not only do "studies" like these contain either biased or misinterpreted facts but the supreme court restricting sales to minors will be about as effective as prohibition.
72 Percent of Adults Support California Game Law - UPDATED
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
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Yeah? Well, uhh, we got Chrono Trigger 14 years before you did. Beat that.randomrob said:I'm sooo glad I don't live in America.Ah The UK. We're so great at the whole freedom thing.
Yeah and most employees don't really give a rat's ass about those policies, and most the time neither does the store. They only have those policies because they don't want trouble from the parents, not because they care about children's minds. Also, the law doesn't target the game stores but the individual who sells the video game, so the stores would just pass on the blame to individual employees(as is fair).Altorin said:
And you are completely kidding yourself(and nobody else) if you believe that stores are going to stop selling M-rated games because they need to ask for ID. First of all, the average gamer age in the US is 34 years old and the most frequent purchasers of games are in their 40's. Game stores ARE NOT going to stop selling M rated games because of this law, considering many of the best selling videogames EVER have been rated M.
Parents are saying it's the governments fault that they're buying their kids violent games? Pfft.
If you don't want your kids playing these games than don't buy them.
Even if you didn't buy them, if you see them playing a game you don't approve of then take it away. It's not that difficult!
If you don't want your kids playing these games than don't buy them.
Even if you didn't buy them, if you see them playing a game you don't approve of then take it away. It's not that difficult!
Soooo...because you're not prepared to dictate what your child buys, you believe the government should? Let's just hope that the Supreme Court finds this bill as unfair and idiotic.
ergh...
I thought its up to the parents to see that their children dont play overage games the certificate is to help them decide if its suitable.
I thought its up to the parents to see that their children dont play overage games the certificate is to help them decide if its suitable.
I remember when I was under 17 and I wanted Far Cry Instincts for the xbox. My mother went online, typed it into Google, and read about the game. She then made the informed decision that it was too violent for someone my age. As much as I hated her decision I am thankful that my mother was smart enough to look it up first and then make an informed decision. So glad I'm 20 now though so I can get what I want even if I still get ID checked when I get an M rated game.
Dear parents of California,
If your son asks you to buy him a game with a violent sounding name or, in the case of the GTA series, has a felony for a title it is probably not appropriate. Want to get Postal 2 for your son? Look up what happens when someone goes postal. Did you really think a game like Manhunt was going to be about flowers and rainbows? No, it's about hunting a killing men, it's right there in the title. Also maybe spend some time with your kids and learn what they play instead of sitting in your recliner watching a football game while you try to ignore the sounds of gunfire coming for an upstairs bedroom. Be sure to at least know your kid's friends and thier parents so you can figure out the odds of them having violent games. Maybe hang out with their parents while you watch the kids have fun.
Finally, please remember that games are not just for kids. Many people over the age of 20 play video games and if you call for the banning of games then you are calling for the banning of a hobby of many of your peers. It would be as if a gamer were to point out that over 600 people have died as a result of playing football over the past 80 years and they called for the banning of that dangerous sport. In conclusion, please pay attention to what games your kids are playing and take some personal responsibility for what you buy them. Game companies cater to kids and adults and it is your responsibility to buy games made for kids instead of the adult games.
Sinceraly,
Xan Krieger
Dear parents of California,
If your son asks you to buy him a game with a violent sounding name or, in the case of the GTA series, has a felony for a title it is probably not appropriate. Want to get Postal 2 for your son? Look up what happens when someone goes postal. Did you really think a game like Manhunt was going to be about flowers and rainbows? No, it's about hunting a killing men, it's right there in the title. Also maybe spend some time with your kids and learn what they play instead of sitting in your recliner watching a football game while you try to ignore the sounds of gunfire coming for an upstairs bedroom. Be sure to at least know your kid's friends and thier parents so you can figure out the odds of them having violent games. Maybe hang out with their parents while you watch the kids have fun.
Finally, please remember that games are not just for kids. Many people over the age of 20 play video games and if you call for the banning of games then you are calling for the banning of a hobby of many of your peers. It would be as if a gamer were to point out that over 600 people have died as a result of playing football over the past 80 years and they called for the banning of that dangerous sport. In conclusion, please pay attention to what games your kids are playing and take some personal responsibility for what you buy them. Game companies cater to kids and adults and it is your responsibility to buy games made for kids instead of the adult games.
