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Author Topic: Retailers to face fines for selling mature games to minors... Michael Gonzalez Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 790 From: Grand Island , NE USA Registered: Sep 2000 posted 04-19-2003 09:37 PM                     The Washington Bill proposed to fine retailers for selling mature game titles to minors has passed according to an Associated Press report. Retailers will now face a $500 fine if they sell a game that depicts violence to minors. The bill is expected to be signed into law by the governor. The IDSA responded to the news by saying the bill is essentially a form of censorship. I wonder if this (or similar legislation) will eventually effect the movie business?  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 04-20-2003 12:42 AM                     I think this new law is a bunch of crap!!! If a minor wants to get something bad enough, they will come up with it and it does not matter what it is. There is no law that I know of that will stop them.  |  IP: Logged Nicholas Roznovsky Expert Film Handler Posts: 156 From: College Station, TX, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 04-20-2003 12:50 AM                        I don't really see how such a law could be enforced. "Depicting violence" is open to an awful lot of an interpretation. Sure, games like GTA: Vice City and Postal are pretty obviously violent, but there's always going to be some crazy parent who thinks that Mario jumping on one of those damn mushrooms is too violent for their kid. If they're gonna start fining people over violence in games, they're going to have to define video game violence legally - and good luck with that. Same thing with films. Content is subjective. What's appropriate to Johnny's parents is horribly offensive to Billy's folks. Who defines what's legally appropriate for the little ones? The rating system? No sir! If you start seeing laws which use the voluntary rating system as a basis, I bet the ol' voluntary rating system will quickly disappear in those jurisdictions. Jack Valenti wants to make parents happy, but you gotta draw the line at theaters getting shut down and poor box office workers get fined. I guess the states could set up their own ratings boards and make certification mandatory. That'd make everyone real happy, both distributors and exhibitors! Why can't parents raise their own kids instead of trying to pass laws so others have to do it for them?  |  IP: Logged Daniel Fuentz Expert Film Handler Posts: 230 From: Fresno, CA, USA Registered: Apr 2003 posted 04-20-2003 01:38 AM                     Well, the people who are going to use this law are the same ones who sue McDonald's becuase they burned themsleves with hot coffee...  |  IP: Logged Dustin Mitchell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1865 From: Mondovi, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 04-20-2003 04:08 AM                     All this will do is increase the number of minors downloading pirated software in Washington.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-20-2003 04:51 PM                        Count me as one who says "this is stupid." What's a violent game, anyway? And who is to say that violent video games (which is pretty much all of them) are harmful to minors? Shouldn't this be the responsibility of the minors' parents, and not some government bureaucrat who wants to make headlines?  |  IP: Logged Rachel Craven Madam Moderator Posts: 2190 From: Pensacola, FL Registered: Dec 2000 posted 04-20-2003 07:04 PM                     I'm sorry if I'm not understanding this but the law was passed upon selling of the "rating" of the game correct? Just like movies (I know, its not a law! )--"M" for mature would have to be carded before purchased... So I don't understand why you guys are worrying about determining violence...we don't have to worry about that...the FCC says that for us!  |  IP: Logged Dustin Mitchell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1865 From: Mondovi, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 04-21-2003 02:34 AM                     Isn't the video game rating system-E for everyone, T for teen, and M for mature-volountary? I thought it was.  |  IP: Logged

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