Forum - View topicNEWS: U.S. Bill H.R.287 Aims to Make ESRB Ratings Legally Binding
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Scormio
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You can say "Congressmen" and "Congresswomen". I won't be offended.
Also, this won't pass, so no need to worry about it. |
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RoverTX
 Posts: 424 |
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If you can't do anything then sure as hell make it look like you are.
Its the same damn thing with SOPA. There is a problem. We must deal with said problem. Thinks of something right away and tell people they are hitler if they dont' agree. Pass a new tax or restriction. Act like problem is solved. ... Profit by getting reelected by these people. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LG-qruGnYc4/UAw5IzeJMnI/AAAAAAAAACQ/k0bc9aQzBm0/s1600/rabble.jpg The system is broke the campaigns never stop so no one takes any damn time to think. Screw elongated primaires, instant media, short term limits, short terms, and the reaction press. We are campaigning our selfs to death and on top of it all SCREW YOU 1968 DNC! McGovern is a crafty one who didn't think of all the consequences of his actions and the damn chain effect it would have... well except that he could get the nomination the next time around. Last edited by RoverTX on Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
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gametech2000
Posts: 4 |
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I'm actually glad they are doing this. Little kids shouldn't be playing rated M games anyways. This should have been legally enforced long ago.
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Splitter
 Posts: 1276 Location: Knockin' on Heaven's Door |
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I'm actually completely fine with this. It's no different than how theaters will not allow children to see R-rated movies by themselves. The game has to be purchased by an adult. Makes perfect sense to me.
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Vaisaga
 Posts: 13241 |
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Yeah I don't have problems with it myself either.
... Though in the end it's kind of pointless since parents are usually the ones buying M rated games for their kids anyways. |
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Thunderbird-
 Posts: 60 |
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And with downloadable games, such as the ones on Steam, this will do absolutely nothing.
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RoverTX
Posts: 424 |
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Its like with weed, just because something is "bad" doesn't mean you should criminalize it.
Not to mention as pointed out before with Digital Distro this whole law is kind of silly. Just like with programing and most things in life, legislation is not good if its redundant or pointless. The more laws you add on the book the more unforeseen consequences can come out of it. Don't just add legal hurdles just to add them. Its how the tax code is such a nightmare and drug policy is out of control. |
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Haterater
 Posts: 1728 |
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That's not exactly right with the movie thing. Its not a law for theaters to do that. Which is a double-standard that's not right. Why should there be a forced law for video games and not theaters? |
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Yuki_Kun45
Exempt from Grammar Rules
 Posts: 725 Location: U.S.A. |
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Unfortunately the MPAA and likely the National Association of Theater Owners (indeed it's NATO) have a strong lobby in Congress. That's why movies haven't been targeted nearly as much as games. It's also why you see every two-bit anti-piracy bill come out of congress. |
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PrecisionCrab
Posts: 215 |
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They can do whatever the f*ck they want, as long as it's after Grand Theft Auto V.
In about a year, I'll be nice and comfy in New Zealand away from all this American bullshit. Congress is free to screw up the country as much as they want to after that. |
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Sleverin
 Posts: 153 |
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I thought that legally the games had to be bought by adults already, if I remember correctly CD's are this way already. Or well, they at least have the warning labels, I don't really know about sales. But this is also a good point Vaisaga, there are a lot of parents that just buy this stuff for their kids. Hell, my grandma bought me a Nine Inch Nails album simply because she just wanted to get something for me and had no problem looking past the parental advisory sticker. So yeah, it'll put more pressure to stop kids themselves purchasing the games but I've known far too many people and heard too many stories involving parents just buying this stuff for their kids anyways that something like this doesn't really seem to matter. The tax is a pain and I refuse to think more taxation is a good idea, if only because I hate taxes. |
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michaelarroyo01
Posts: 60 |
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Except the MPAA isn't law. Movie theaters are not legally required to deny people under the age of 17 from entering an R rated film without an adult. MOST theaters simply comply with the MPAA's guidelines, much like how retailers comply with the ESRB. |
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Splitter
Posts: 1276 Location: Knockin' on Heaven's Door |
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I thought that was a law... that should be a law. |
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michaelarroyo01
Posts: 60 |
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What I am most concerned about is the section saying that "The bill would also make it unlawful to commercially distribute, sell, or rent a video game that does not have a rating by the ESRB." Exactly how is that section worded in the bill, because depending on the wording, it could mean that retro game shops will now be unable to sell old games created before the ESRB came to be.
EDIT Okay, before I'm corrected, it seems that most retro games HAVE been RETROactively rated by the ESRB, so that probably won't be an issue for most games. HOWEVER, there are many independent games (mostly for the PC) that have not been rated by the ESRB, and there might be issues with those. For example, I don't think Minecraft for the PC was ever rated by the ESRB, it certainly wasn't when it was still in Alpha and Beta, but I'm not sure if it was actually considered a "game" then. ALSO, what about online play? Don't they say that online content is unrated? Last edited by michaelarroyo01 on Fri Jan 18, 2013 1:29 am; edited 1 time in total |
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MorwenLaicoriel
 Posts: 1617 Location: Colorado |
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Yeah, that's how I feel. I don't have a problem with making it a law, exactly, but I know it won't change much. Most retailers already have rules in place saying you can't sell M-rated games to minors (in fact, when I worked at Target as a cashier the computer would prompt me to ask for an ID as soon as I scanned an M-rated games). All it takes is an inattentive parent to buy Grand Theft Auto 5 for their kid to get an M-rate game into the hands of a child. Really, this is just smoke and mirrors. They want a bad guy to blame, and compared to offending a large chunk of voters that are pro-guns or do the messy work to try to improve mental health care in the country picking on video games is relatively easy. So while I don't have strong objections to this law, I wish they'd spend more time and resources on things that actually matter in the grand scheme of things, instead of policing something that was already being well-policed by retailers and the game industry. EDIT:
Okay, THAT I have a problem with. Not only would that cause problems with old games, what about indie games that might not have the resources to get their games rated by the ERSB? Last edited by MorwenLaicoriel on Fri Jan 18, 2013 1:03 am; edited 1 time in total |
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