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Calif. Bans Violent Game Sales to Minors

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

October 10, 2005, 1:00 PM

The sale of violent video games to minors will no longer be permitted in the state of California. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation into law on Friday that would impose fines to those who rent or sell such games to anyone under the age of 18.

The law passed the California legislature last month, and was helped along by the scandal surrounding the revelation of sexually explicit scenes within Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Schwarzenegger, himself a parent, said that while he supports the video game industry, such laws are essential to protecting children.

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By Banquo

posted Oct 11, 2005 - 9:02 PM

Anyone get the feeling that most of the people complaining are minors?

Score: 0

By Jedite

posted Oct 11, 2005 - 9:33 AM

Why are soo many ppl bitter about this? I mean, this law is ment to keep adult content away from minors. Is that such a bad thing?

I mean I personally dont want my 10 year old Nephew playing games like God of War, or GTA Vice City. Its not that I dont trust him, or that the games suck(cause God of War Rocks!!!) However there is some sexually explicit content, and some extreme violence in these games, two subjects that most minors cannot understand in their early age. Its the same way, I dont want him watching R Rated movies without supervision, because he wont understand the content, and might make assumptions on it.

Lets be honest, the concept of GTA may be cool in a fun way, but it really is a view of the ugly side of society.

Ppl at a young age, have very lets say open minds, and games that promote violence can affect them.

Having said that, it is a parents and families responsability to raise their children accordingly. However there is not enough publicity surrounding the MSRP raiting, that parents trully know what they are buying. Not to mention that never have I seen a stores employee (babbages, EB games, compusa, Best Buy) take the initiative to speak with a parent when they go buy a game for their kids. Hell ive seen some employees try to push games like GoW or GTA to parents when they are asked what game would be good for their 13 year old.

I mean GoW is rated MATURE. Hell 15min into the game, there is a sex scene. That is not a game for a Kid, who probably still has no clue what the heck sex is.

Score: 0

By Quixley

posted Oct 11, 2005 - 6:55 AM

Pfft, this coming from a man that made most of his fortune from violent movies...

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 11, 2005 - 8:56 AM

Yeah...cuz that proves what again?

Score: 0

By PSXp-ONE

edited Oct 11, 2005 - 4:02 AM

"Oh great!, so now I have to wait until I turn 18 to play videogames?, oh wait a minute...my crackhead neighbors have grand theft auto, yeah!, I can go there"...that's where this is leading, hehe.

Score: 0

By allan_kasra

edited Oct 10, 2005 - 11:51 PM

This is an idiocy. First up, the CA law has banned all sales of video games to kids under 18. The ESRB rating could go up to Mature inside stores, which is 17. Second, the find for minors is about $1000. Most minors cannot work. Third, politics have pushed the wrong buttons by violating the 1st amendment of the consitution. This law will be lifted from California due to the Game Industry will be suing the govanator.

PS: I'm not a resident from California.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 11, 2005 - 8:55 AM

"Clues! Clues! Get your free Clues here!"

Wow. where to begin...

"First up, the CA law has banned all sales of video games to kids under 18. "

-ALL video Games? Really? Or is it just the "heiniously violent" ones?

"Second, the find(fine?) for minors is about $1000. Most minors cannot work."

-Yeah, but their parents can, and they *will* be responsible for their children, if not before, by not allowing them to buy it, then after when they pay the friggin' fines. *Maybe* they'll learn something.

"Third, politics have pushed the wrong buttons by violating the 1st amendment of the consitution. "

-BS, you dips***. This law affects MINORS. MINORS have no 1st amendment rights.

Thanks for playing.

Next!

Score: 0

By eman8ions

posted Oct 11, 2005 - 4:05 PM

hahahaha :) nice

Score: 0

By BklynKid

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 7:29 PM

I think this is a great thing. Same way that minors can't buy cigarettes or alcohol, they houldn't be able to buy violent entertainment.

So that said, I do think that R-rated movies should be treated as the same. I mean a kid can't go out and buy GTA: Vice City, but the same kid can go and buy Scarface and Carlito's Way when we all know that they are basically the same thing.

However that's besides the point, this is a good start.

Score: 0

By drumcat

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 2:15 PM

Here's a very simple litmus test:

If a kid can buy an R-rated movie, the kid should be able to buy an M-rated game. If GTASA should have been AO, fine. However, the re-release had nothing different in it except the thoroughly-hidden sex stuff. All the cop-killing, prostitute, drug-using and selling mayhem is still there.

Essentially that makes it an R-rated movie.

Score: 0

By skimore

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 6:50 PM

So why does the ESRB rating system have to play with different rules as the MPAA and RIAA. For this law to be fair those 2 groups should be included. Entertainment is Entertainment regardless of it's form.

Score: 0

By scronline

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 2:09 PM

Ok, first off. There's an MSRP rating on each game. What has brought all this about is the MSRP on Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and little things like a woman buying it for her 14 year old grandson. IT SAYS ON THE #@$%@#$% BOX THAT NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 17! Yet she bought it anyway.

First off, you can't necessarily use age to tell how mature a child is. I mean, look at how many people out there are 25+ and act like they are 10. On the other hand look at how many 10 year olds out there act like they're 25.