Sinceraly,
Xan Krieger
American (mostly) parents being irresponsible and blaming games for their failings.
..In other news, water is wet. And game companies don't make games solely for children! Who knew!
..In other news, water is wet. And game companies don't make games solely for children! Who knew!
After reading this I went to the Common Sense Media website to tell them what I thought of their poll, but there was no forum, or anywhere to leave a comment. I sent an e-mail to the author of the article instead, and I encourage anyone else similarly outraged to respond to this as well. Maybe find someone more directly involved in the poll, or some news media who are responding to it. We all know why this is manipulative garbage, but some people don't. Here's mine, if you're interested.
Also, my first post. Hello.
I confess to to feeling personally insulted by the degree to which you have demonised the video games industry. The video footage you provided includes the two most graphic and controversial games in recent memory - Manhunt and Postal 2. The Postal series was developed by a company who were otherwise insignficant to the history and development of gaming today. They originally made children's games under the name Riedel Software Productions, then changed their name to Running With Scissors before creating Postal 1 and 2. I assume you've seen the video - it seems clear they were going for shock value to maximise sales. Manhunt was produced by Rockstar, who are of course more mainstream, but it was by far their most violent game. Both those games were banned from general sale in a number of countries because of their shockingly violent content, but more importantly, they were fringe elements. Statistical outliers. Cheap productions that used shock-and-awe tactics to get free advertising from the news media. They do not fairly represent the gaming experience as a whole, and since they are not generally available to most consumers, it is probably unfair to show them in a debate about violent games being too readily available to minors. It's as if someone were to show a montage of all the most horrible moments in those Saw movies (where some serial killer locks people in those monstrous torture devices) and used them as evidence that all films are dangerous, and should be restricted so minors do not have access to them.
It would be fair for you to mention that this argument does not address the more mainstream games that do feature graphic violence (be it to women, law enforcement officers or plain old regular people). I would not try to deny that there are a lot of them. The video includes a typical edition of the hugely successful Grand Theft Auto series, also by Rockstar, and a video game based on a rapper. I haven't played either, but I'm familar with those types of games, and there you have represented gaming a little more broadly (all within the action genre, but that's where most of the violence is, so it's fair to focus on it). So here is where I take issue with your assignment of blame. ?The results of this poll clearly show that not only do the effects of ultraviolent or sexually violent games weigh heavily on the minds of parents, but also that parents feel that the video game industry isn't doing nearly enough to protect kids from accessing the most ultraviolent games,? says James Steyer. I have to wonder if James Steyer, or the parents on whose minds this issue weighs so heavily, are aware that the gaming industry in fact goes to great lengths to inform parents of the mature content in games. Ratings and age restrictions on games are not enforced by law in the United States, but they are enforced - so much so that every single game that exists on the shelves right now has a rating on it that can be read by any parent who happens to pick it up. Just like a film or television show (strangely, not like a book. I was reading Stephen King at age 12, at my mother's recomendation. I had no idea what I was in for). Every console in the current generation has the option for a parental lock that will stop it from playing mature-rated games. This is self-regulation. It is voluntary, and it is more than the video game industry is required to do by law. They did it because they have, in fact, taken responsibility for the possibility that their products could result in mature content reaching children.
But you put leading questions in a poll, asking parents whether some industry is looking after their children, then throw the most insanely violent games in the last five years at them (and I must repeat, two of those game have been banned outright in most countries and do not represent gaming as a whole), and don't mention that those games are all rated mature or higher already and any parent who took responsibility for their child's access to mature content could easily determine whether the game was too explicit for them, and you get the answers you were looking for. Suddenly the most powerful nation in the world is seriously considering controlling video games as tightly as it does alcohol or tobacco, because at the end of the day too many people seem to be strangely complacent in letting the government restrict their access to media, and refuse to give video games the same respect they give films or books.
