Utah ESRB PSA Campaign Interview

[JCalCGM]

FiringSquad chats with Utah's attorney general Mark Shurtleff and ESRB president Patricia Vance about their recent plan to promote and educate the video game ratings system to people in the state of Utah. You can check out the interview right here (http://www.firingsquad.com/news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=11525). Here is a snip:
FiringSquad: Mr. Shurtleff, you have called yourself a gamer and as you may know some recent US House of Represenatives called themselves gamers in a recent hearing when it was clear they were nothing of the sort. Can you give us your background in terms of your video and PC gaming experience and what games you are currently playing?

Mark Shurtleff: Am I a "gamer?" You decide (keeping in mind I am quite busy with my elected office, father and church duties): For Christmas my kids got me Call of Duty 2 and during that week I did several all-nighters single-handily re-winning all the great battles of World War II (last year for my birthday I had the same experience with HALO II.) In March I picked up Call of Duty 2 for X-Box 360 and had a whole new experience. We have five gaming systems: PC (actually two that are both configured for enhanced gaming); X-Box 360; Nintendo 64; Game Cube and PS2. I love playing the various Mario Party games because I and my 14, 12 and 9 year olds can play together and compete... So, while there are a lot better gamers and gamers who have a lot more time than I do to play, whether I meet your definition of "gamer," you'll have to tell me.

[GunnyMo]

Finally! Finally, we have someone in a position of governmental power and influence (yeah, it's Utah but it's a start) on our side who isn't a moron. Someone who knows games and understands that they are entertainment and not Hitler. I see this as a very positive step.

Thank you, Mr. Shurtleff!

[Lord Dongkey]

Finally! Finally, we have someone in a position of governmental power and influence (yeah, it's Utah but it's a start) on our side who isn't a moron. Someone who knows games and understands that they are entertainment and not Hitler. I see this as a very positive step.

Having been raised in (and abandoned) a very selective religious sect here in the US that shall remain nameless for the moment, I'd just like to point out that (to me) it really seems like almost anything that comes out of Utah is immediately dismissed by the mainstream media, politics, and entire world.

Because it's Utah.

Unless of course it's a kidnapping, a scandal, polygamy uprising, some, ahem, religious official who was a bit careless when making a press release, you know, the works.

[GunnyMo]

I agree with you, Lord. But the words "Attorny General" usually get peoples attention. In our very lawyer-centric society an AG is seen as "authority" by the masses, ignorant though they may be.

[mikeohara]

I agree with you, Lord. But the words "Attorny General" usually get peoples attention. In our very lawyer-centric society an AG is seen as "authority" by the masses, ignorant though they may be.

agreed. there need to be more people like this in office versus some of the old-school politicians who don't know shit when it comes to games and the ESRB.

[absolut taco]

In other news, Mark Shurtleff was excommunicated from the Mormon Church for playing M-rated games (Halo 2). :D

[TheKeck]

In other news, Mark Shurtleff was excommunicated from the Mormon Church for playing M-rated games (Halo 2). :D
Oh man, I guess I better start worrying about my membership too! :rolleyes: :p

[absolut taco]

Oh man, I guess I better start worrying about my membership too! :rolleyes: :p
Just don't go public about it, or tell your bishop! ;)

[F3nyx]

As a supporter of free-market principles, I generally believe in less government control, legislation and litigation. When our legislature got close to passing a bill criminalizing the sale of "violent" video games to minors, my office got involved and educated them about the various court decisions striking down similar laws in other states and warned them that there was a strong possibility that this proposed law would suffer a similar fate. When several legislators expressed their constituents concerns that something had to be done, I responded that a proven and effective method of protecting our children was to educate them and their parents about the very effective and helpful ESRB ratings system. Having developed a close working relationship with Gail Markels and others at the ESA, I mentioned my desire to try and do a public educational push and they jumped on the idea and filmed and then placed PSAs. We held a great press conference that got lots of publicity and the bottom line, more parents are learning the system and ... being parents.I've never seen such reasonable and clearheaded statements on gaming from a government official. This guy gets a solid hell yeah from me. He's in position to greatly improve the gaming industry's public image.

[Deathbane27]

As a supporter of free-market principles, I generally believe in less government control, legislation and litigation. When our legislature got close to passing a bill criminalizing the sale of "violent" video games to minors, my office got involved and educated them about the various court decisions striking down similar laws in other states and warned them that there was a strong possibility that this proposed law would suffer a similar fate.

He's like a Libertarian in disguise. :) He still doesn't balance out Orrin Asshatch though.

[Johan]

Where's all the fun controversy and argument here? Dang it all; Shurtleff had to go and be reasonable on the issue. Oh well, moving right along (no political/social car wreck here to rubberneck over)...

Afterthought: It is just a matter of time before one of these so-called game-laws passes and is upheld somewhere...such is the logic of legislation and jurisprudence; it only takes one (look at gay marriage in MA) and the landscape changes.