Basically, if parents paid attention to the little labels on the box that would atleast give them a general idea if it's suitable for their child. And if something is discovered that shouldn't have been there and you find it offensive for your child...maybe you shouldn't have bought a game that wasn't made for children under the age of 17 for an 8 year old boy.

America as a society is entirely too fast to pass the blame on instead of accepting responsibility for our own actions. We can't even begin to fix our problems until we will own up to them and then work to fix them.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 11, 2005 - 8:48 AM

Isn't that what this is intended to do? Perhaps not own up to them, these parents are clueless and will continue to be. Nothing will change that, aside from a firm beating with the ClueX4.

This *is* intended to work to fix the problem. If the parents won't do it, who?

Score: 0

By zridling

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 2:04 PM

As usual, Schwarzeneggar and the republicans are idiots who want complete control over free speech.

Score: 0

By spiffyjeff

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 11:23 PM

I'm democrat, but I think you are just posting that just as an excuse to attack republicans, is it not? I mean really, explain how that is limiting free speech. And can you seriously not see how that can be a good thing?

Score: 0

By mehvii

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 4:33 PM

right and making a restriction on drinking age is getting rid of our freedom of speech too right?

how the hell is whether or not you can buy a video game free speech?

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 3:49 PM

Minors don't have free speech. That's one of the benefits of becoming an adult.

If adults won't raise their children properly, then what other choice is there?

Score: 0

By gawd21

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 1:49 PM

This should have been left up to parents, but seeing how most parents are to sad to monitor their children the State has to step in. really hate the fact that people let this get so far out of hand that the GOV have to set in and do what we are parents should have done.

Score: 0

By Jedite

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 1:24 PM

This is a good thing. Its the same as X Rated movies not being sold or rented to minors. Same goes with R rated movies. However we have to wait and see how well the Authorities enforce these policies. Jimmy the 17 year old behind the EB Games counter might not give a flying @#$@# tommy is only 8 years old and wants a copy of God of War. I mean how hard is it for a 12 year old to rent or buy an R rated movie?

Score: 0

By xoineg

edited Oct 10, 2005 - 1:15 PM

Well is not the government fault (yet) I guess is the Republican Party (because they suck)

Score: 0

By skimore

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 6:51 PM

Ms Clinton started this remember!

Score: 0

By Metshrine

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 1:48 PM

Please come back when you want to post something that has any relevance to the topic at hand and makes even a little bit of sense

Score: 0

By Paradise-FH-

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 1:16 PM

what?

Score: 0

By pjlasl

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 1:10 PM

it should be the parents job to protect their children. fining stores for selling the games, i don't see how that is going to stop anything...big brother or older friend will buy, rent and the minor will still play it. To bad parents need the government's help to babysit their kids.

Score: 0

By spiffyjeff

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 11:29 PM

well, they both help, this way, the child won't just go do buy/rent behind their backs, because it's impossible. As others have mentioned, think of cigarettes - in your sense, "what a stupid law, parents should protect their children" so what's to stop the child from getting it themselves? Sure, in the end, there is a way, but at least it's not very easy, and that's what counts.

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 3:51 PM

You are correct, it absolutely should be. The problem is that they won't and don't.

My oldest comes in all the time telling me how so and so's mom bought him MA game X and MA game Y so why can't he have them too.

The response? I find out you are playing them then you don't go back to that kids house.

Unfortunately he probably still plays them but not in MY house.

Score: 0

By Paradise-FH-

posted Oct 10, 2005 - 1:15 PM

it seems to work well for alcohol and cigarettes so i don't see why it wouldn't work well to curb video game sales to minors. i would imagine you'll eventually see legislation that defines punishment to anyone providing the game to a minor, not just the stores.

Score: 0

By gatonegrosky

posted Oct 11, 2005 - 11:29 AM

Violence is everywhere i don't see that a game like GTA would be such a big deal.. in the other hand government is sending youngsters to kill inocent people overseas ain't that a B*tch !!!

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Oct 11, 2005 - 11:53 AM

I don't see how an 18 year old serving your country and a 12 year old playing a mature videogame are related.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 11, 2005 - 11:53 AM

So what you're saying is..

Past methods to contain widespread violence have failed, causing us to be forced to view it pretty much everywhere we go, so we should just give up?

Yeah, nice.

As far as "youngsters" killing "innocent" people overseas, none of the "youngsters" are under 18 years-old, and the "innocent" are bound by their religion to kill all of us infidels, so pardon me if I don't shed a tear for them.

Score: 0

By gatonegrosky

edited Oct 11, 2005 - 6:58 PM

i'm aware of how violent is GTA, sure a 10 year old kid cannnot play that , but the thing is this kind of violence is everywhere and no matter on how much people with morality will talk and judge about violence , it will always be there as long as the government aproves this kinds of games ( causing us to be forced to view it pretty much everywhere we go ) as you said
I just posted the example of "youngsters" being send overseas cause of the fact that A 18 year old is still considered as a kid and the rest is just political garbage...

anyhow i applaud the effort of banning kids from playing violent games , but is not going to be that easy !!! this is just an opinion.

Score: 0

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