104 replies to this topic

[LunarEdge]

Interesting video I found on the whole case

Video games have gone through a lot when it comes to the law and when it comes to violence and etc. It seems as though now, the Supreme Court has actually decided to take up the case of Video games and their effect on the young people (those under 18) and if video games should be protected under the 1st Amendment and if they should be labeled as a Art. They are trying to make certain video games (Mature rating) obscene and obscene materials can be regulated by law and aren't protected by free speech (or the 1st amendment in general). Not to mention that for video games to be labeled as "obscene," video games as a whole will have to lack literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

I think this is ridiculous and the fact that the Supreme Court decided to take this case up is kind of... stupid, retarded, idiotic and what have you. When will they stop trying to ban certain games, or games in general because of their content. Video games know no age or sex, some are for the younger kids while others are for the more mature crowd, if this actually goes through then video games will truly be a child's play thing.

Edited by LunarEdge, 30 June 2011 - 04:02 PM.

[Edge]

I think this is a good case. Maybe kids will finally shut up about the coolest new FPS they played.

[Tornado]

I think this is ridiculous and the fact that the Supreme Court decided to take this case up is kind of... stupid, retarded, idiotic and what have you.

Would you rather have the moral guardian states (New York, Conneticut, California, etc.) continue to try to pass laws restricting their sales uninhibited by the Constitution? I recognize that there are risks in taking this up to the Supreme Court, but if California loses (and they probably will) all of this "someone please think of the children" idiocy will stop overnight.

Edited by Tornado, 03 September 2010 - 08:48 PM.

[LunarEdge]

I think this is a good case. Maybe kids will finally shut up about the coolest new FPS they played.

Even those of age to play FPS's brag and talk about them too. Hearing kids talk about it though I guess is a bit more inappropriate

@Tornado: Yea you got a point.

Edited by LunarEdge, 03 September 2010 - 08:49 PM.

[GameFarnsworth940]

I've always laughed at the concept of this. I mean, Minors can't think for themselves? Sheltering children from the inevitable (if they're gamers)? I may be a minor myself, but I do have the common sense to see why each game I pick up, even if I'm only holding it and am going to put it on the shelf, is rated what it is. Hell, if I even felt like it, I'd check why Hello Kitty: Random Child Adventures For Young Tots would be rated whatever it would be (most likely EC or E). I do play my fair share of M Rated content, like HotD 2 and 3, Dead Rising, HotD: Overkill, Dead Head Fred, and others, but before even buying them, I always look at the ratings. Sure, I do like the occasional blood 'n' guts in my games, but I do have my limits. There's only so much I can take. Blood? I'm fine. Swearing? My school's already desensitized on that, but even so, it's not a big deal. Dismemberment? Well, all I would care to see is just the main limbs, head, and heart at most. Get to the rest of the guts? No. Just no. In my opinion, if given the chance, minors can make decisions on their own, not with the government saying "Oh, your 14? No CoD for you.", or "So, you're 16, and you want Halo Reach? Piss off.", or even "Look, I don't care if it says 17+ on the box, 17 is a minor, so you can't buy Fallout 3.".

If this does pass through, and if I had the time and clearance to do it, I would show the heads of the supreme court to my Wii, my copy of Overkill, and make them watch every single second of the game, from opening movie to opening cutscene, to the finale. Just to fuck with them.

I think this is a good case. Maybe kids will finally shut up about the coolest new FPS they played.

This would actually be good, but I doubt that even if this happens, they're still gonna talk about it.

Edited by GameFarnsworth940, 03 September 2010 - 09:01 PM.

[voice]

The whole anti-video game violence crusade, to me, is perpetrated by people who are either A. bad parents or B. feel like they have some high moral authority to dictate what is appropriate and what isn't. Really if your children can't distinguish between fantasy/video game violence and real violence you have failed. I played GTA Vice City and so far I've never stolen a car, killed people, ect. in real life because, you know, GTA is a fucking video game. All the anti-video game stuff is really just scapegoating on the parents part for failing to have raised their kids properly. Also, if these people are so horrified by the violent/sexual content displayed in these video games why the hell are they so quiet about the shit thats on TV?

[Edge]

Forgot to mention that it has been proven that Video Games do actually inspire people (particularly children) do to bad things. Remember the whole School made in Doom thing? And I remember hearing about a kid that tried to do moves from Mortal Kombat and he ended up killing his sister. (Or maybe it was his friend.)

I really hope they ban games like GTA that are for a bunch of homicidal maniacs. Seriously, what fun do you get out of killing innocent people? Sure most people can tell the difference between reality and a video games, but failure parents let their kids play this stuff and then they think that violence is perfectly fine.

Edited by Edge, 03 September 2010 - 09:19 PM.

[GameFarnsworth940]

The whole anti-video game violence crusade, to me, is perpetrated by people who are either A. bad parents or B. feel like they have some high moral authority to dictate what is appropriate and what isn't. Really if your children can't distinguish between fantasy/video game violence and real violence you have failed.

