Yeah, we're all too stupid...

[one love]

Hillary Clinton's vendetta against sexually explicit games (unlike that of her husband's) has allowed congress to pass a measure which will call for a full and thurough investigation of GTA: San Andreas' makers.

Federal involvement comes on the heels of Monday's 355-21 House vote, passing a resolution calling for the investigation of Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive over the game that has caused turmoil in the industry.

This is beyond absurd. This investigation is going to hit deep (like $50 million) into government spending and tax dollar all for the sake to stop our kids from being corrupted by video games. Goes to show you how lame the democrats are and the rest of the scum that caved in on this issue.


http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/fun.games/07/27/video.game.probe.ap/index.html

 

[Fa'Head]

Two things

1: Do you feel that San Andreas is an okay game for children to play? Do you feel that sex scenes programmed into video "games" are a valuable part of the game? I know it has a mature rating and only kids of a certain age are allowed to buy it, but you know younger kids will get it.

2: While the Democrats are currently initiating this, our government is currently controlled by the Christian Right. It's just a matter of time before they'll turn their good Christian intentions toward things of that nature, maybe they already have. If they feel it will gain them votes, you'll see it for sure.

I'm not a big fan of censorship, especially with music and movies. However, when children are the majority of the market for video games, then a line needs to be drawn.

 

[IrishJohan]

Two things

1: Do you feel that San Andreas is an okay game for children to play? Do you feel that sex scenes programmed into video "games" are a valuable part of the game? I know it has a mature rating and only kids of a certain age are allowed to buy it, but you know younger kids will get it.

2: While the Democrats are currently initiating this, our government is currently controlled by the Christian Right. It's just a matter of time before they'll turn their good Christian intentions toward things of that nature, maybe they already have. If they feel it will gain them votes, you'll see it for sure.

I'm not a big fan of censorship, especially with music and movies. However, when children are the majority of the market for video games, then a line needs to be drawn.

As much as I hate to say it, you are stomping on First Amendment grounds here. The government may restrict its sale to minors, but has no say to what adults purchase. Trying to prove the makers are targeting kids will be tricky and is hard to substantiate in court. Besides, its not their fault (legally speaking) if the stores are not properly enforcing the age restrictions. If Congress tries to ban this then SCOTUS will overturn it.

Pax Christi,
John

 

[Fa'Head]

As much as I hate to say it, you are stomping on First Amendment grounds here. The government may restrict its sale to minors, but has no say to what adults purchase. Trying to prove the makers are targeting kids will be tricky and is hard to substantiate in court. Besides, its not their fault (legally speaking) if the stores are not properly enforcing the age restrictions. If Congress tries to ban this then SCOTUS will overturn it.

Pax Christi,
John

You've got a valid point, of course. Initially, my consideration did not include the First Amendment. I will amend my vague "a line must be drawn" statement to something like; a way must be found to protect children from free speech they may not be ready to hear or see yet.

 

[one love]

IF that is the way you feel, allow the parents to make the decision and not the US government to spend millions on a sticker.

 

[SisterGeoff]

Two things

1: Do you feel that San Andreas is an okay game for children to play?

Quite honestly I don't think that the game would have an adverse effects on kids given my exsperance of playing violent video games my entire life, however, it is rated M so is not intended for nor supposidly sold to any one under 17. Recently it also had its raiting jacked up to adults only.

Do you feel that sex scenes programmed into video "games" are a valuable part of the game?

In this case they were not even supposed to be a part of the game as sold. The cose was left on the CD but cannot be gotten to with out downloading a third party bod. To me this points to the company putting them there then thinking better of having that as part of the game.

I'm not a big fan of censorship, especially with music and movies. However, when children are the majority of the market for video games, then a line needs to be drawn.

The average age of console/PC games is currently 30 and in 2005 95% of PC games were purchased by people over the age of 18 where as 85% of console games were purchased by people over the age of 18(source). Kids are no longer the main audiance of video/computer games but rather people my age and older.

 

[ZaraDurden]

This is beyond absurd. This investigation is going to hit deep (like $50 million) into government spending and tax dollar all for the sake to stop our kids from being corrupted by video games. Goes to show you how lame the democrats are and the rest of the scum that caved in on this issue.

I basically agree. The harm resulting from alcohol is infinately beyond a video game. Alcohol has an age limit, so does this video game. It is up to a) those selling it and b) the parents to take responsibilty. Does alcohol sometimes ruin the lives of our youth? You bet. Are we banning it because of that? No.

