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Clinton and Lieberman make nice with ESRB ... why?
GamePolitics reports that Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) in a press conference today at 3PM will announce, with ESA President Doug Lowenstein and ESRB president Patricia Vance, a national campaign to raise awareness about video game ratings. Clinton and Lieberman have both been outspoken critics of the game industry and this certainly shows that a change is in the air.Now is certainly a convenient time for Clinton and Lieberman to bury the hatchet with the gaming industry. Nobody can deny that the political winds in the United States have shifted since the last election and these two have grander ambitions. Lieberman, who originally lost his party nomination in Connecticut, rallied during the election as an Independent to get his seat back -- although he's still a pseudo Democrat at heart. With the House and Senate under Democratic control perhaps he feels he can actually focus on issues that matter, rather than trying to pander to some bizarre wing of his constituency that believes the best way to protect America's youth is by going after the gaming industry. Sen. Hillary Clinton ... well, for you non-Americans out there, she is gearing up to run for President of the United States. However you may feel about this, the point is, the last thing Senator Clinton needs is the youth of America telling their parents that the crazy lady hates video games and not to vote for her. Also, with the average gamer being 30 years-old according to the ESA, there are a lot of gamers out there with the right to vote. People have voted for and against candidates for stupider things and the Democrats want the White House, so it's time to make friends, build bridges in the 21st century and start using the village to raise the children -- that sounds oddly familiar. We'll get more answers about what's going on today at 3PM Eastern.
Parents trust ESRB, by the numbers
A recent survey conducted by Activision found that 68% of parents polled* believe that the ESRB is rating games appropriately. But only 52% confirmed that rating is the most important factor when considering game purchases for their children. Still, a staggering 84% of parents reported to be aware of the rating system; and 79% play close attention to it.Activision's survey also revealed that 74% of parents have accepted gaming into family life, with 58% calling themselves gamers. A strong minority (49%) even admitted sneaking in playing time with their kids' games. Eww, can you imagine walkin' in on your parents doin' a piñata dance?!*1,014 gamers, ages 8-24, and their parents were surveyed.
PSP dominates on list of games for parents to avoid
The National Institute on Media and the Family has just released their annual Report Card, and are advising parents to avoid buying certain games for their kids. All of the titles feature "M" ratings, but meh... parents are too busy to actually look at ratings! Here are the games to avoid, with PSP titles bolded: Gangs of London * The Sopranos Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories * Reservoir Dogs Mortal Kombat: Unchained * Scarface: The World is Yours The Godfather: Mob Wars * Saints Row Dead Rising Just CauseThis list tells me one thing: the PSP really is for the mature crowd. Four of those titles are either exclusive, or enhanced on the PSP, making this system easily much more evil than the childish DS counterpart. At least the Institute recommends Loco Roco for the holidays, which should distract the kids from downloading porn onto their systems.[Via Joystiq]
Study: Violent videogames affect kids' brains
Reuters describes a recent study of violent videogames' affect on teens; the study reports that a violent game made kids more emotionally aroused, with less control and concentration, than kids playing a non-violent game.The Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis study compared Need for Speed: Underground and Medal of Honor: Frontline. Kids played the games, then, using a fancy MRI machine, blood-flow was measured to parts of their brains while they performed simple tasks. The study tested only 44 subjects, so it may point to significant results, but it also needs to be repeated with bigger groups.While we might have picked a different non-violent game -- we always crash our NFS cars, and that seems pretty violent -- we hope that this sort of research is also applied to other media before drawing conclusions. If violent games cause kids to go into fight-or-flight mode as the study suggests, can this be linked to real-world reactions or long-term changes? How do kids' responses to movies compare to games?[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]
ESA apologizes to Kotaku and BBPS
The Electronic Software Association (ESA), the video game industry lobbying group that runs the ESRB and E3, has apologized for a cease-and-desist order against blogs Bits, Bytes, Pixels & Sprites and Kotaku for merely posting the image from a T-shirt being sold on another site (image at right). Looks like somebody at the ESA councils office was bucking for more billable hours and skipped the day in law school about that silly First Amendment in the United States Constitution. Neither the one-man-band running BBPS or the Gawker network's Kotaku were paid for marketing the T-shirt, they merely thought it was a funny piece of paraphernalia and posted where gamers could buy the shirt. Of course the story doesn't end here. Now the question is: How did this happen? There are plenty of worthy questions to be asked about the root of this blatant disregard of the First Amendment, most of them involving a lawyer or two being completely asleep at the wheel. It could very well be that the lawyers truly had no idea what function BBPS and Kotaku serve in the industry. We gamers have a term for people like that: n00b!
