The ESA to sue the state of Oklahoma

[8th lutz]

http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/7037...AB51C4C097B.htm.

 

This happened after the state passed a law that starting Nov. 1st to make it illegal for retailers to display, rent, or sell games which contain inappropriate violence.

 

 

The president of the ESA with him said the following: "We hope that sooner or later state legislators and candidates will stop trying to seek headlines by subverting the constitution and frittering away desperately needed taxpayer dollars and instead enter into a constructive partnership to educate parents about the tools available so they, not government, can raise their kids as they see fit".

 

I agree with The President of the ESA.

 

What that state did is crap. My brother played Mortal Kombat when was 11 years old with me. My dad rented it and my mom thought it okay sense we knew right from wrong and my parents always had a watchful eye on us. Since then he never comitted a crime and I never did either. What I mention with my brother if a kid has the parenting we had this crime on video game crap wouldn't be happening.

 

I didn't like the fact they are punishing gamers over the age of 18 with this law.

[Lord Helmet]

It's a retarded law. I really don't think it will stand up in court, but we'll see. I do think that games should be regulated much in the same way movies are, ie kids under 17 shouldn't be able to rent mature games etc. This law goes to far.

[Hydian]

I do think that games should be regulated much in the same way movies are

 

They already are. There are no laws about movie ratings. The movie ratings are completely voluntary.

[NovaXpress]

And children can buy R-rated DVDs without any hassle at all.

[Chickybaby]

The Gamestop/EB stores around here will not sell Mature rated games to kids without a parent present or the other ratings depending on the kids age.

I've seen quite a few angry kids when a clerk askes the parent if it's ok for teh kid to have because it has a certain rating and many times the parent didn't even know and won't let the kid get the game in question.

[Rik]

Oh for christ sakes,there's more violence in one night of tv viewing than all video games put together.

[Video]

I live in OK and haven't heard of this law. One things for sure, I didn't vote for it.

 

I don't see what the big deal is anyways. Most people like me already buy their games almost exclusively online cause the stores already have a shitty selection of good games. It'll hurt local business, but it won't hurt the gamers. Or at least, it won't hurt me and my friends.

[n8littlefield]

It's a pretty big deal because if it passes and it is NOT overturned as unconstitutional it sets a very dangerous precedant. If other states did this, stores like Walmart and TRU would likely simply not carry a game that was too violent to display, removing at least two major sales outlets. If a company knows it can't be sold at Walmart or TRU - they will likely tone a game down to get a lower rating. It's a slipperly slope, but one that the courts will overturn in due time.

 

The best bet is the current system. Like movies the ratings are totally voluntary, except that it is still illegal to provide pornographic materials to a minor, on paper, film, or any other media. Studies are showing it is getting harder and harder for a kid to buy an M rated game anyways, so I'd say there's not much left that truly has to be done. Once election years pass, so will the controversy.

[8th lutz]

I live in OK and haven't heard of this law. One things for sure, I didn't vote for it.

 

I don't see what the big deal is anyways. Most people like me already buy their games almost exclusively online cause the stores already have a shitty selection of good games. It'll hurt local business, but it won't hurt the gamers. Or at least, it won't hurt me and my friends.

This will effect online down the road if this law doesn't get overturned. If all 50 states get the same law it will effect online stores that sell in the United States. I buy most of my games not online.

 

The online stores that will be affected will be places like wal mart and ebay and any that are located in the states or the seller is in the case of Ebay. Ebay would be effected in the United States part of ebay. By United States law, ebay would be in trouble if the remaining states that don't have this law now will in the future. This could hurt gaming as whole in the states if it goes down to this. People will try to learn foreign languages and buy import systems and games on online games not located in the United the United States then.

 

If this law spreads to all 50 states, this can be like the 1920's when mobsters and gangsters are the only ones sell beer and other types of drinks like wine and liquor. It would be similar in the fact that there will be black market for mature games in the states then and mature games still would be bought anyway just like like in the 1920's till FDR made it legal to sell beer again without being gangsters doing it illegally.

 

IF every states decides to have the same law and have it pass, there would be an internet law coming then. The government is looking at taxing stuff for online gaming, so an online law that does ban mature games being sold is not out the question then.

 

If this happens, history books will show this didn't countdown crime by ban mature games and people Like Jack Thompson and Hillary Clinton will look bad in history like President Hover was for responding to the Start of the Depression before FDR took over.

[shadow460]

I live in OK and haven't heard of this law. One things for sure, I didn't vote for it.

