Bad news for gamers.

[the_Prisoner]

hehe

I should add that people in the US have been thrown in jail for using their rights of free speech. Their is a law that was even created around World War One that prohibited speaking out against the war, now if I could remember the name of it but I would be glad to find out. I just need to look through my books. But then again all we need is too look back on civil rights and the suffergette movements.

the Prisoner

I'm not a number, I'm a free man! 😡

 

[Steven21]

here's an update to the article i posted above..........

"A federal judge on Thursday issued an order postponing enforcement of a Washington state law designed to restrict the sale of violent video games to minors. The law was set to take effect from July 27 and would have imposed a $500 fine on anyone who sold a video game depicting violence against law enforcement officers to minors under age 17. Reuters reports that the judge in the case wrote in his order that "plaintiffs have raised serious questions regarding the constitutionality of House Bill 1009." Washington state Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson - the Democrat who wrote the law - had said recently that any injunction would only be preliminary and that she expected the case to go to trial. The law was criticized by game industry groups who said it was too vague and unconstitutionally restricted the free expression of game publishers."

Article from Adrenailne Vault.Com

 

[Gastrian]

Good news is that Europe has ruled that no censorship can be applied to games but that age restrictions still apply...sort've. It's very confusing at the moment.

There's 3 certifcates in Britain. BBFC, which is what's put on movies, you only ever see 12, 15 and 18. It is illegal to sell the item to anyone under that age with or without their parents consent. It only makes up between 5-10% of all games in Britain though and we just tell the adult to pay for it.

Then there's ELSPA which is a European certificate with 3+, 11+, 15+ and 18+ certificates, it's a guideline based on content and difficulty. Crtain games get an 11+ purely because it's assumed it's not suitable for a child under that age and while it's legally binding an underage person is entitled to buy it with their parent/ Guardian's permission.

There's a new one called PEGI which is to replace ELSPA and once again it's european, you have 3+, 7+, 11+, 16+ and 18+, this is purely guideline and is NOT legally binding. That's right a 2 1/2 yr old kid can come in and buy an 18+ rated game under PEGI guidelines. Supposedly it's too help adults when purchasing games for their children. I've had 8 yr olds come in with their parents and show them the GTA VC game with the 18 BBFC certificate on the box and tell mommy they want it and mommy pays for it blissfully unaware what the hell the game is.