NY gov signs game bill into law
Summary
Topics
Governor Paterson's office said the bill was aimed directly at protecting children.
The passed version of Senate Bill 6401 abandons the restriction on minors' access to violent games in a bill that was considered last year, but retains some of the original legislation's satellite measures. Chief among those is a requirement that after September 1, 2010, all new gaming consoles sold in the state will need to have parental lockout features. PCs are exempt from the law, as are handheld systems. (The Nintendo DS is the only current-generation system on the market without a parental lockout feature.)
In addition, all games sold or rented at retail will need to carry ratings by the end of the year. There are exceptions made for games that are sold through mail order, as well as those which are "unrated" editions of previously rated games. The law does not specify that the ratings need to come from the Entertainment Software Rating Board.
Finally, the law sets up an advisory council to examine "the connection between interactive media and real-life violence in minors exposed to such media." The 16-member board will include a representative of the gaming industry and another from a retailer trade group. Members of the panel will not receive compensation for their work, but will be eligible to have expenses reimbursed by the state.
An Entertainment Software Association representative told GameSpot that the group is currently reviewing its options on whether or not to challenge the law in court (as it has done successfully with game-related laws in California, Illinois, Louisiana, and other states). However, ESA senior VP of communications and research Richard Taylor issued a statement summarizing the trade organization's generally negative attitude toward the news.
"The state has ignored legal precedent, common sense, and the wishes of many New Yorkers in enacting this unnecessary bill," Taylor said. "This government intrusion will cost taxpayers money and impose unconstitutional mandates for activities and technologies that are already voluntarily in place. It also unfairly singles out the video game industry over all other forms of media. One wonders where this overreach by government in New York will end. If New York lawmakers feel it is the role of government to convene a government commission on game content, they could next turn to other content such as books, theater, and film."
The Entertainment Merchants Association also weighed in on the bill, telling GameSpot that the law is "totally unnecessary."
"All computer and console video games sold at retail are rated by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and already display their ratings prominently on the front cover," a representative of the trade group said. "The latest generation of video game consoles--Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360--each include controls to allow parents to regulate the game content played on those systems. Finally, the work of the advisory commission appears duplicative of reports issued in recent years by the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Surgeon General, and others."
Despite that, the representative did note that the bill signed into law was significantly improved over the version considered last year. He went on to call the omission of the restriction on selling or renting violent games to minors "a victory for video game retailers and consumers."
Talkback Most Recent of 21 Talkback(s)
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Hallowed are the Ori23rd Jul 2008 -
RE: NY gov signs game bill into law
The panel needs to include parents - real parents who
have to deal with these games, the consoles, how the
game developers create games that force a child to keep
playing or they lose items, lose levels, have to bloody start
again, how much conflict in the homes these games
create, how ridiculous the whole parental control set up is
because the kids, mostly teenagers, can lie and purchase
their own subscriptions - just like they do for facebook -
lie to set up an account. The game developers, the Gaming
Merchants Association are all anti parent, anti authority.
The games create addictions, indifference, and a blase
view of violence, horror, and are based on fear,
identification with the aggressor, power through killing.
Go to Empowering Parents Newsletter(google it) and read
how parents are struggling to have a family once these
games are introduced!
The gaming industry wants you to believe it is a small
percentage of kids but that is a big, fat LIE!
The game developers need to be the ones experiencing
what its like to deal with a raging child who WILL NOT turn
off their console, or argues and argues for more time so
they can "get to the next level", who values this unreal
world more than the real world. They can come get the
kids out of bed or stay up and make sure they are in bed
and they can lock up the console and deal with the
bitterness this engenders, or watch and then discipline a
kid who buys a game online by lying about their age and
plays it. The whole parental control things is ridiculous
when a kids can buy their own subscriptions and lie about
their age. They have been trained by society to already do
this by lying to join Myspace and facebook! They think
nothing of it.
The panel needs REAL parents dealing with this stuff. I
would like to make every single game developer sit in our
homes and try to parent with things they way they are now
due to video games. They would RUN for their LIVES and
vow to NEVER be involved with video games again.
timeout23rd Jul 2008 -
No, what is needed...
Is for parents to take responsibility for the actions of their children, instead of blaming someone else or trying to get someone else to do it for them.