I agree with this, honestly. Even on the failed parents part. Sure, at first, my parents were a bit rough with the idea of letting me buy Mortal Kombat: Deception, but they knew that I could tell fantasy from reality.

I played GTA Vice City and so far I've never stolen a car, killed people, ect. in real life because, you know, GTA is a fucking video game.

Also agreed on. The parents in that argument would say that, since I've played Dante's Inferno, Dead Head Fred, and God of War (well just a demo, but enough to say that I've played it), that I would be a pissed-off, head-hunting baby killer. Yes, you have to kill evil, dead babies, with scythes for hands, that are trying to kill you. Not only would they call me as such, but they would even go out of their way to prove it on that statement I made. It's just like saying that every CoD player is 100% guaranteed to want to, and succeed in, joining the army.

All the anti-video game stuff is really just scapegoating on the parents part for failing to have raised their kids properly. Also, if these people are so horrified by the violent/sexual content displayed in these video games why the hell are they so quiet about the shit thats on TV?

This has been bugging me for the longest time. Stuff like HBO can get away with it, but not video games. Both have to be paid for, and both have large consumer bases, chances are, with kids. No parent rants about TV like these parents do about video games. This would be the pert of my post where I'd put Bender'slittle message to parents about kids and TV from the episode when he got on All My Circuits, but I can't find a clip.

[Tornado]

Forgot to mention that it has been proven that Video Games do actually inspire people do to bad things.

No it hasn't.

Remember the whole School made in Doom thing?

Which wasn't true.

And I remember hearing about a kid that tried to do moves from Mortal Kombat and he ended up killing his sister. (Or maybe it was his friend.)

Apocryphal hearsay. I've heard literally the exact same "kid did X that he saw in Y and killed his sister" setup about wrestling, Jackie Chan movies and rap videos.

Edited by Tornado, 03 September 2010 - 09:18 PM.

[American Ristar]

Well we're all familiar with the internet, the home of everything obscene. Your kids have seen sexual positions you never dreamed were possible. But a more serious argument would be, that opposition to video games comes only because it's a new and sometimes misunderstood medium. Would you take your 8-year-old to see Kill Bill? Anyone who lived through the PSX era understands that video games have taken a more mature tone, and can have mature content. I'm hoping for an uncensored release of Catherine now.

Edited by Dabnikz, 03 September 2010 - 09:22 PM.

[Kevin]

I think this is a good case. Maybe kids will finally shut up about the coolest new FPS they played.

I don't agree with you at all. If we're truly a free country, then why should the government being telling people what they can and cannot play? It should be up to the parents to monitor what game their kids play and they're too stupid not too, then it's entirely their fault. Hopefully the Supreme Court will be sane enough to declare that video games are protected under free speech.

Forgot to mention that it has been proven that Video Games do actually inspire people (particularly children) do to bad things. Remember the whole School made in Doom thing? And I remember hearing about a kid that tried to do moves from Mortal Kombat and he ended up killing his sister. (Or maybe it was his friend.)

I really hope they ban games like GTA that are for a bunch of homicidal maniacs. Seriously, what fun do you get out of killing innocent people? Sure most people can tell the difference between reality and a video games, but failure parents let their kids play this stuff and then they think that violence is perfectly fine.

Even though Penn and Tellers has shown otherwise.

[Edge]

No it hasn't.


Which wasn't true.

Yes they have. I have seen kids try to recreate a bunch of the crap they see on T.V and video games and it didn't end well.

Actually you are right about that, but doom did inspire parts of the shooting. Eric Harris said this in one of the tapes that where found: "We need a fucking kick start. If we have a fucking religious war - or oil - or anything. We need to get a chain reaction going here. It's gonna be like fucking Doom man - after the bombs explode. Tick, tick, tick, tick... Haa! That fucking shotgun straight out of Doom. Go ahead and change gun laws - how do you think we got ours?"

Link: http://web.archive.o...net/quotes.html

I don't agree with you at all. If we're truly a free country, then why should the government being telling people what they can and cannot play? It should be up to the parents to monitor what game their kids play and they're too stupid not too, then it's entirely their fault. Hopefully the Supreme Court will be sane enough to declare that video games are protected under free speech.

That's the point. Parents never monitor their kids anymore. If they don't ban them then they should at least warn parents the danger of video games on youth today. Most young children do not realize the difference between an FPS and reality. And what they see in TV is just as bad.

