Politicians Supporting ESRB? Why?

[Ultima Thulian]

A quick change of the guard is often disorienting. And dubious. Take for example the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB). This group isn't unfamiliar with taking heat from politicians, many of who are ones known for sponsoring prohibitive or restrictive gaming legislature and practices. So how odd it must be to see the ESRB and said politicians getting along so well as of late. (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3164814)

Over the last week, at least three prominent US politicians have pulled a surprise 180-degree attitude realignment in regards to the ratings board. More interesting is the defecting senators have been long-time opponents of the game industry, each unsuccessfully sponsoring restrictive or prohibitive anti-gaming legislation in their home territories at one time or another.

Christmas spirit? 1up thinks it to be unlikely, as does GamePolitics (http://gamepolitics.com/2007/12/05/oklahoma-politician-who-authored-video-game-law-is-now-esrbs-pal/), specifically, Sen. Coffee's recent support of the ESRB.

As part of the Oklahoma ratings awareness campaign, Coffee will appear in a televised public service announcement (PSA). As GamePolitics has pointed out before, that’s a good deal for a political figure since the ESRB pays the production cost of the commercial and TV stations provide free air time because it’s a public service announcement.

What a coinky-dink! Why is that bullshit always leaves behind a green paper trail?

[Returner]

You are reading too much into this Politicians are here to help and serve us.

[Thumper]

If it raises more awareness for the ESRB it can't be a bad thing. I'm all for violent videogames, just don't sell them to kids (or let parents buy them for kids!). I don't think many in our community want 10 year olds playing Soldier of Fortune, it's just the ways non-gamers try to limit our pastime that pisses us off. If it takes some cash changing hands to do this it doesn't matter to me.

"As a father, I know about the tough decisions parents face today about the media they allow into their homes. The simple fact is that there’s no substitute for parental involvement and responsibility. It’s important that parents play an active role in choosing games for their children, just as it’s important for Oklahoma retailers to comply with their store policies that restrict the sale or rental of M-rated games to those under 17.

ESRB ratings are an effective and informative resource that allows parents to decide if the video game their child wants is appropriate. I’m proud to be educating parents in our state about the tools at their disposal."

I agree with everything he says. Maybe there's some shadowy less-than-ethical reasons behind it, but it's the end result that will affect us and that will ultimately make an impact.

[Johan]

Let me see now: Either the gaming industry, and the ESRB, have an oppositional relationship to the individuals who write the laws of the land in the United States...

OR

the ESRB and the gaming industry does everything it can to work within the political system of the U.S., like every other industry, to further its goals.

Boy, that's a tough choice! This is horrible news! :D

[VTMarik]

Well, lobbying is one of those things that may irk some of us, but remember:
The good guys are doing lobbying too, since it's the way to get things done.

You may not like the practice, but if the game's monetary why not pony up if ya got it?

[Ultima Thulian]

These politicians blasted ESRB every chance they got, talking about how "poorly" done it is, and how "lax" it was (Hot Coffee, Manhunt 2, etc etc etc etc).

Now, with a little cash, it's like "ESRB IZ AWESUM" - Senator Dickhead.

Yes, I realize this is common politics, but c'mon folks. It's sad.

And yes, more awareness for the ESRB can be a bad thing, just ask some of the senators (some who worked with Jack Thompson). You know, the ones that wanted to make sure everyone was aware that the ESRB was worthless and run by evil people that wanted to warp children's' minds.

Again, I'll repeat, it is common practice, and isn't surprising. But it's bad nonetheless, and shouldn't be taken lightly. It's good to know, and things like this needs pushed. It is always good to know where the bullshit leads to.

[gojira]

Why is that bullshit always leaves behind a green paper trail?

Sorry that was just the Mexican food I had for dinner....

[Ultima Thulian]

Sorry that was just the Mexican food I had for dinner....

Shouldn't you be in the depths of Tokyo Bay somewhere?! :)

[KingGorilla]

I think it is a sign of those rare few politicians who actually do care finding the best way to help parents and kids. None of us here would argue that GTA or Halo are "good" for little kids, but we also know that the ESRB is pretty effective with major retailers at keeping that from happening.

[Loganrapp]

I think politicians are finally wising up to the whole, y'know, unconstitutionality of their superfluous anti-game legislation and want to take what victories they can. Especially with this coming election being presidential.

[Ultima Thulian]

I think politicians are finally wising up to the whole, y'know, unconstitutionality of their superfluous anti-game legislation and want to take what victories they can. Especially with this coming election being presidential.

Most logical thing in this thread thus far. You summed it up perfectly.

[Rock Bandit]

Senator Coffee? Shit, I like him already.

[Skyelan]

Senator Coffee? Shit, I like him already.

He's so happy with the ESRB because he was convinced the whole debacle a couple years back were people arguing over how sexually attractive he was.

[Purple Santa]

Now, with a little cash, it's like "ESRB IZ AWESUM" - Senator Dickhead.

Yes, I realize this is common politics, but c'mon folks. It's sad.



Cash = puppets...I mean politicians who will say anything you want them to. It is politics, and it's only sad until you realize reading history of all civilizations this is how it has been done. Those in power...you can pay them for your needs. Not one of the prettier traits of humans...but it's us :).

[civil_dead]

I'm here to support your use of coinky-dink. Just last night I did the "whoop whoop whoop" thing while spinning on the floor on my right shoulder.