Rockstar is within its rights.

 

[Vylo]

Another reason Hillary will not recieve my vote should she somehow manage to get through the primaries. I'd rather take our looney toon of a chairperson any day.

 

[jillyjam]

There are far worse things on television that is available to children then there is on a video game that has the rating clearly stated on the box.

 

[Doctrine1st]

Hillary Clinton's vendetta against sexually explicit games (unlike that of her husband's) has allowed congress to pass a measure which will call for a full and thurough investigation of GTA: San Andreas' makers.

Didn't know Clinton had some sort of veto power.

Er....it's not just Hillary:

Australia Outlaws 'Grand Theft Auto'

FTC targets Grand Theft Auto maker

heck even it's maker knows it's pornographic:

Grand Theft Auto' makers admit pornographic content

Moreover, deeming something sexaully explicit and thus the warning notication, has always been the way it works in regards to free speech in the US. If your argument against this whole idea of warnings on music, videos, movies, etc, then it's with far more people than Hillary, or is it just with Hillary herself?

 

[Nightson]

I wonder if they know exactly how much this boosts sales of the game...

And seriously, what a waste of time and money

 

[mutantleader]

And teenagers don't see R rated, sexually explicit movies. Yeah, right!
The game shouldn't be played by children and young teens anyway.
Recall the product (for whoever wants to return it), give them a fine (Rockstar), and use the money to for something constructive.

 

[SisterGeoff]

And teenagers don't see R rated, sexually explicit movies. Yeah, right!

Not legally any way, unless they are 17-18.

The game shouldn't be played by children and young teens anyway.

Hence the M 17+ rating.

Recall the product (for whoever wants to return it), give them a fine (Rockstar), and use the money to for something constructive.

Give them a fine for what? What law have they broken?

 

[WarSong]

There are far worse things on television that is available to children then there is on a video game that has the rating clearly stated on the box.

You must have never played the game.

 

[mutantleader]

Give them a fine for what? What law have they broken?

Creating a adult oriented easter egg in a mature rated game?
Encouraging the immoral act of copulation between adults?
Pushing the laws of creativity?
Encouraging immoral use of hand eye coordination?

Don't worry, they will come up with some law to bankrupt the company.

Grand Theft Auto has been a mature only game since version three. It has been known and cried out by the media. If store owners and parents continue to allow this game to fall into youngsters' hands, they shouldn't be crying now that it has something more explicit in it.

Anything to get the focus off the bigger problems in the world.

 

[IrishJohan]

You must have never played the game.

I haven't myself, but wonder whether its any different from say Dungeons & Dragons where explicit material may not have been available but kids were still able to conjure up quite the image. How about "Faces of Death" a really repugnant series of videos, or the slasher movies of the 80s and 90s? I agree that steps need to be taken to limit their access to children but am not so naive as to think such steps will prevent all kids from getting the game. I also am unwilling to trample the First Amendment in doing this. Once we start down that road speech you and I like may be next. So what does that leave us?

Pax Christi,
John

 

[Jetgirl]

Grand Theft Auto has been a mature only game since version three. It has been known and cried out by the media. If store owners and parents continue to allow this game to fall into youngsters' hands, they shouldn't be crying now that it has something more explicit in it.

Anything to get the focus off the bigger problems in the world.

That and the people crying certianly haven't seen the "mature" video games coming out of Japan in the past few years. (All tastefully censored with tiny little blurry bits that you can remove with the proper software).

Phew! Want your eyes to fall out of your head? Take a look at those!



On Topic: This folks, is why we have parents. I will be the person telling my kids what video games are or are not appropriate for them, not my neighbor, not the local church, and most certianly not the government.

 

[ZaraDurden]

On Topic: This folks, is why we have parents. I will be the person telling my kids what video games are or are not appropriate for them, not my neighbor, not the local church, and most certianly not the government.

I agree. Its video games, its Marylin Manson, Madonna, its Janet's nipple, its everyone but me.

 

[Jetgirl]

I agree. Its video games, its Marylin Manson, Madonna, its Janet's nipple, its everyone but me.

I have this crazy theory that it's better to have kids that can recognize and have the tools to deal with everything the world will likely throw at them in a mature and thoughtful manner than to have a child who is insulated from everything that might be "bad".

Those are the ones that go bonkers when they see a nudie magazine, or a violent video games.

 

[ForeRunner]

It is a total witchhunt.