AfterDawn: News

Schwarzenegger signs violent game restriction bill

Arnold Schwarzenegger, California governor, has signed legislation into law that restricts retailers from selling violent video games to minors, or providing any such game as a rental to a minor. The law wont actually go into effect until January 1st 2006. If a retailer violates the law it could be fined up to $1,000 for the offense. The bill, drafted by Tem Leland Yee of San Francisco, who happens to be a child psychologist, is known as AB 1179.

It makes it illegal to sell or rent video games that "depict serious injury to human beings in a manner that is especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel" to anybody under the age of 18. Yee says that violent video games serve as learning tools that have a dramatic impact on children. However, many disagree with his beliefs and tests have shown evidence to the contrary, where the results showed that violent games had no effect on the behavior of children.



In the U.S., video games usually carry ratings from the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) to indicate the type of content contained in the game. These ratings include E (Everyone), T (Teen), M (Mature) and AO (Adult Only) and others. They are also accompanied by notes of the material in the game like violence, drug use and strong language. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) disagrees with limiting games due to their ratings or content and says the restriction violates consumers first amendment rights.

Source:
Macworld

Written by: James Delahunty @ 9 Oct 2005 14:21

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• 32 comments

• Mik3h

  Of All People..! lol
  
  -Mike

  9.10.2005 14:28 #1

• nanu-nanu

  What are you talking about Mik3h, the Govenator never made millions of dollars off of fantasy violence, and he most certainly never made money off anything that invovled the killing of police...

  9.10.2005 14:53 #2

• Cbielling

  nanu, i guess you never saw terminator. he killed many cops in that movie.

  9.10.2005 15:10 #3

• Lethal_B

  Lol 'the terminator' telling kids they can't play violent games? hmmm.
  
  do any of you American people take this man seriously? i don't know much about the whole schwarznegger state govenor thing, but to me it looks like a joke!

  9.10.2005 15:15 #4

• diabolic

  I hope they remake another one of his stoopid movies into a game, and rate it AO.

  9.10.2005 15:18 #5

• whoozhe

  Amazing how one's attitudes change when there are votes in it.
  Just another typical American hypocritical politition.

  9.10.2005 15:32 #6

• DVDBack23

  cbielling,
  
  Ever heard of SARCASM?

  9.10.2005 15:50 #7

• nonoitall

  Quote:Of All People..! lolMy thought exactly when I read this topic. Oh well, I don't live in California and I'm not under 18, so I don't really care.

  9.10.2005 17:19 #8

• SNESdude

  Isn't this already in place everywhere in the US with the ESRB rating system? Most places don't (well aren't supposed to) sell games that are M (17+) or AO (18+) to kids under that age.

  9.10.2005 18:09 #9

• rihgt682

  This is stupid.

  9.10.2005 18:44 #10

• Glitched

  Leave SA alone *****

  9.10.2005 19:08 #11

• Doggy_Bot

  Glitched, watch the tongue! And ya, the Teminator saying to little kids not to play violent video games, did Arnie have a little too much German Vodka?
  

  
  Kill a person a way you wouldn't want to be killed!

  9.10.2005 19:18 #12

• A_Klingon

  Oh..... I think deep down inside, ol' Schwartzy is just a sweet, lil' ol' pussycat. (Meeooww....purrrrrr, purrrrrr....)
  
  Did you ever see him in "Twins"? (With Danny DeVito):
  
  
  
  I think these Forums are way more violent than a video-game anyway. :)
  
  Maybe we'll see a new video game someday: "The Killer AfterDawn Thread Monsters".
  

  10.10.2005 00:33 #13

• Phoenix21

  lol maybe they should bann little kids from rentin or buyin his movies Quote:i don't know much about the whole schwarznegger state govenor thing, but to me it looks like a joke!i thort it was a joke when i heard about it
  Quote: Leave SA alone y don't they im so glad they are rereleasing it here (aus) in like 2 weeks

  10.10.2005 03:27 #14

• Doggy_Bot

  Yeah but GTA: San Andreas is one of the main contributors to these problems that are going on, in the past month i havent seen one on the shelf of a store, thats a bit scary about how far people are going.
  

  
  Kill a person a way you wouldn't want to be killed!!!

  10.10.2005 05:14 #15

• venomX05

  I got to admit...it is really weird that he would do that, but I can see why he would.
  
  Given the days as "The Terminator" he is trying to get away from all that and be a leader for his state. I can see where everyone is mentioning the whole "Terminator" aspect. So, all in all...everyone is right.
  
  For me, I don't think of him as the character he once played, but as a diligent and strong governor. I am sure that he could do things just a little better, but he is definately using his popularity and connections to make a change in Cali.
  