ESRB and PTA are BFF
To educate parents that video games are not the anti-Christ, the ESRB is going straight to the wellspring of over-protective parents: The Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Yeah, the PTA is actually a national organization, who knew? The PTA will help distribute 1.3 million brochures to 26,000 PTAs nationwide in an effort to "edumacate teh addults on the vijeo gaames." Apparently it is still legal to breed and propagate the Earth without taking a competency test, so campaigns like this are required. According to PTA National President Anna Weselak, "Every parent knows how popular video games are these days, but perhaps not as many are familiar with the tools that can help them select games that are appropriate for their children." Why are parents buying inappropriate games in the first place, how much larger do the ratings need to be? When was the last time you purchased something for a child without knowing what the item did or was about? Seriously, this campaign can only lead to good and hopefully wipe out just a small bit of naiveté and ignorance around games.
The awesome just keeps on coming: more Virtual Console games [update 1]
Because the eight we just posted weren't good enough, we've got another ESRB confirmation ... this time for thirteen. We'll let the list do the talking for us:NES: Excitebike Ice Climber Dr. Mario Mario Brothers Ice Hockey Soccer Super Nintendo: Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Kirby's Super Star Super Metroid Kirby's Dream Land 3 Nintendo 64: Mario Kart 64 Starfox 64 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time "Mario Brothers", which is technically the name of the arcade title already coming to the VC at launch, is presumably the actual Super Mario Bros., which failed to make it across the Pacific in time for November 19th. The biggest name on this list is certainly Mario RPG, a collaborative effort between Nintendo and Squaresoft USA (now known as Square-Enix). Besides being an absolutely excellent game, it shows that Square-Enix is committed to bringing some of the very best of its SNES golden-era RPGs to the Virtual Console. We don't want to say it, we shouldn't, really ... but dammit, we need to ... Chrono Trigger?[Thanks, Cian C.!][Update 1: Dammit, we can't count.]
Duck Hunt, others get ESRB's thumbs-up, zapper imminent
The ESRB has approved and rated another pile of Nintendo's Virtual Console throwbacks, including: Duck Hunt (E) Hogan's Alley (E) Kid Icarus (E) Kirby's Adventure (E) PilotWings (E) Pro Wrestling (E) Punch-Out (E) Wild Gunman (E) With Duck Hunt, Hogan's Alley, and Wild Gunman making appearances, the Zapper can't be far behind. Think the E3 prototype fits the bill?[Thanks, Spindash54]
Sears Xbox 360 commercial has underage kid loving M-rated games
A new Sears commercial for the Xbox 360 has a young boy named Connor telling us what he discovered at Sears. Connor hit the mother lode, because he found a 360, Need for Speed, FIFA, and ... Halo and Halo 2. He dreamily looks off-screen as he fondly remembers fragging someone on the Sanctuary, and telling them they just got pwned.Apparently Connor, his parents, and Sears all laugh in the face of the Entertainment Software Rating Board, because these two games are both rated M. While we don't always agree with the ESRB, we do find it a bit odd that Sears, a major national retailer, didn't do at least 30 seconds worth of research (which we in the business call "looking at the back of the case the game comes in") and realize that Connor is a bit too young to wax nostalgic about Halo in this nationwide spot.Check out the video after the jump, and someone let Connor know he'll be able to get Gears of War for that 360, as long as he buys it at Sears.[Thanks, otakucode]
Microsoft educates parents on 20-city bus tour [update 1]
Beginning today, Microsoft, along with partners Best Buy and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, begins a 20-city bus tour to educate parents on understanding the ESRB ratings scheme and implementing the parental controls built into the Xbox 360 and accompanying Xbox Live service. The project -- sensationally titled "Safety is no game. Is your family set?" -- is being spearheaded by Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft Corp.'s Entertainment and Devices Division, who spoke with us briefly about the goals of the new initiative.Bach was blunt that this campaign isn't entirely unrelated to the business of selling video game consoles. Yes, there is the altruistic goal of edifying parents who feel confused or disenfranchised by an increasingly complex video game industry; but, if Microsoft can convince parents that Xbox 360 -- versus, let's say, Nintendo or PlayStation -- ensures a gaming environment that parents are in control of, they'll have earned a significant strategic victory.
