Awesome post.

phylof · Post by **phylof** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 9:03 am

Why thank you Realm. I like to consider myself one of the smart ones

Silviar · Post by **Silviar** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 9:11 am

So maybe you should run for an office, Phylof.

Would be nice to have some gamers in there, representing the sane people.

Deadman · Post by **Deadman** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 2:03 pm

flordia is gay, It is a fucktard

(nothing against gays)

phylof · Post by **phylof** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:03 pm

hell, they can't even count in florida

Post by **Richie** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 7:00 pm

Silviar wrote:So maybe you should run for an office, Phylof.

Phylof for President!

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jayt11 · Post by **jayt11** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 7:33 pm

Richie wrote:
Silviar wrote:So maybe you should run for an office, Phylof.
Phylof for President!

This advertisement brought to you by BreakmanX.com.

yeah, we can use someone to pardon me after i assassinate Joe Lieberman in the name of all gamers.....hey, Nixon got pardoned, why shouldn't I? I'm admitting to the crime.

Post by **BreakmanX** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:12 am

Hey Kamui, what do you think about this? Being that you live there and all.