  Anyways, I think it isn't too bad of an idea, it won't work...been tried before, but hey, got to give the man credit for trying.
  
  Funny though....as much as they say that VG's are responsible for corrupting America's youth, nobody puts there foot down on television. I JUST turned on my tv and they were showing a dead body for crime drama show. I mean COME ON...if you are going to police and try to stop the sale of vg violence...that by the love of GOD...start with the source.
  
  What I can't believe is...that with all these ratings, controversy, criminals using games as a scapegoat and so forth, that we can still just TURN on our television, flip to the news, and BAM...dead bodies, robberies, rapes, shootings and so forth.
  
  And yet...politicians are SO ridiculous. Um, why not go after TV, since it is MORE and definately easily accessible...than trying to push all these sorry @ss ratings and nonsense rules/regulations on people who are just trying to have something fun to play. VG's are NOT a contributing factor towards violence. It is parents who need to start teaching there kids what is right/wrong and real/make believe.
  
  They should consider this...it is alot easier to see real world violence than it is to see fantasy violence, when man starts policing themselves instead of trying to police "make believe characters"...then it would at least be a positive influence, but hell...that day will NEVER come.
  
  :P

  10.10.2005 12:50 #16

• borhan9

  To the best of my knowledge should it not already be ilegal to sell adult content to minors regardless...
  
  I can see how it can be hypicritcal but he did not sign it cause he did not want people to stop playing games or watchin movies or his movies, its all about gettin the right audience for the content...

  10.10.2005 13:01 #17

• tmfloria

  The whole thing with this that now one seems to be understanding is that yes Video Games already have a rating system and they aren't supposed to be sold to minors but there really isn't anything negative that would happen to a Store or Video Store for selling or renting the game to a minor...
  
  It's not like alcohol or cigarettes where they go around paying youngsters to go in and try and buy or rent these things just to nab the store for a big fine later....
  
  So yeah you're right a kid can go into a store and rent or buy a game and if the clerk is a youngster themself.. Like say 17 or 18 working at WALMART or Blockbuster they'll just let it pass thinking yeah well I was that age once.. mainly because they know they wont' get in trouble for doing it....
  Now that it is going to be made into a LAW Stores will have to make sure thier help doesn't sell or rent to minors for they will be fined for it...
  
  

  10.10.2005 13:38 #18

• tmfloria

  As far as Movies I think that Movie Theatres and Rental Stores can only get in serious trouble for NC-17 and Adult X + Movies
  
  Everything is as long as an adult is present...
  
  Sorry but when I was in retail I was a stickler about the ratings.. No matter if it was a Game or a Movie if the kid was paying for it even if his/her mom and dad standing right there I wouldn't sell it to them... Parents would get ticked and take the $ and give me Attitude but hey I'm not getting myself in trouble for selling something that pops up on my register with a age requirement reguardless if you're standing there or not..
  
  Many of times I had to have a manager come over and explain it to customers or have an anger parent come back in the store because I wouldn't sell GTA or American Pie or something like that to thier kid..
  
  

  10.10.2005 13:43 #19

• Billyfett

  The ESRB is not law, but a suggestion. With movies it is a law that kids need a parent to see rated R flix. I do not see a problem with making it illegal for kids to buy GTA , Max Payne amd other MATURE games. I have a 13 year old son, I play the games first and then let him play parts of the game, certain levels and such. Parents need to be aware of what is out there and laws like this will make parents and retailers pay attention. It is a parents responsibility to be mindful of the stuff their children are playing, listening and watching. There is a ton of stuff in this world not meant for kids but is very appealing to them.

  10.10.2005 13:44 #20

• tmfloria

  Main thing is these days parents let thier kids get away with playing or watching whatever they want...
  
  Granted I may have a PS2 for my son who is 7 but he doesn't play any game that I don't try first or know the rating for ...
  
  As far as movies he's a kid into Cartoons but some of them can be way out there.... TV V-CHIP and CHANNEL RATINGS PEOPLE What where they invented for? USE THEM... So what if you have to type in a password to watch your show and you can't just turn the channel without being prompted if something with a mature rating maybe on... Be a parent deal with it... My kids TV in his room is set for G rated only
  
  Parents don't want to educate thier children they want TV and everyone else to do it...
  
  

  10.10.2005 13:55 #21

• GrayArea

  venomX05
  
  Television shows are rated, but you can't buy broadcast TV over a retail counter so it falls to parents or guardians to oversee what kids watch. How awful. You are right about Anold being a dilettant and strung governor.

