AfterDawn: News

Schwarzenegger appeals violent video game ruling

California state Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has appealed a decision made last month by a federal judge that declared a law banning the sale of violent video games to minors unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte said in his ruling last month that there was no evidence to support claims that violent video games have a more harmful effect on minors than depictions of violence in TV shows and films.

However, Schwarzenegger, who is infamous for his roles in many violent movies, believes that violent video games should be for adults only. "Many studies show the link between playing ultra-violent video games and violent behavior. We have a responsibility to our kids and our communities to protect against the effects of games that depict ultra-violent actions," Schwarzenegger said in a statement.



He added: "We protect our children from buying inappropriate movies and ought to be able to protect them from buying inappropriate video games as well."

Source:
Reuters

Written by: James Delahunty @ 6 Sep 2007 10:41

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• 20 comments

• nobrainer

  what's the age rating for the fps simulator americas army game made by the American military for recruiting purposes, as i have not once seen any american senators or lobbyists complain about this offering!
  
  this game entails gang (army) warfare slaughtering some of the most real looking player chars in on-line first person shooter games, suspiciously the enemy all look like Muslims!
  

  Track What Companies Have Edited Wiki http://wikiscanner.virgil.gr/ (very heavy load atm)

  6.9.2007 11:39 #1

• andy409

  Im 13 man and THAT IS FUCKING BULL SHIT!!!

  6.9.2007 15:31 #2

• navi1199

  I remember when I was a little kid, everyone said "video games are made for kids", 98% of the games in the world are violent, think about it, even super mario! you think thats for little kids? you have to step on fucking goombas thats mad violent, you think those koopas don't get hurt when you jump over them and then use their shells to hit other "baddies"... man soon that'll be outlawed from being sold to minors too!

  6.9.2007 16:00 #3

• armorthis

  Good thing i'm Canadian :)

  6.9.2007 16:00 #4

• c1c

  aww poor steroid using in the muscle man competition Swarzenegger. Too violent. Make him remember all those terminator games with guns and shooting not to mention the majority of his hollywoodcrap movies, commando=violence, total recall= violence, running man, the list goes on,
  
  damn hippocrit

  6.9.2007 20:59 #5

• navi1199

  In reality hes just jealous because that guy in the gears of war cover has more muscles...

  6.9.2007 22:20 #6

• Ludikhris

  Violent games to Kids?
  
  F if I care, I'm 26. Little bastards shouldn't play violent games anyways. Yes parents should decide, not the government. So we should be enable them to better parent by not allowing kids to steal money and buy the game without parents.
  
  Christ's sake everyone, it's like having alcohol legal to sell and just saying "well, the parents need to do a better job". That's BS and you know it. Create the bill, I don't care. Video don't molest children though, Catholic priest do. Someone should put a ban on priests buying children with parental consent too.

  6.9.2007 22:29 #7

• Ludikhris

  Violent games to Kids?
  
  F if I care, I'm 26. Little bastards shouldn't play violent games anyways. Yes parents should decide, not the government. So we should be enable them to better parent by not allowing kids to steal money and buy the game without parents.
  
  Christ's sake everyone, it's like having alcohol legal to sell and just saying "well, the parents need to do a better job". That's BS and you know it. Create the bill, I don't care.
  
  Video games don't molest children though, Catholic priest do. Someone should put a ban on priests buying children with parental consent too.

  6.9.2007 22:30 #8

• aone

  Originally posted by navi1199: I remember when I was a little kid, everyone said "video games are made for kids", 98% of the games in the world are violent, think about it, even super mario! you think thats for little kids? you have to step on fucking goombas thats mad violent, you think those koopas don't get hurt when you jump over them and then use their shells to hit other "baddies"... man soon that'll be outlawed from being sold to minors too!ROTFLMAO.

  7.9.2007 01:04 #9

• xhardc0re

  The Governator comes out against violent videogames? o_O
  LOL! What a HYPOCRITE. There was more murder, violence & evil in his three Terminator movies than the entire Gears of War game. Easily.
  Me thinks these a$$-talking politicians should just STFU. However, I don't think a Mature-labeled game should be sold to anyone under 18. Just like XXX sites shouldn't be accessible to minors. I'll give them that; but as always if you want something you'll find a way around it.
  Quote:Can't we all just get along
  -Rodney King
  Quote:and sniff the Daisies together while we tra-la-la
  some dude in San Francisco, CA

  7.9.2007 02:47 #10

• thejammy

  Quote:98% of the games in the world are violent,in fack about 50% of video games are sport games ^^. but that at make violent games illegal are bullshit. games dont make ppl violators....i dont know what the hell is wrong in americana (sorry usa) but i havent notice no problems like that in europa (only germany have somenthing like that...)

  7.9.2007 02:48 #11

• BIGnewb

  i hate it when i walked into blockbuster trying to buy socom and i got rejected because i wasnt 18.and i hate it when i was young and my mom would always say looks like the video games are kicking in even though i only had sports games and one mature game.man its kids that are addicted like these ones: http://youtube.com/watch?v=GwOv0xg31nk

  7.9.2007 13:04 #12

• Unfocused

  What happened to letting the parents decide what their kids have access to? The only time a lawmaker should step into this picture is when the counter jockey sells a "M" rated game to a minor.

  7.9.2007 17:22 #13

• hermes_vb

  Does anyone remembers the Comando scene in which Arnold cuts an arm off using a machete? I suppose that movie was not seen by any teenager...Wait, I saw it when I was a kid. LOL.

  7.9.2007 17:59 #14

• RNR1995

  I agree with Arnold
  Selling directly to minors anything violent is bad
  Now if a parent or sibling buys it, who cares?
  I remember seeing playboy around 1st grade, don't you?
  I think he is a remarkable individual, and has the balls to make tough decisions, and I really loved it when he called other politicians "girly men"
  As far as video games go who the hell understands the ratings?
  Same thing with TV what the F is that all about?
  Can't you make all these ratings the same as movies, that one is quite simple
  FYI children probably see more violent things on the news or IRL

  8.9.2007 08:49 #15

• RNR1995

  I agree with Arnold
  Selling directly to minors anything violent is bad
  Now if a parent or sibling buys it, who cares?
  I remember seeing playboy around 1st grade, don't you?
  I think he is a remarkable individual, and has the balls to make tough decisions, and I really loved it when he called other politicians "girly men"
  As far as video games go who the hell understands the ratings?
  Same thing with TV what the F is that all about?
  Can't you make all these ratings the same as movies, that one is quite simple
  FYI children probably see more violent things on the news or IRL

  8.9.2007 08:49 #16

• wetsparks

  Quote:"Many studies show the link between playing ultra-violent video games and violent behavior. We have a responsibility to our kids and our communities to protect against the effects of games that depict ultra-violent actions," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. Is that why violent crimes in America have gone down every year but one since Mortal Kombat came out in arcades? Maybe I'm missing something.

  9.9.2007 13:09 #17

• NHS2008

  Hahaha!
  Sometimes I feel sorry for Americans/Europians.
  In India you buy WHICH EVER GAME YOU WANT! WHEN EVER YOU WANT!
  and all that for less that 5$!!

  10.9.2007 06:49 #18

• borhan9

  i love how this guy talks common sense.

  10.9.2007 19:05 #19

• mebjolz

  In Australia many of the more violent games, or those with a fair amount of drug use have been banned such as Narc, Reservoir Dogs, Manhunt 1&2 by the same govornment which ruled it was legal to modify your console, thereby rendering their bans completely useless...morons

  10.9.2007 20:32 #20