It would be fair for you to mention that this argument does not address the more mainstream games that do feature graphic violence (be it to women, law enforcement officers or plain old regular people). I would not try to deny that there are a lot of them. The video includes a typical edition of the hugely successful Grand Theft Auto series, also by Rockstar, and a video game based on a rapper. I haven't played either, but I'm familar with those types of games, and there you have represented gaming a little more broadly (all within the action genre, but that's where most of the violence is, so it's fair to focus on it). So here is where I take issue with your assignment of blame. ?The results of this poll clearly show that not only do the effects of ultraviolent or sexually violent games weigh heavily on the minds of parents, but also that parents feel that the video game industry isn't doing nearly enough to protect kids from accessing the most ultraviolent games,? says James Steyer. I have to wonder if James Steyer, or the parents on whose minds this issue weighs so heavily, are aware that the gaming industry in fact goes to great lengths to inform parents of the mature content in games. Ratings and age restrictions on games are not enforced by law in the United States, but they are enforced - so much so that every single game that exists on the shelves right now has a rating on it that can be read by any parent who happens to pick it up. Just like a film or television show (strangely, not like a book. I was reading Stephen King at age 12, at my mother's recomendation. I had no idea what I was in for). Every console in the current generation has the option for a parental lock that will stop it from playing mature-rated games. This is self-regulation. It is voluntary, and it is more than the video game industry is required to do by law. They did it because they have, in fact, taken responsibility for the possibility that their products could result in mature content reaching children.
But you put leading questions in a poll, asking parents whether some industry is looking after their children, then throw the most insanely violent games in the last five years at them (and I must repeat, two of those game have been banned outright in most countries and do not represent gaming as a whole), and don't mention that those games are all rated mature or higher already and any parent who took responsibility for their child's access to mature content could easily determine whether the game was too explicit for them, and you get the answers you were looking for. Suddenly the most powerful nation in the world is seriously considering controlling video games as tightly as it does alcohol or tobacco, because at the end of the day too many people seem to be strangely complacent in letting the government restrict their access to media, and refuse to give video games the same respect they give films or books.
Also, my first post. Hello.
Why is it that parents still don't know much about games yet? All of the parents that I know that have kids were born either right before or right after the release of "Pong." Surely they've picked up a controller in their youth? After thirty plus years, you should be able to find the big black "M" on the box. This survey only reveals that most parents are unfit to look after their children on the grounds of ignorence.
Details about the CSM survey, including methodology, questions asked and results, have been appended to the original news post. I'm sure it'll make more sense to those with a more statistical bent than I. Read and enjoy!
I'm unsure about those numbers being realistic. I also have the ability to bullshit statistics. And how old are these games? I would've liked to seen some Gears of War, or something. Other than that, shouldn't parents be able to read the ratings (if it's too violent, don't buy it)?
Common Sense Media needs a better name, one that is more fitting.
Also, way to blame an entire industry for your lack of parenting skills.
The industry doesn't decide what kids play, kids and their parents do.Andy Chalk said:
Also, way to blame an entire industry for your lack of parenting skills.
Exactly. I was envious of everyone who was able to play games like GTA since my parents wouldn't allow me to play them because of what was in the game. Now I don't really care for the game and have never actually played them. When you are growing up its the parents job to make and enforce the rules so that the kids will have an understanding of them and not do anything stupid. If the government starts stepping in best case is that parents are deemed obsolete and only used for breeding machines. Worst case everyone ends up in jail.Mornelithe said:
so 72% of adult don't know the difference between a d-pad and a anolog stick but they took clips from the WORST of videogames what about portal or bioshock what of little big planet and spore are these not good games either family friendly or GASP educational and fun (bioshock = the failings of the objectifist philosophy) of coarse gta is bad for kids IT'S NOT 4KIDS god most adults are stupid plus gta doesn't warp minds I'VE played gta back when it was a top down game (gta 2) and the only harm it's done is increase my knowledge about sex (learned about it when i was 8 when i asked my dad why the car shook when the women got in) the only reason that happens in real life is that the parents don't care about there children enough to punish them i get grounded for fighting in any way but self-defense but the people who attack me and the "harm" is being delt to don't get punished enough i've seen a kid jack his parents car COMMIT GRAND THEFT AUTO and get away scott free. rant over
In regards to the Update
Ultra Violence? What the hell falls under Ultra Violence? you cant just slap words like ultra in there!.
So do they want to stop the sale of
RockBand: Ultra-Violence?!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolence
and the third question just shows the ignorance of them all.
Also Why ask Adults? surely this is a Parental matter
Ultra Violence? What the hell falls under Ultra Violence? you cant just slap words like ultra in there!.
So do they want to stop the sale of
RockBand: Ultra-Violence?!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolence
and the third question just shows the ignorance of them all.
Also Why ask Adults? surely this is a Parental matter