To say the past week has been a wild, insane, and completely absurd for video gamers is an understatement. While no particular story stands out as big as "Hot Coffee" did last year, combined they take a toll. The games may seem like they're most important part of the industry, yet the attacks against them are becoming far more serious.
We'll begin with 25 To Life, a game that initially drew harsh criticism for its cop-killing nature. Players control either a drug dealer looking to keep his business open by any means necessary or police attempting to bring the dealers down. While the production of the game (which has been ripped by the gaming media, gaining a meager 45% cumulative score from Gamerankings.com) brought controversy, it seemed as if it was forgotten.
That was before the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund spoke out against the game. Why they chose 25 to Life is anyone's guess given the numerous other titles which feature violence against authorities. As such, CNN ran with the story to get the message out there about the boycott efforts of the group. The stats on their website show a grim side of this country. However, to single out one specific video game while avoiding such films as Training Day (amongst many, many others), which show officers in a truly terrible light, is ridiculous.
One of the stranger and more radical ideas comes from Texas. Congressional candidate Star Locke has proposed a tax on video games, fried food, and soft drinks. This would eliminate property taxes. While this doesn't sound completely over the top, his plan to make the tax at a staggering 100% is. His definitions of what constitutes a violent game will hopefully be the end of this unbelievable concept. All this would do is drive business away from the state businesses as gamers head online to purchase their games.
There were multiple pieces of legislation again attempting to block the sale of games to minors. To report on each one is meaningless, as none have made it into effect without either a stern, successful lawsuit by the ESA. The only notable attempt was by Utah State Representative David Hogue. He makes the case that violent games should be considered obscene and lumps them together with pornography. Gamepolitics.com features this quote from Hogue:
Article comments
1 - Deano
The politicos are certainly making hay over the latest series of incidents. One you failed to note is that the organizers of the E3 show are apparently now banning the scantily clad "booth babes" in an effort to lower the industry's profile as "indecent".
The crux of the problme is that very few games actually make money and with a huge plethora of titles on the market, the pressure to find shelf space is very intense. The gaming industry is highly competitive and this need for shelf space and visibility (given the short commercial lifespan of most games (2 or 3 months to make an impression and then they are turned over for the next crop)) helps to fuel the competition. The very best games can compete on their brand names, their gameplay and their technical innovations - the majority of games need to find some unique attribute that makes them stand out. The result is that a significant number of games now focus on "over-the-top" violence, and sexual content--and the publishers extoll the game on the virtues of these elements because, basically the game itself is mediocre and they need to court controversy in order to successfully market and claim shelf space.
For all the deliberate machinations of the politicos in trying to hype this as an issue, the industry's collective "whatcu-talking-about? approach of denial of any responsibility is hypocritical at best.
Game developers do have a certain responsibility to place some limits on their own behavior, or we will see the industry split into mainstream publishers and a parallel game industry focused on violence/sex that becomes marginalized, similar to the porn industry and the mainstream Hollywood studios.
The politicians aren't going to go away, ever, so the industry had best start to deal with the issue in ways that go beyond just a rating system, or someone will do it for them.
2 - vicislandboy
i wouldnt be surprised if they banned violent video games as they did with drugs "for our own protection" which will fuels the black market, well not to get off topic.
I would like to know why games that are rated for adults can be still be said to be damaging to children, we rate movies R but play them on TV we sell liqer and ciggretts but say not to give to minors. Now here is the question if the parents are resposible not to give minors alchol or cigs(or the games for that matter) why is it suddenly the case that minimum ages are not enough. And as he previous user said, the restrictions are feuling online sales hurting US economy due to failing retail sector in that industry, not to mention helping spread of piracy.
When goverment collects huge taxes its ok if some percent gets to kids evan if kills them (booze/ cigs) however since this is self regulated industry paying regular taxes. Suddenlty these are a threat to our children.
I dont meant to be negative but i'm more worried about getting shot at school by one of the drug dealers,that opporate because of goverment ignorance, then the off chance some kid decids to act out a violent scene from a video game, after all evan tv comercials sell sex and violence why cant games that are regulated not.
Why cant the goverment work on stuff that matters.
3 - needleinmyvein20
i see video games as the same as movies. its the parents responsability. and the politics need to shut up.
4 - BucketHead
I saw the Toronto thing covered on the news. They really didn't try and play it up as being the game's fault (not that this opinion piece says they did). They just said it was ironic that a copy of the game was found in the car. Mind you, they mentioned the game about 3 times knowing full well that the aholes of this world will draw their own ridiculous conclusions. Love the Barbie game tossed into the Amazon ads, lol.
5 - Emeka Anyanwu
You don't know me at all or anything, but thanks for the information it was a good read man. Of course like anything else I read on the internet I'll have to take it with a grain of salt but I think we share the same opinion on the whole video game thing. Good writing man, keep it up.
6 - Canuck
Isn't it funny how the only intelligent take by anyone involved in these incidents came from someone in Toronto??
7 - day day
SAD REALITY
Video games are under attack, by the most powerfull tool to the american average joe voter, THE TV. American politicians CENSOR TV, the news is probably written by the FBI to keep average joe stupid. My point... The government is AFRAID to lose CONTROL over the majority of the media, by 3rd party developers that promote CHOICE AND FREE WILL. If gaming becomes bigger than television, the american government loses more control over average joe. You have all seen how the average joe can easely sway to PROPAGANDA, 51% of you wanted to go to war at the time (unless bush cheated his way in). So like then, "joe" is being shown BAD EXAMPLES of gaming to base thier feelings on the subject. Once propaganda sets in for a few months, it becomes mainstream and thier mind is fixed either because they would like to remain at the watercooloer or becuase it was on the "news" it had to be true. This is how much power the TV has over the americans to sway thier intrest over any topic available. In this case, our precious gaming :(
8 - deezy
a little off-topic, but i love the ads on the bottom of the page: san andreas, 25 to life, 50 cent game and cd, nfs most wanted, and BARBIE!
9 - greenvampire
Im currently making a quiz that will aid in research to prove that video game violence has nothing to do with society and gameplayers are not affected.
people see a violent game and all of a sudden think its the work of the devil and that all game players are automatically been brainwashed into acting out the game... which leads me to point out that religion has alot to do with the arguments and controversy surrounding the games, maybe people should take a look in the mirror before flaming millions of inocent gamers.
10 - kaos
i think the parents are more to blame then the kids!
if they're going to allow a young child say around the age of 12 - 16 play games or watch films of an adult rating they should recieve the fine if not more that a retail outlet would get for selling it to the minor in the first place.
11 - juo2
it
12 - juo2
shutup
13 - juo2
wuz up