The days of selling old games might be coming an end?

[8th lutz]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6169430.html?...estnews;title;0

 

With the recent revelation that Grand Theft Auto IV will be set in a transparent stand-in for New York City, the state's politicians are already touchy on the subject of violent games. More are raising their voices, as today state Senators Andrew Lanza and Martin Golden called for a "crackdown" on violent games and said they would introduce legislation to keep kids from being exposed to inappropriate games.

 

The pair revealed three specific measures that their legislation will include. First of all, the senators want to establish an advisory council to monitor the effectiveness of the Entertainment Software Rating Board in keeping adult games out of children's hands. The members of that council would also develop policies for education on youth violence.

 

I am concerned about this part of the article:

 

The second specified measure would make rating labels mandatory on all games sold in the state, new or used, either in stores or online. Those who sell unrated games despite this would be fined and penalized, with the revenue derived going to fund the senators' third proposal.

 

That proposal is a Parent Teacher Anti-Violence Awareness Program, "which will empower parents and teachers to work with students and children on issues related to violence in video games." In addition to increasing awareness of the ESRB ratings, the program would advocate proper parental supervision.

 

I think part of that article also effect the atariage store and some other stores that sell homebrew games along with every store that sells games snes games and below that for systems.

Edited April 20, 2007 by 8th lutz

[Chickybaby]

But if the games were made before ratings were even created I'm not sure if that would be included or what other loopholes are in there.

[christianscott27]

I wouldnt sweat it. Its proposed legislation in NY State, besides I havent seen a mass market console game without a rating label since the 16 bit era. Sounds like they're huffing and puffing to intimidate the industry, I dont think they have the will or the want to go after say AtariAge for selling a copy of a homebrew game.

[8th lutz]

But if the games were made before ratings were even created I'm not sure if that would be included or what other loopholes are in there.

 

I went by what happened by a similar law that was passed in Germany for not allowing games that didn't have a rating. I remember Thomas mentioned you have to be 18 to buy 2600 games he lives like River Raid(aka Germany) due to 2600 not having a rating. There old games sold, but not on disiplay for anyone under the age 18.

Edited April 21, 2007 by 8th lutz

[warmachine]

We'll keep having these issues untill lazy parents stop

using video games as some sort of electronic babysitter

used to keep children out of their parents hair.

 

These problems arn't caused by video games but are a result

of parents unwillingness to spend time with their kids and make sure

that they are rased to be responsible adults.

Most parents will just hand their kids the money to buy the games

they want as long the parents arn't being bothered while watching

the daily soap operas or american idol.

[Video]

Eh...I wouldn't wory about it. Part of that is un enforceable anyhow, and even if they could, you could always get around it by selling "electronic media" rather than "games" Bet they don't cover that in their stupid law. And then there's Online, which they'll never have much (if any) controll over anyways.

 

But serioulsy, what people need to do, is point the finger in the right place when shit happens. No, johny didn't shoot up his class cause he played "Super ultra violent Halo in realistic 3d with extra blood gore and violence" (heh, siad violence twice oh well) He shot up his class cause nobody walked him through this as a kid to explain there's a difference between games and real life (partially) cause he got tired of all the other kids in school dissing him (partially) and cause nobody noticed (or ignored) the warning signes that something was wrong with him (partially) Take games completely out of little johny's life, and the same result would still happen. People would just blame movies, or music, or books, but eventually, you'll strip enough back, that you'll be left with only one person to blame, the parrents.

 

I think it's a miracle that this Virgina tech shooting hasn't had some movie, rapper, or game in all the news stories. It'll come (don't believe me, wait a month and see if it doesn't happen) but for now, it looks like their actually blaiming the lack of attention paid to this guy (and everything I've seen so far should have sent up red flags and had the guy stuck in a psycho ward, multiple times over)

[PressureCooker2600]

I remember Thomas mentioned not able to buy any 2600 games in the country he lives (aka Germany) due to 2600 not having a rating.

 

OMG! That right there shows that I have lost all hope for humanity.

 

(in German)

 

Polizei:

"Quick, get that guy!!!! He's got a copy of 'Outlaw'!!! Remember, that cowboy game that came out 30 years ago for the Atari. You, stop right there!!! Do you have a permit for your UNRATED Atari game?"

[chrisbid]

I think it's a miracle that this Virgina tech shooting hasn't had some movie, rapper, or game in all the news stories. It'll come (don't believe me, wait a month and see if it doesn't happen) but for now, it looks like their actually blaiming the lack of attention paid to this guy (and everything I've seen so far should have sent up red flags and had the guy stuck in a psycho ward, multiple times over)

 

 

he did kindof talk like napoleon dynamite

[darthkur]

....That proposal is a Parent Teacher Anti-Violence Awareness Program, "which will empower parents and teachers to work with students and children on issues related to violence in video games." ......