Miami judge orders Take-Two to bring Bully to him
Earlier today, attorneys representing Take-Two Interactive -- publisher of Rockstar Games' controversial video game Bully -- along with lawyers representing retailers Gamestop and Wal-Mart squared off with Miami attorney Jack Thompson in Florida's Third District Court of Appeal. Game blog Destructoid had someone in the courtroom, blogging the goings-on. They briefly recount the day's events culminating in Judge Ronald Friedman's ordering of Take-Two to produce Bully by 3PM tomorrow, so he can view the entirety of the game (played by a Take-Two representative, of course) and determine if Thompson's claims that the game is a "public nuisance" have any merit. Destructoid promises four more pages of notes, detailing all the nitty-gritty, so keep your eyes peeled. Meanwhile, GamePolitics blogger and Joystiq columnist Dennis McCauley received an email from Thompson, gloating, "This is a huge victory against the violent video game industry, regardless of the ultimate ruling on the injunction."Maybe, maybe not; that all depends on what the judge thinks of the game's content. If Bully isn't as violent or inappropriate as Jack Thompson would have us, and the court, believe, and is instead a "snarkily clever social commentary," then what? Then there's no restraining order preventing the sale of the game to minors and Thompson says he'll "drop the whole thing." If Judge Friedman does find a problem with the game, then ... eh, let's just think positive thoughts, okay?Read - GamePolitics.com's note from Jack ThompsonRead - Destructoid's man-on-the-scene report
Politics and Gaming -- imagine applesauce on a potato
If you've had a potato smothered in applesauce, then disregard the attempt at two very different things that would not seem to mesh together in the subject line. If not, you know what you're in for: more ignorant crap from the old people in Congress who know nothing about the culture of gaming. Let's talk about the "Truth in Video Game Rating Act". This act, if passed, would require the ESRB or any other game-rating agency to play through all content in a game before issuing a rating. It also punishes developers for hiding or misrepresenting content. This is inherently stupid because the bill doesn't understand modern games and how they differ from a movie or TV show. How many of us have played through every single ounce of content in our games? Very few. It's a difficult task -- time consuming like nothing else (imagine having to do every single little thing in World of Warcraft from every angle, getting every item... talk about hell). Besides, online gaming has made rating the content of a game increasingly difficult, since other players like to curse and be quite rude (well, it is easier to put others down when no consequences are presented). Home-brew added content is also to be considered... that changes the experience significantly. What do you guys think? Is this a terrible, terrible idea by Congress or what?
ESRB needs exposure, change
Next-Gen's Aaron Ruby editorializes that the ESRB needs major change, saying that the rating system has too many confusing options that are best suited to movies instead of games. (Is there a clear difference between "mild violence," "intense violence," and "violence?" Is it measured in volume?) The site follows up with Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley's response, saying that Next-Gen got part of it right -- the game industry needs to be proactive and speak for itself.Ruby and Smedley agree that the ESRB doesn't do enough to educate parents and non-gamers about games. We've seen the Penny Arcade ESRB campaign in PC Gamer and other enthusiast magazines, but we want to find ESRB ads in mainstream publications and on prime-time TV. As Smedley notes, the game industry needs to speak for itself if it doesn't want the Jack Thompsons to speak for it.Read - Opinion: Is the ESRB Broken?Read - COUNTERPOINT: ESRB Not the Problem
Proposed legislation: ESRB must complete every game
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) has proposed a bill that would require the ESRB to play games in their entirety before providing a rating. This, like so much other legislation, establishes how little the government knows about games, making us concerned when it tries to legislate gaming.The punch-line, as you've guessed, is that there's not enough time for the ESRB to play every game. That's like asking a chef to make every possible meal before rating a restaurant. And how do you decide when an MMO, or even a repetitive game like Tetris, is complete?Under the current rating system, publishers provide the ESRB with video of the gameplay and detailed information about a game's content. The ESRB may also play the game, but the group relies most on publishers' full disclosure. If the publisher lies about the game, that company faces fines and the possibility that the ESRB won't rate its future releases. (Most major chains won't stock unrated titles.)Legislation like this, where our representatives don't understand the subject of their bills, makes us uncomfortable. We hope that logic will end this proposal, but logic seems to evaporate the closer we get to Congressional elections.[Via: Digg]
Metal Slug to feature "blood, blood and more blood"
Now that Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins has come and gone, it seems like I need a new lethally difficult 2D game to pine over. As previously revealed, the Metal Slug Collection will feature six Metal Slug games. IGN UK recently got some hands-on time with the game, and squealed in delight to see "blood, blood and more blood," as in the original Japanese release. (I wonder what the ESRB will have to say about that...) Although the game looks stunning on the PSP screen, the writer had a few concerns with the game. Firstly, it will be very short, considering how each game in the series clocks in at about an hour long. Although SNK is adding extras, they're limited to just concept art. Also, the load times seem unnecessarily long as of now (considering how this game isn't too technically advanced, the load times should be non-existant). Finally, the menu designs seem just slapped on together sloppily. Hopefully, SNK will fix these issues before the game releases in September.