[LunarEdge]

No game has ever told anyone to go out and do this or that. Even if the kids come out and say "I did this because they did it in *insert game here*" all that means is that the parents are not doing their job. Plus, more forms of media other than games show violence, sex and etc. I remember when I was young playing Mortal Kombat, I never attempted to do anything in said game, why? Because my parents had some fucking common sense unlike a lot of other parents out there and told me that it's just a game and to attempt in RL will only hurt myself or others... or worse. Given some games rated T or higher that have violence and whatnot should probably have a warning, of some kind, that the content in the game should never be attempted in any shape or form in real life in case a child not of age is playing, that shouldn't be the case seeing how they shouldn't be playing it unless under supervision or educated of the dangers of real life attempting prior by some sort of older more mature party

The day a dev makes a game that the character knocks on the TV screen and says "spread the blood of the innocent" then we have a problem.

Edited by LunarEdge, 03 September 2010 - 09:42 PM.

[Kevin]

That's the point. Parents never monitor their kids anymore. If they don't ban them then they should at least warn parents the danger of video games on youth today. Most young children do not realize the difference between an FPS and reality. And what they see in TV is just as bad.

Well that's what ratings and parental controls are for. You can't get any more louder in a warning than that. I just feel it's none the government's business to be telling people what they can and can't play.

[GameFarnsworth940]

Well we're all familiar with the internet, the home of everything obscene. Your kids have seen sexual positions you never dreamed were possible. But a more serious argument would be, that opposition to video games comes only because it's a new and sometimes misunderstood medium. Would you take your 8-year-old to see Kill Bill?

This may not be about video games, but I have seen an instance when parents have brought children to questionable films, like a young child to see Watchmen, or my friend seeing some kids seeing the new Rambo movie with their parents. Smart moves (sarcasm).

[Tornado]

Yes they have.

No, they haven't. There has never been a study that conclusively proves that assertion. All that there have been are several talking heads, usually trying to cash in and write books about the subject, who have said that they do in order to garner attention/sales. Those authors usually cite "studies" where the results were predetermined to back them up.
There have been several studies, however, that come to the opposite conclusion. And if video games were causing children to become more violent, crime statistics wouldn't say that the opposite has occurred in the past 30 years.

I have seen kids try to recreate a bunch of the crap they see on T.V and video games and it didn't end well.

There is a difference between "impressionable" and "homicidal."

Actually you are right about that, but doom did inspire parts of the shooting. Eric Harris said this in one of the tapes that where found: "We need a fucking kick start. If we have a fucking religious war - or oil - or anything. We need to get a chain reaction going here. It's gonna be like fucking Doom man - after the bombs explode. Tick, tick, tick, tick... Haa! That fucking shotgun straight out of Doom. Go ahead and change gun laws - how do you think we got ours?"

So because there was a shotgun in Doom, and they used shotguns at Columbine, Doom inspired Columbine?

That's the point. Parents never monitor their kids anymore. If they don't ban them then they should at least warn parents the danger of video games on youth today. Most young children do not realize the difference between an FPS and reality. And what they see in TV is just as bad.

Yes. Television, video games and movies should have some kind of rating system in place to give parents an overview of what is age appropriate for their children. Oh, wait.

Edited by Tornado, 03 September 2010 - 09:51 PM.

[Edge]

I suppose that my former statement on banning games like GTA was a little harsh. How about this: they can sell those games, but they need to have some type of warning when the game is booted up.

[ChaosSupremeSonîc]

Yes they have. I have seen kids try to recreate a bunch of the crap they see on T.V and video games and it didn't end well.

Regardless, it isn't something that is necessary for the Supreme Court to get into any medium such as those. The fact that most forms of media will have some of the exact material as the other one only goes to show that the people are responsible for what they do, not the stuff they play or watch.

Why people feel a need to target video games out of every other media out there only shows how narrow-minded they are.

I suppose that my former statement on banning games like GTA was a little harsh. How about this: they can sell those games, but they need to have some type of warning when the game is booted up.

They practically do that BEFORE the game is even sold. Some people, however, pay absolutely no attention to it.

Edited by ChaosSupremeSonic, 03 September 2010 - 09:52 PM.

[LunarEdge]

I suppose that my former statement on banning games like GTA was a little harsh. How about this: they can sell those games, but they need to have some type of warning when the game is booted up.

That could be an alternative (I already suggested it btw~) but that's what ESRB is for. If a game is rated Mature, you should (the parent, guardian, whatever) know what to expect and determine if this game is suitable for your child. That way, the game may never make it home and the whole "my children are violent because of video games" issue would have never fucking popped up in the first place lol

Obviously if the child is TOO YOUNG to determine if he/she should imitate this game, then they are probably not even old enough to buy the game which means... *gasp* the parents bought it for them and even if the child had enough money to buy said game, the retailer should never sell it to the minor if they are obviously that young and the parent/guardian should be with that child seeing how, how else are they gonna get to the store to buy the game (unless its a short walk from their house), and reject the game altogether if rated Mature

Edited by LunarEdge, 03 September 2010 - 09:58 PM.

[GameFarnsworth940]

I suppose that my former statement on banning games like GTA was a little harsh. How about this: they can sell those games, but they need to have some type of warning when the game is booted up.

Like Dead Rising.