 

 

It's the PMRC reborn. For those of you too young to remember, the PMRC was a bunch of misguided and ill informed idiot's, which included the likes of Tipper Gore, that tried to blame "evil heavy metal" for adolescent violence, irreligious activities, lack of respect for authority, the downfall of society, ect, blah blah blah, back in the mid 80's.

There always seems to be a group of ultra conservative control freaks that wish to force feed to populace with their moronic agenda. These new idiot's will go the way of the old idiots, ignored and forgotten.

[PressureCooker2600]

damn PMRC....

 

the greatest slap in the face to them was Megadeth's song 'Hook in Mouth'.

 

I love that song.

[darthkur]

damn PMRC....

 

the greatest slap in the face to them was Megadeth's song 'Hook in Mouth'.

 

I love that song.

 

 

I was thinking about that tune when I was writing that. Definitely a great track. Another one, albeit much more crude and vulgar, is Anthrax's Startin' Up A Posse. Aimed directly at good ole' Tipper.

Edited April 21, 2007 by darthkur

[Segataritensoftii]

But if the games were made before ratings were even created I'm not sure if that would be included or what other loopholes are in there.

 

I went by what happened by a similar law that was passed in Germany for not allowing games that didn't have a rating. I remember Thomas mentioned not able to buy any 2600 games in the country he lives (aka Germany) due to 2600 not having a rating.

What!? That sucks! Germany knows nothing about the value of game collecting.

[Segataritensoftii]

What we need is a way to show our Polititons that the majority of unrated games are actually safe for kids. Another, longer term solution would be to cancel "Grand Theft Auto 4" so the bill wouldn't be passed. Unfortunately I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[JimmydelaKopin]

All this can do is increase the already-large unregulated used videogame market.

 

Seriously, the states can't even monitor private interstate sales.

Not saying they're not allowed to; I'm saying they can't. They have neither the resources, nor the manpower, to do it.

Every year in my state tax booklet, there's a line on the worksheet that asks if I did any mail-order, because if I did, I'm supposed to pay sales tax as part of my yearly tax bill.

 

Yeah, right. Know how often I indicate that I did?

Know how often the state dept. of revenue has hit me with a tax bill?

Same answer both times: zero.

 

Private sales happen all the time. No way they can keep track of even a fourth of it.

All that'll do is drive used games stores out of business, drying up that revenue teat, and also drying up that program said to be exclusively based on that revenue. (Yeah, sure; if this passes into law, think that those fines will be the only funding for the PTAVAP?

Everyone who said "yes", go watch Yu-Gi-Oh and Dora; the adults have important things to discuss.)

Meanwhile, used games sales will balloon...at garage sales, gatherings, and the like. Heck, I can see conventions having a "used game room" if this passes--y'know, some room at the hotel where games are secretly bought and sold, much like pirated VHS tapes a few years ago?

 

Of course, given that thrift stores and charity stores and little mom-and-pop places at flea markets are where many people buy used games...can you imagine the headlines:

"Salvation Army Busted for Selling Maze Craze at Thrift Store"!

 

Yeeeaaahhh, this is just posturing for votes, just camera hogs lining up for a meal at the flashbulb trough. No way this passes; no way this even gets out of committee. This one's gonna be tabled indefinitely.

[carmel_andrews]

Germany has alway's had an agressive stance towards 'innappropriate' videogames

 

way back when microprose were known for doing 'simulation' software, germany banned all importing and selling/marketing of microprose software (in germany) on the basis it promoted 'war' type themes

[Gentlegamer]

The real question is if console manufacturers will impliment technology that requires games to be installed or marked by the console so that each copy can only be played on that original console. I believe Sony has already patented this technology for console games.

[Video]

The real question is if console manufacturers will impliment technology that requires games to be installed or marked by the console so that each copy can only be played on that original console. I believe Sony has already patented this technology for console games.

 

And sony just lost a lot of sales when they try to inpliment this, as many people will NEVER support this Idea. I know I wont. There's to many available consoles out now for me to buy something that spacifically restricts me in this way (and imagine the nightmare when you get the death toll on your console and have to replace the console AND every game you own for it)

[Epicenter]

Germany has alway's had an agressive stance towards 'innappropriate' videogames

 

way back when microprose were known for doing 'simulation' software, germany banned all importing and selling/marketing of microprose software (in germany) on the basis it promoted 'war' type themes

 

And let's not forget Wolfenstein 3D being banned for containing Nazi elements. Hell, you FIGHT the Nazis-- isn't that a positive theme? Either way the best way to confront the past is not to FORGET it, otherwise you learn NOTHING. I hate revisionist history. You know I bet lots of people in Japan just think the US flew by and dropped off a few atomic bombs for laughs and that whole Pearl Harbor, war of the Pacific and invasion of China by the Japanese empire things were just made up to spice up the tale. :rolleyes:

 

At any rate I don't see such a law going anywhere. I mean hell, it's illegal to use the "N word" in NY now, isn't it? That doesn't mean anyone's going to stop.