Video games a puzzle to parents, politicos

Iria · Oct 10, 2005, 12:30 AM

The film "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" carried an R rating in the theaters, a Teen rating for its video game spin-off and a probable TV14 (V) when the edited version comes to broadcast television. The movie and the game both star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who on Friday signed a bill that bans the sale or rental of violent video games to minors in California.

The governor's decision was a step forward or a step backward, depending on whether you're aligned with the parents groups that supported the bill or the video-game makers who opposed it. But both sides seem to agree that the problems involving children's access to violent video games have not been solved yet -- and won't be until society understands that games are not toys anymore, and consumers learn the nuances of ratings systems that are different for movies, music, television and games.

"What we hear from parents a lot is, 'I finally took a look at Grand Theft Auto, and boy was I surprised,' " said Peter Katz of Common Sense Media, a San Francisco group that supported the legislation. "What that says to me, and it's scary, is that parents just don't know what's in the game."
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Read More / Source: SFGate

studbagel9 · Oct 10, 2005, 12:34 AM

I think the keyword in Katz's sentence was "game". Nobody seems to understand what that is anymore.

Oct 10, 2005, 12:30 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	Video games a puzzle to parents, politicos The film "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" carried an R rating in the theaters, a Teen rating for its video game spin-off and a probable TV14 (V) when the edited version comes to broadcast television. The movie and the game both star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who on Friday signed a bill that bans the sale or rental of violent video games to minors in California. The governor's decision was a step forward or a step backward, depending on whether you're aligned with the parents groups that supported the bill or the video-game makers who opposed it. But both sides seem to agree that the problems involving children's access to violent video games have not been solved yet -- and won't be until society understands that games are not toys anymore, and consumers learn the nuances of ratings systems that are different for movies, music, television and games. "What we hear from parents a lot is, 'I finally took a look at Grand Theft Auto, and boy was I surprised,' " said Peter Katz of Common Sense Media, a San Francisco group that supported the legislation. "What that says to me, and it's scary, is that parents just don't know what's in the game." __________ Read More / Source: SFGate

Oct 10, 2005, 12:34 AM	#2
studbagel9 Rolling the Hard Six Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lock Haven, PA Posts: 767 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	I think the keyword in Katz's sentence was "game". Nobody seems to understand what that is anymore. __________________