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Violent game-opposed National Institute on Media and the Family shuts down
If you've ever read a story we've written where some organization touts a piece of research "proving" the overwhelmingly negative effects video games have on youngsters, you've probably heard about the National Institute on Media and the Family. They're infamous for issuing typically low-scoring report cards to the ESRB and other entities in the gaming industry, and for propagating the values of the group's founder, psychologist David Walsh. However, it seems NIMF has executed its final evaluation -- according to the St. Paul-based Star Tribune, the organization will shutter its doors on Dec. 31. We bet some of you are overjoyed that the immeasurably critical group is shutting down -- however, without their constant panning, we expect violence in video games to grow unchecked within the next few months. Soon, every title, from Peggle to Viva Piñata, will be bogged down by excessive amounts of gore. All games will be federally required to contain guns. Titles from previous console generations which don't adhere to this rule will be destroyed, Fahrenheit 451 style. The industry will crash like a sack of lead bricks -- all because NIMF wasn't there to keep it in line. To quote Joni Mitchell, "Don't it always seem to go/ That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone."
ESRB reminds parents GTA IV isn't for children
The ESRB and National Institute on Media and the Family would like to remind (naïve) parents that Grand Theft Auto IV is not appropriate for children. In a joint statement by the two organizations, the groups point out GTA IV has been rated Mature for: Intense Violence, Blood, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Partial Nudity and Use of Drugs and Alcohol. What 12-year-old wouldn't beg to play that? It sounds awesome!The two organizations "encourage parents to be informed and exercise their discretion when considering the purchase of all M-rated games." The ESRB reminds that the average age of a gamer is now over 30 and that some titles are "clearly not intended" for kids. And GTA IV is clearly one of those games.