 

I don't see what the big deal is anyways. Most people like me already buy their games almost exclusively online cause the stores already have a shitty selection of good games. It'll hurt local business, but it won't hurt the gamers. Or at least, it won't hurt me and my friends.

 

It was never sent to the public for a vote. It was spawned in the state Congress. I think the bill was authored in the Senate.

I read about it on the front page of The Daily Oklahoman.

 

Then again, in some places, people are naive enough to re elect the politicians who voted this law in.

[Lord Helmet]

I live in OK and haven't heard of this law. One things for sure, I didn't vote for it.

 

I don't see what the big deal is anyways. Most people like me already buy their games almost exclusively online cause the stores already have a shitty selection of good games. It'll hurt local business, but it won't hurt the gamers. Or at least, it won't hurt me and my friends.

 

It was never sent to the public for a vote. It was spawned in the state Congress. I think the bill was authored in the Senate.

 

 

that is correct. It's how government works...we vote for them, and they make the laws.

[Lord Helmet]

I live in OK and haven't heard of this law. One things for sure, I didn't vote for it.

 

I don't see what the big deal is anyways. Most people like me already buy their games almost exclusively online cause the stores already have a shitty selection of good games. It'll hurt local business, but it won't hurt the gamers. Or at least, it won't hurt me and my friends.

 

The reason it sucks is that it labels mature rated games as the same as pornography, which is illegal and cannot be sold legally. No GTA at you local EBGames etc. They would not be allowed to cary it. Most people still buy their games at brick and mortar locations. I would imagine (I havn't read the law) that it also makes it illegal to import the game, just like it's illegal to bring XXX porn across the border into Okla.

Edited June 15, 2006 by Lord Helmet

[n8littlefield]

I think it's worth mentioning that this will likely be laughed out of court. It's so obviously unconstitutional that I can't imagine it will be allowed to remain in effect for long.

[shadow460]

I live in OK and haven't heard of this law. One things for sure, I didn't vote for it.

 

I don't see what the big deal is anyways. Most people like me already buy their games almost exclusively online cause the stores already have a shitty selection of good games. It'll hurt local business, but it won't hurt the gamers. Or at least, it won't hurt me and my friends.

 

It was never sent to the public for a vote. It was spawned in the state Congress. I think the bill was authored in the Senate.

 

 

that is correct. It's how government works...we vote for them, and they make the laws.

 

Didn't you mean "We vote for them, and they stab us in the back?"

[Albert]

When I first saw the title of this thread, I was wondering why the European Space Agency is suing the state of Oklahoma.

 

On topic, what a stupid law and it just dumbfounds me that state legislatures are wasting taxpayer money by passing inane and unenforcable laws such as this, when there are many more important issues they should be worrying about.

 

..Al

[Lord Helmet]

Yup. All stated do it. This one pisses me off in paticular since it's the state I live in.

[shadow460]

No joke.

[rockman_x_2002]

The Gamestop/EB stores around here will not sell Mature rated games to kids without a parent present or the other ratings depending on the kids age.

I've seen quite a few angry kids when a clerk askes the parent if it's ok for teh kid to have because it has a certain rating and many times the parent didn't even know and won't let the kid get the game in question.

 

All a kid's gotta do is wait until it hits a local pawn shop or something in a couple of months. Most pawn shops and stores like that don't check for ratings, ages, etc.

 

As for the law... I'm in agreement with the concensus. Dumb law, though it will eventually get overturned.

 

Oklahoma voters (and voters from other states with politicians that have tried to pull this kind of crap): remember this moment when election time comes and you're at the polls. Be sure your remind your friendly neighborhood legislatures too. That's how we (gamers) can get their attention.

Edited June 17, 2006 by rockman_x_2002

[homerwannabee]

First of all this will law will be thrown out of court by november 1st, but it would be interesting if violent games would be outlawed in all 50 states. I see the newcaster of the future now. "In other news, a man died in a violent shoot out crashing into six vehicles, while driving over 2 prostitutes and killing 3 police officers. It is said that the truck he was driving was filled with the outlawed game Grand Theft Auto Coast to Coast."

[Philflound]

Big brother is watching and soon everything you do will be known by the govt. You will be told what to eat, what to wear, what to watch, your hair is too long, you cannot have that tattoo or piercing, you cannot have sex with anyone other than if your married...etc.

 

The end of the world is coming. It is not an asteroid, a plague, a nuclear bomb, or natural disaster. It is the govt taking away your freedom so you become a robot.

 

Phil