Vive Le Stooge!

[Johan]

None of us here would argue that GTA or Halo are "good" for little kids...

This reminds me of an interesting issue I have with the whole ratings system. How is it possible that Halo and GTA are rated the same? Seriously; I couldn't care less if my kids see me running around in Halo, shooting aliens with purple blood flying around. It strikes me as pretty tame and "T" rated. GTA, on the other hand, is in a different realm from Halo in terms of content, as far as I'm concerned.

The system is too subjective. Sorry for the threadjack.

[Rafer]

I think this whole "crackdown on videogames" by politicians was a shakedown for money and campaign contributions from the start. They saw all the billions of dollars the industry was pulling in and they wanted a piece of it.

It's the same reason you don't hear politicians complaining about rap lyrics as much anymore, in the early nineties it was all about how awful "2 Live Crew" and "Bodycount" were and how Tipper Gore was going to come down hard once the Democrats got in power... but the music industry started supporting the Democrats more and the whole issue went away.

This reminds me of an interesting issue I have with the whole ratings system. How is it possible that Halo and GTA are rated the same? Seriously; I couldn't care less if my kids see me running around in Halo, shooting aliens with purple blood flying around. It strikes me as pretty tame and "T" rated. GTA, on the other hand, is in a different realm from Halo in terms of content, as far as I'm concerned.

It's the same problem with the movie industry, where a film like "Hostel" has the same rating as "Little Miss Sunshine". There are all these silly guidelines like if you say the word "Fuck" once it's a PG, say it twice it's an "R", so a film can have no sex or violence in it but get an R rating.

[Dirty Harry]

He's so happy with the ESRB because he was convinced the whole debacle a couple years back were people arguing over how sexually attractive he was.

that made me giggle.

[cepwin]

This reminds me of an interesting issue I have with the whole ratings system. How is it possible that Halo and GTA are rated the same? Seriously; I couldn't care less if my kids see me running around in Halo, shooting aliens with purple blood flying around. It strikes me as pretty tame and "T" rated. GTA, on the other hand, is in a different realm from Halo in terms of content, as far as I'm concerned.

The system is too subjective. Sorry for the threadjack.

Actually, I had been thinking the same thing. It makes sense that CoD4 and Mass Effect "M" but Halo seems definitely a "T". I can't speak too much to GTA as it's not my type of game (I don't like playing the "bad guy") but from everything I've heard about it, an "M" rating is appropriate. Ultimately parents will make the judgment. There are plenty of teens playing both Halo and CoD4 but I would parents are more cautious about GTA.

As for the Politicos, there are two factors. First, most of them aren't truly familiar with video games. Second, they'll take a position that will get them votes. Since they believe it's mostly Kids/Teens playing games and parents worry about games they'll take the "let's control games" position. Fortunately, unlike Great Britain, we have Constitutional protections. The key is getting courts to understand that Video games are as much an artistic expression as books, movies, etc. Fortunately, it appears judges are "getting it" based on how many of these bad laws (from a Constitutional perspective) were thrown out. Finally, I believe this is a temporary problem. Once the people in Congress, Senate and White House grew up playing video games it will become a non-issue

[LongStepMantis]

Surprise? Shit, politicians would openly campaign for Satan if the price was right.

[KingGorilla]

This reminds me of an interesting issue I have with the whole ratings system. How is it possible that Halo and GTA are rated the same? Seriously; I couldn't care less if my kids see me running around in Halo, shooting aliens with purple blood flying around. It strikes me as pretty tame and "T" rated. GTA, on the other hand, is in a different realm from Halo in terms of content, as far as I'm concerned.

The system is too subjective. Sorry for the threadjack.

All systems of rating have a degree of subjectivity and seem arbitrary. Why is it that you need to be a specific age to drive a car. Certainly there are many 13 year olds mature enough to handle learning to drive. At 17 you cannot do a lot of things, but once you are 18 you can buy a gun, move out of the house, and screw up an election or court case.

It won't be perfect, but you just illustrated how Parents can decide what is best for their kids. The ESRB is not saying what your kids should or should not play, they are just giving guidelines.

[Johan]

...they are just giving guidelines.

If their guidelines are so wide and arbitrary that a game like Halo has the same rating as a game like Manhunt 2, for example, then the information they're giving is nearly useless.

Using the car analogy, as you did, when you learn to drive you are told to stay within the lines and which side to drive on. The ESRB's wide latitude within particular rating scales is like telling people to drive anywhere on the pavement, regardless of the direction they're heading.

They need to be a bit more objective/precise. Halo and Manhunt 2 aren't even close. Not even in the same ballpark. It's useless guidance.

[nemyhlovecraft]

Why do the infrequent posters of news on EA alway think they're Lenny Bruce and end up sounding like Dane Cook?

[Ultima Thulian]

Why do the infrequent posters of news on EA alway think they're Lenny Bruce and end up sounding like Dane Cook?

Huh? I didn't even crack a joke...

The only thing I said was, "What a coinky-dink! Why is that bullshit always leaves a green paper trail." I wasn't joking, I was being serious. Other than that, everything else I said was quoted or paraphrased from the two news articles.

[Roc Ingersol]

Good for them.
Proper defense of the industry relies on playing the game.
It's not like the opponents of gaming aren't doing the same.

[vherub]

what is so difficult to nail down with a rating system is so easy for a parent to decide for their chlid