Poll: Not allowed to buy an M-rated game

[Jamieson 90]

As someone who used to work in a store I hope you can see it from the other side. Its against the law to sell games to people underage, in fact if you do you can get a criminal record and a fine of up to £1000, When I used to work there I never took risks, ID doesn't stand up then your not purchasing it simple as, no way im losing my job and getting a criminal record as well as a nasty fine to.

Its tough but there the rules, you will just have wait till your old enough like the rest of us.

Besides didn't you know violent video games make you murder your parents the second you turn them on?

 

[FallenJellyDoughnut]

Sadly, yes, he was in the right. I know it sucks but you are one month off, by law he can't serve you no matter how close to the age you are. Yeah it's a pain in the arse for you but him doing so is both against the law and a sackable offence... Think about it, put your self in his position, would you risk being sacked just so some kid could obtain a game illegally?. He probably has no opinion on you or the law, it's quite possible if it was up to him, he'd sell you it no problem. Remember, this fellow would have been your age before and known what it was like. However it's not up to him, it's up to the law.

/thread.

Rules are rules, even if they are somewhat retarded.

 

[Hazy]

Gotta side with "The Man" on this one.
Rules are rules, they can get legally fucked if they disregard them.*
[sub]*(I assume, don't quote me on that.)[/sub]

 

[Sovvolf]

(Of course, I can say this because I'm 20 and British, which means I'm basically entitled to do anything I want in my home country, with no age restrictions on anything.)

Except Crossbows and Swords(edge weaponry)... 21 age limit. But yes being over 18 in Britain (I'm 19) has it's pros, no longer do I have to fear buying an 18 rated game or having to ask a parent to get me it, no longer do I need to ask people to buy beer for me, no longer-... you get the picture.

On-topic... as I've said before and with the sounds of things every one agrees... your not 17 yet so yeah they do. Well if it had been me, I wouldn't have sold you it... I'm not a nob head, but I don't want to lose my job.

 

[dls182]

They're not willing to get themselves fined into oblivion over selling someone a game the rating doesn't allow and I don't blame them.

They're actually being fined now?

I don't remember the exact amounts here in Aus, but it's something like $5000 for the individual staff member and $15,000 for the store if a movie/game is hired to an underaged person.

I take the rule pretty seriously simply because even if I make a mistake, I really can't afford a fine like that!

 

[CloggedDonkey]

yep. if they didn't, one, it would prove Atkinson right, and two, it's the policy. hell, my fifty year old mom has to show idea if she buys an R-rated movie, even though she is clearly old enough.

 

[evilartist]

I have to vote yes here. The guy is doing his job, and the last thing we need as an industry is another statistic for assholes like Jack Thompson or Fox News.

 

[magicman4443]

I had to vote yes also. Even though I don't enjoy the rule, my parent had to order Bioshock for me too, rules are rules, and they're there for a reason, whatever it is. Though I don't enjoy the policy of not being allowed to put 5 dollars towards a pre-order of a guide for a M-rated game. You're also not allowed to pick up a M-rated game that's already been paid for in full unless you're 17.

 

[Grampy_bone]

The ratings are there to protect the industry, not the gamers. I think they are stupid. It's not like you were buying cigarettes or alcohol.

The difference between M and AO is one year. Is there some level of violence and sexual content which is irreparably damaging to a 17 year old but which is perfectly safe for an 18 year old? The very notion is ludicrous.

There's never been a book which turns everyone who reads it into a killer, there's never been a comic which makes its readers into cannibals, there has never been a song which turns every listener into a traitor to his country or worship Satan, there has never been a movie which turns ever viewer into a perverted psycho, and there has never been a videogame which converts every player into a criminal mastermind. There. Is. Nothing. Dangerous. About. Games.

 

[PrayerofRefugee]

They're not willing to get themselves fined into oblivion over selling someone a game the rating doesn't allow and I don't blame them.

They're actually being fined now?

I don't remember the exact amounts here in Aus, but it's something like $5000 for the individual staff member and $15,000 for the store if a movie/game is hired to an underaged person.

I take the rule pretty seriously simply because even if I make a mistake, I really can't afford a fine like that!

Sorry, I didn't realize how serious this law was. I had imagined that it was only there for the stores to look more responsible but I didn't realize a fine was in place. It that is the case, then I am no longer bad and I respect the guy. Thanks for clearing this up for me.

 

[Deef]

Its fair. The rules are there for a reason, and he'd likely get in a lot of trouble if someone found out he sold the game to you.
How would you feel if you knew you got a guy fired for buying a game from him?

 

[Rofl-Mayo]

I partly agree with everybody here, but it is fairly idiotic how you must be 17 to buy/rent M-rated games/movies, because little kids can watch things fairly close to porn on everyday TV now. Then again I am only 14, so I feel it's unfair.

 

[Aptspire]

Personally, I received a Mature game when I turned 15, so I have to say that maturity is different for everyone, it is up to the parents to judge wether their child has reached maturity...

 

[Sakurazaki1023]

I went to Gamestop to buy BioShock because of their sale and I was asked for id. I showed him my driver's license and he said he was not allowed to sell the game to me.

I turn 17 in less than one month! (M-rated games say 17+)

Also, the majority of my game collection are rated M to begin with.

So do you think they were right to say no to me buying the game?

Sorry to say, but I think Gamestop was in the right on this...

At least you don't have a younger sibling, my parents wouldn't let me buy "M" games until I was 17 and 9 months because they wanted to wait until my brother turned 13. Just wait out the one month and go buy it then (might actually be cheaper by then).

Although I will say you are not alone, one of my friends wanted to trade in some games two days before his 18th birthday. Needless to say you have to be 18 to trade in games (since it's technically a pawn transaction) and I had to return the games in his place.

 

[Audioave10]

They could have to pay a large fine if they were caught selling to an underage gamer. No matter how painful it is.