Little Johnny can't play that violent video game if his parents don't let him.
Little Johnny can't sit in front of a PC or game controller for hours on end if his parents don't let him.
When I was a teenager, I knew damn well what would happen if I screwed up and did something I knew I shouldn't be doing. Just like I knew what would happen if I gave my parents lip about something... I would get the ass whipping I deserved.
We're becoming a nation of p*ssies, plain and simple.Hallowed are the Ori23rd Jul 2008 -
RE: RE: NY gov signs game bill into law
Geez, Timeout. Learn how to discipline your kids and run your house. Don't let them run your house. Yeah, its going to be hard to do and will take some effort. But once you start consistently laying down the rules and making consequences for their undesirable behavior, then eventually they will learn not to do it. Consequences don't have to be physical punishment either. God forbid that you have to actually work at parenting. Look into "Love and Logic". Its a simple highly effective way of dealing with kids from birth until they are out of the house. Yes, I have kids and I use it with them and it works.
drewbacca24th Jul 2008 -
I agree with the last 2 posts.
Laws AGAINST something make it "forbidden fruit". If kids see it as no consequence, then they will break that "silly" law.
Parents must parent. Everyone seems so busy nowadays. Cell phones are always on, and answered immediately. It takes 2 wages just to get along.
We must find time to spend more time with our children. Generation X has been lost; Gen Y (the Millenials) need to know that someone cares for them, and they can care for others.
Oops! I'm on my hight horse again.
Bye.
I am Gorby24th Jul 2008 -
no, they need P-A-R-E-N-T-S
The game developers need to be the ones experiencing
what its like to deal with a raging child who WILL NOT turn
off their console, or argues and argues for more time so
they can "get to the next level", who values this unreal
world more than the real world.
You're kidding me right? Who's the parent? Unplug the game, lock it up, and throw the child outside to play for a while.
This kind of disobedience has NOTHING to do with games-- do you really expect me to believe that if the game is taken away the child in this scenario will magically behave?
This is lack of discipline pure and simple-- and it's because many of the parents of the current generation can't be bothered to be parents plain and simple. It's also why the insist on blaming game developers, tv shows, school, etc for the fact that THEY have no control over THEIR children.
jmelnik28th Jul 2008 -
Where is Parenting
The parents need to take control and monitor their child's activity. If a child throws a tantrum and a parent can't control them perhaps some counseling is required for both the parents and child. The government shouldn't play NANNY for parents who cannot control their unruly children. Hmm, does the word dysfunction come to mind!
tuvals7th Aug 2008 -
You've got to be kidding me.
You're right. Let's impede every American's right to free speech and creativity because a couple of parents don't know how to take care of their children. Now there's a productive and appropriate role for the government: as babysitter. You sound like a frigging prohibitionist. If you don't know your history, I'll just put it this way: that didn't work out so well.
TheSimulacra29th Jul 2008 -
I'll deal with the problems
of dealing with your child after I've been given the pleasure of creating your child.
You made it, you raise it.
hiraghm@...7th Aug 2008 -
RE: NY gov signs game bill into law
"One wonders where this overreach by government in New York will end:
This is New York. It will never end until the taxes and fees are so high that the only people who can afford to live here are the ones with state jobs.
ca1ic0cat24th Jul 2008 -
RE: NY gov signs game bill into law
Sounds like they have the right goals in mind to keep questionable content more inaccessible to minors. However it does seem wasteful to duplicate systems that are already in place.
Make it difficult for kids to buy and rent if that is the issue. But leave current controls to do their job.
VicThorpal24th Jul 2008 -
Agree
Too many parents have let TV & Games be the babysitter. Would you want to hire an axe murderer as your babysitter? No? Then monitor what your kids are playing.
With my kids, they know that playing is a privilege, not a right. If their chores or homework are not done, or if they have broken house rules, they do not get to play. They may not be happy, but they learn the concept of actions and consequences - something that too many youth these days have problems with.
DigitalFrog24th Jul 2008 -
DigitalFrog24th Jul 2008
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Worry
Whenever ANYONE states that they are thinking of the "good of our children" I worry.
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
harrim4724th Jul 2008 -
Actually,,,,
I always took that saying as people who always intended to do something good, but never followed through with action.DigitalFrog24th Jul 2008
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