Posted Apr 18, 2007 at 06:11PM by Ian C. Listed in: News Tags: ESRB, New York, Business Week, Livejournal, Eliot Spitzer
Ó

The Youth - Image 1As campaigned by himself almost a year ago, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is now making good on his promise to make way for violent videogame legislation. As reported by Business Week:

Gov. Eliot Spitzer will take a shot at violent videos and video games as part his remaining 2007 legislative agenda that includes campaign finance reform, streamlining the courts, and energy development.

Spitzer said he will soon provide a bill that would target the ratings of video movies and video games "that are often violent and degrading" and can hurt children who repeatedly use and view them.


The BusinessWeek report later notes that:

Spitzer said he wants to restrict access to these videos and games by children, similar to motion picture regulations which prohibit youths under 17 from being admitted to R-rated movies without a parent or adult guardian.

Under Spitzer's proposal, retailers who sell violent or degrading videos or video games to children contrary to the rating would be sanctioned.

The Democrat said his approach would be similar to greater enforcement in recent years to stop the sale of cigarettes to minors.


GamesPolitics noted a year ago (back when they were still in LiveJournal) that Spitzer also mentioned in his campaigning that he wishes that there be a uniform rating standard for multiple forms of media. He said then: "industry leaders like the... the (ESRB) for videogames... should come together to set uniform rating standards across all forms of media."

Well two things we should point out. First off, what if there is indeed a universal ratings system, and then violence still occurs because parents still buy (the big problem with this "retailers sell only to 18 and up" suggestion) their kids violent videogames, what then?

Moreover, cigarettes are proven to be harmful to the health of human beings, minor or not. The harmful effect of videogames on the other hand, is still an assumption.


[Via BusinessWeek] Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

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8 Comments


Sort by:
   by hoopastank (Unregistered) - 2007-04-18
 » wtf

games dont kill people. messed up people with messed up views kill people. jesus christ im sick of hearing this crap over and over.


   Re: Anonymous (Unregistered) - 2007-04-18
 » lolwut

"Spitzer said he will soon provide a bill that would target the ratings of video movies and video games "that are often violent and degrading" and can hurt children who repeatedly use and view them."

perhaps you should learn to read? there's nothing in the article about killing or murder
   by tenbatsu (Unregistered) - 2007-04-18
 » they said the same with the BDs, lol

And another time with movies! So in fact, I suppose it's a good sign, since it can only announce what importance have gained the video game market! :D

   by Advertising -
   by FreePlay (Unregistered) - 2007-04-18
 » Hey, Spitzer

I live in New York. Get this law passed and I'll buy violent video games for anyone under 18 who wants them!

   by R35 (Unregistered) - 2007-04-18
 » ny sucks!

LOL gosh Ny must suck! actually all of america sucks how can they not just have Jack Thompson assassinated already, or at least exiled to persia or some other country....

   by getnosleep (Unregistered) - 2007-04-18
 » wtf?

what the hell does that photo have to do with the article? That child has almost guaranteed never played a video game in his life. It seems that you are trying to associate two different situations that have no logical link - or subliminally introduce such a link to your readers to further a given political perspective. I greatly enjoy reading this site and find it to be very informative; however, please try to have some level of consistency with photos/articles - I personally prefer for this site to remain non-political and for the good reporting you do to continue from the perspective of video games and entertainment. This is not to say that this entry is not relevant, it is - the photo, however, is not.

Otherwise, please keep up the good work.

   by XboxCEO (Unregistered) - 2007-04-18
 » Sitzer

i turn 18 in 2 months and u just lost urself a vote!!!

   by A BLACK MAN WITH AN ATTITUDE (Unregistered) - 2007-04-19
 » I LIKE GANGSTER VIDEO GAMES

Yo homiez.....dat picture looks cool dhol.



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