  10.10.2005 14:21 #22

• venomX05

  Oh, I know that you can't buy broadcast tv over the counter, however, you can just watch local channels without having cable or even a satellite dish.
  
  But yes, I definately agree. These laws are being made because there are parents out there who just want the government and television to raise their kids. They don't want to take any responsibility unto themselves.
  
  and people...people...read this:
  Quote: Main thing is these days parents let thier kids get away with playing or watching whatever they want...
  
  Granted I may have a PS2 for my son who is 7 but he doesn't play any game that I don't try first or know the rating for ...
  
  As far as movies he's a kid into Cartoons but some of them can be way out there.... TV V-CHIP and CHANNEL RATINGS PEOPLE What where they invented for? USE THEM... So what if you have to type in a password to watch your show and you can't just turn the channel without being prompted if something with a mature rating maybe on... Be a parent deal with it... My kids TV in his room is set for G rated only
  
  Parents don't want to educate thier children they want TV and everyone else to do it... My GOD! FINALLY someone says it...straight...to the point...and not beating around the bush. See, parents like tmfloria, are INVOLVED with their kids' lives. They make sure that they don't have access or try to have access to those things that may/and probably WILL corrupt them. So, I definately respect this opinion....I just wish that politicians would stop witch hunting game developers and stifling innovative creation to the masses, and start pointing the finger at the parents.
  
  Here is some food for thought...in my state (VA) and in some others, if your child is continuously in trouble for truancy, guess what....the PARENTS go to jail or are fined, NOT the kids. Seems to me, they should take this approach, so that this gives parents who aren't knowing what their kids are doing...a nice little wake up call.
  
  And leave game developers doing what they do best...making games.

  10.10.2005 14:32 #23

• tmfloria

  You set your V-CHIP (which is in most of today's TV's) so that your children can't watch programs over a certain rating...
  
  Most Parents are just to lazy to do it.. or if you're not going to do it or can't (older tv or us an antenna or something) then you should be responsible enough to know what is on the TV that your children are watching....
  
  

  10.10.2005 14:33 #24

• tmfloria

  for those that care to know anything about the V-Chip
  
  http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/vchip.html
  http://www.familysafemedia.com/v-chip.html
  http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/question167.htm
  They even have products that filter out profanity
  Wow what a concept..

  10.10.2005 14:42 #25

• indienemo

  I really dont feel that its neccasary to post comments on an article like this, whats so bad ? Why kick up a fuss when it isnt needed? Save your breath for when they actually start breaking peoples privacy or breaching human rights. Just my 2 cents.

  11.10.2005 04:03 #26

• zdhonda

  damn, I hate being american. Personally I would have preffered the porn star or, that comedian that smashes sh*t as the governor of cali. The government here really has become a joke, people care more about reality TV than the very important struggle going on in the supreme court. enough ranting and raving, who cares about video games, parents should be more concerned about what their kids are learing in school, ecpecially public ones.

  11.10.2005 05:37 #27

• mystic

  hey all its easy math as long as the swatizniser gets to play govner of "Kali-for-ni" as Arnold says then we also get a moron as president ... you.know he cant even list all the countries in the europian union... so what the hell we as americans have to prtect our youth by making them play sponge bob till they are 18 now....wow. am I glad I live in Maine where the only thing you have to worrie about is the cold... not what everyone else is doing ... we are 5 hours north of bangor and even we only have 2 count them 2 state troopers working after 6pm in the county..... and the police department in my town goes home at 6pm ... we handle our problems our selves... thats why we all own shotguns.... we dont need software police.... sad for Cali thou...... thanks again aRnold.... next there will be a bedsheet tax in california to help pay for more cops...
  

  11.10.2005 10:08 #28

• bomber991

  Dang mystic, I've never pictured a small town in Maine made up of shotgun toting folks.
  
  Anyways, I think they do need to change up the ESRB ratings slightly. All of the Mature games should be required by law to see an id, just like with selling porn, but the way this california legislation is supposed to be worded doesn't make too much sense. Mainly because there are R rated movies out there, and TV-MA rated TV shows out there, that both 'depicts serious injury to human beings in a manner that is especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel'.
  
  The thing is, R ratings and TV-MA ratings are only for 'children', not people, 17 and older, not 18 and older.
  
  They should have just changed the ESRB ratings to where they automatically get a M rating when they show harm to a human.

  11.10.2005 17:09 #29

• Lisa_P

  spam removed

  6.12.2008 04:55 #30

• Lisa_P

  spam removed

  6.12.2008 05:01 #31

• lamchops1

  Spammers on a 3 year old thread ?
  

  USC Trojans Rule Forever !!!
  
  

  7.12.2008 23:20 #32