California Deems Video Game Laws Unconstitutional

[SlyCardie]

Arrghman wrote:

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There are no equivalent laws for any other form of media. Why do you believe that video games need special legal treatment?

Currently, video games are self-regulated by the ESRB in exactly the same way that movies are self-regulated by the MPAA. A 14 year old can't buy a movie ticket or a DVD that's rated R from most places. Similarly, a 14 year old cannot buy an M rated game from most places. Why pass a law?

I believe a study was released last year as well (that I can't find now) that said it was actually easier to buy films underage than games.

[-Brett-]

bigdaddy wrote:

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Some video games are interactive porn, yet a 10 year old can buy it.

Example please.

Go on. Show me a video game that's interactive porn widely available in the US. Bonus points if it's rated E so that a 10 year old can actually buy it.

[CaptJimboJones]

-Brett- wrote:

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Example please.

Go on. Show me a video game that's interactive porn widely available in the US. Bonus points if it's rated E so that a 10 year old can actually buy it.

He can't, because there are none, unless you reeeaaallly stretch the definition of "porn." Even the most "adult" mainstream games out their (GTA, etc) are at most the equivalent of an R-rated movie in terms of adult content.

[Messianni]

CaptJimboJones wrote:

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He can't, because there are none, unless you reeeaaallly stretch the definition of "porn." Even the most "adult" mainstream games out their (GTA, etc) are at most the equivalent of an R-rated movie in terms of adult content.

Not only that, but very, very few games have ever been rated AO (Adult's Only) by the ESRB, and even then, all of the large retailers have a policy of not selling AO-rated games.

The industry policies itself just fine. There is no need for the government to unconstitutionally intervene.

[Kaijufan]

Messianni wrote:

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Not only that, but very, very few games have ever been rated AO (Adult's Only) by the ESRB, and even then, all of the large retailers have a policy of not selling AO-rated games.

The industry policies itself just fine. There is no need for the government to unconstitutionally intervene.

Also none of the console makers will allow a AO rated game on their console, so it would have to be a PC game.
I've never seen an AO rated game before, I guess most of them (at least these days) you have to download.

[Dusty Ayres]

Kaijufan wrote:

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Also none of the console makers will allow a AO rated game on their console, so it would have to be a PC game.
I've never seen an AO rated game before, I guess most of them (at least these days) you have to download.

That dosen't mean that there can't be a AO-rated game for a console, it just can't be sold at a place like EB Games. And it would have to be offered as a secure download, complete with an adults-only quiz that must be answered before you purchase it.

[UndeadRedshirt]

Don't MS, Sony and Nintendo all have policies about what types of games can be on their consoles? Has a game actually been released with a AO rating on any of the consoles? I was under the impression that all "official" games that get rated and carry the console manufacturer's logo on the box have to be authorized by the respective manufacturer, and they would not authorize distribution of games with that rating.

Not that it should matter anyway. It takes all of 5 minutes to set the family/parental controls on any of the consoles. If parent's would actually take responsibility for their kids' entertainment, we wouldn't be having these conversations every couple months.

[Hermiod]

^What does a "AO" rating equate to ? Grand Theft Auto IV carried a rating of 18 as granted by the British Board of Film Classification in the United Kingdom. Surely that would equate to "adults only".

Nintendo, believe it or not, actually want more adult games for the Wii to help offset its image amongst hardcore gamers.

You are correct, however, both my PS3 and my Xbox 360 have the means to restrict what games can be played on them.

[Arrqh]

GTA4 is rated M. Some of Rockstar's previous games received an AO and were then toned down to get an M instead.

I'm not hugely familiar with the BBFC's rating system, but a quick glance seems to suggest that AO is equivalent to Restricted 18, whereas M is equivalent to 18... technically I believe M is 17+, most stores will only sell to minors if a parent is present (which is the real problem... parents buying M rated games for their kids without paying attention and then complaining about it afterwards).

[Kaijufan]

Dusty Ayres wrote:

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That dosen't mean that there can't be a AO-rated game for a console, it just can't be sold at a place like EB Games. And it would have to be offered as a secure download, complete with an adults-only quiz that must be answered before you purchase it.

Actually it does mean their can't be AO rated games for consoles, since they would have to get the game rated by the ESRB and the console makers wouldn't allow it to come out. Of course I guess someone could make an unauthorized game on the consoles that would have the content of an AO rated game, but without a development kit it would be extremly difficult and if they tried to sell it they would most likely be sued out of existance.

Hermiod wrote:

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^What does a "AO" rating equate to ? Grand Theft Auto IV carried a rating of 18 as granted by the British Board of Film Classification in the United Kingdom. Surely that would equate to "adults only".

I'm not sure what an AO rating equivelent would be in the British rating system, but compared to the MPAA rating system it would basically be an X rating.

If you go to the ESRB site you can view a list of the AO rated games if you search by rating. There are only 23 of them, all on PC with the exception of a CDI game, an unreleased PS1 game, and the Hot Coffee Version of GTA San Andreas.

[Arrqh]

Kaijufan wrote:

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If you go to the ESRB site you can view a list of the AO rated games if you search by rating. There are only 23 of them, all on PC with the exception of a CDI game, an unreleased PS1 game, and the Hot Coffee Version of GTA San Andreas.

Manhunt 2 was also originally AO, but by the time it was released it was down to M.