Small Arms, big appetite
Don from Gastronaut Studios threw up an interesting poll concerning Small Arms ESRB ratings submission:What should happen when a character in Small Arms eats a meat item prepared from their own species? 1-Canniblism + 500 points2-Canniblism -500 points3-Lose health instead of gaining it4-Die in a pool of their own vomit.It does sort of highlight the absurd side of the ratings system.[Via K1lla's Xbox Domain][Thanks Joey]
"Violent Pac-Man" researcher responds
Yesterday we had a little fun with a piece written by About.com's Aaron Stanton, in which he critiqued a study done by Dr. Kimberly Thompson, an Associate Professor of Risk Analysis and Decision Science at Harvard. Thompson, creator of the Kid Risk Project, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives June 14 to suggest changes to the ESRB rating system. Dr. Thompson took time to respond to Stanton's piece and succumb to a Q&A.Her biggest issue came with the ESRB not playing games before issuing a rating, citing Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion as an example of a title found be more violent than initially rated. Thompson also regales stories of dealing with the ESRB and their accusations that her studies are flawed. You can read her testimony here (PDF file).Of her video game studies at the Kid Risk Project, Thompson has found suggestive themes (violence, sex, profanity) in games of all ratings. While you may find her definition of violence to be very broad compared to conventional wisdom, Thompson is an advocate of self-regulation. In regards to the "ultra-violent Pac-Man" study, Thompson writes,"I think that it is important to keep in mind is that games rated E are played by children as young as 2 and 3 years old, and the developmental psychology literature indicates that young children do not have the developmental capacity to distinguish reality from fantasy until approximately age 6 or 7 (of course this varies)."If you notice any hint of ill temper, please understand that she feels her work and research has been misconstrued. We appreciate that Dr. Thompson took time out of her schedule to respond as cordial as possible.
Public Service Announcements for the ESRB!
Live in Georgia? Watch TV? Soon you will be subject to the exciting Public Service Announcements brought to you by celebrities in their decline. Or rolling text. These PSA's will try to explain the extremely complicated video game rating system to parents and children, encouraging the former to check the ratings for every game they purchase for the latter. Oh, and you can't escape by not watching the TV. It's on the radio too.Don't worry about the research the ESRB team had done that revealed more than 80% of parents are aware of the ESRB system and take it into consideration when they purchase games. Georgia tax dollars are still going to get used and it may be for the best. This all relates back to the bill being proposed to challenge the effectiveness of the independant rating system. If people aren't exposed and aware of the rating system and if the ESRB doesn't stop getting in trouble (Hot Coffee Mod, Oblivion getting changed from a T to M rating), then we might get a government enforced rating system. Would you rather have the government establish a standard rating system (which would probably coincide closer to the MPAA just for convenience), or keep the current system?
Georgia to educate parents on game ratings
Problem: Children are getting their hands on violent video games.Potential government solutions: You can propose unconstitutional laws preventing the games from being sold to minors. You can propose big-brother style federal oversight of a private, self-regulatory body. Or, if you're smart like the state of Georgia, you can work to educate the parents that make an overwhelming majority of game purchases.Gamasutra is reporting that the ESRB has partnered with Georgia State Attorney General Thurbert Baker to create public service announcements explaining the game rating system to parents and reminding them to check the rating before making a purchase. The ads, which will appear on TV and radio, are bound to be more effective than the ESRB's annoying in-store video ads where Derek Jeter and Tiger Woods remind you that they are sports stars and you are not. Here's hoping this ushers in a new era of cooperation over combativeness between the industry and the government.
State loses case against videogames and taxpayers pay bills
Something called the Safe Games Illinois Act was shot down in, you guessed it, Illinois, recently. The Act would have banned the sale of violent videogames in the state. Re-read that sentence and check your nose. Is it bleeding from the affliction "mind-numbingly ignorant and stupid"? Not only was the proposition denied, but it was deemed unconstitutional. Here's the kicker: the state of Illinois has to pay the Electronics Software Association over half a million dollars in attorny fees. If you live in Illinois -- that's your tax money being tossed around. That sucks. Other pieces of the proposal were also denied but weren't quite as laughable. Posting an explanatory ESRB table in stores isn't too extreme, but forcing retailers to do it is. No one would look at it anyway, really. The judge held back his own laughter and sad that, ultimately, "If controlling access to allegedly 'dangerous' speech is important in promoting the positive psychological development of children, in our society that role is properly accorded to parents and families, not the State." If Illinois did pass the act into law and violent videogames were banned, what's to stop violent movies? Angry music? Cursing? Tripping old people? Okay, maybe not that. But it seriously was a very unfair thing to do, State of Illinois, and making the taxpayers (and violent game players) pay for the cost of the trial is really, really lame.
