Yet Another Indiana Politician Readying Video Game Legislation

[gamepolitics]

Comments

[ianc14]

The Senator told WTHR-13 that she became concerned about the content and ratings issue while shopping for games with her seven-year-old grandson.

Well obviously she couldnt of looked that closely at the games then.

[ianc14]

"Oh my! They have games targeted at adults? These have to go!"

[catch_33]

Well obviously she couldnt of looked that closely at the games then.

Some people look at a rack of CD, DVDs, or games and almost immediately see at least a dozen they want to toss into a firepit because some kid see them and get turned into a demon.

The rest of us want to toss those people into a firepit because they never stop trying to ruin our fun.

[ianc14]

Well before you throw them in the firepit, ask them if they care what you(I assume you are an adult) play. I bet you they couldnt give 2 shits. So unless your fun involves knowing kids are playing games that perhaps they shouldnt, then I think your fun is alright.

[catch_33]

Well, if the goal of these laws really was to get passed, this shit would have ceased long ago. But, that's not the case. It's all for votes, and as long as the politicians think they'll win any, they're going to keep wasting the taxpayers money.

Sad, but true.

[automancer]

Unfortunately, Catch 33 is right. If the goal of these laws was to get passed then this would have all been over a long time ago. But, this is done out of misunderstanding the subject (games) and as a grab for votes to secure a win for office. They do this knowing full well that the law will be challenged and overturned. They automatically get the points for trying, and even worse it makes videogames look like a heel for going against it.

-Auto

[goldelite]

They know that they won't be passed. They are only trying to get votes

insanity

[cyn1c42]

Whoever defined insanity as "doing the same thing the same way yet expecting different results" is absolutely correct here

Re: insanity

[timbo1138]

Heh. It's funny because it's true.

[anonymous]

Will online distribution systems remain unharmed through all this? Maybe VALVe's Steam client will need a large "I am over 17" checkbox in the corner of it.

[timbo1138]

That's actually a very interesting question. It seems quite obvious to me that these polititans have no idea that digital distribution exists, because, frankly, if they're as out of touch with gaming and technology as they seem to be, I highly doubt they understand how the internet works when it comes to this kind of thing.

But when they DO find out... "You mean our impressionable kids who we never engage with can get pornography AND murder-simulating video games over the internet???" Well, it'll be interesting. Digital distribution is the future, and we all know how hazy the issue of age varification on the net is. I think that as soon as DD picks up and politians click to it, we're going to see the inevitable continuation of this media circus.

[illspirit]

None of the language in any of the bills I've read mention online distro. And when I called Senator Clinton's office, her rep told me that FEPA not only wouldn't affect online distro, but it wouldn't affect games which haven't been rated by the ESRB. So, yea, by simply not rating a game and selling it online, none of the propsed laws would touch it.

Even if politicians do try to regulate online distro, all a publisher has to do is move their content server offshore, or subcontract the distribution to someone who is already outside of the country. Then what are the politicans going to do? Build a massive firewall around the whole country? :p