Interesting as this comes out. It's one way of turning the liberal media around and getting more positive things coming out of things, but it does somewhat shoot down indie developers working on "excessively" violent projects. And saying that all films are Quentin Tarantino films is just plain funny.

While i am totally against any form of government regulation, restrictions and censorship of Free Speech material i DO believe when it comes to government subsities (bad spelling i know) or incentives, they do have the right to decide whether or not they want to help fund a project due to it's content.
This is not censorship in my opinion as it does not bar the creation or distribution of the games in question, it just makes so that the state doesn't have to fund your project with taxpayer's money if they happen to find it offensive. When they want to start banning, censoring, restricting or regulation video games altogether, then i'll be pissed, as that would be a violation of the First Amendment and Free Speech.

What's wrong with Quentin Tarantino movies?

@DoggySpew

That's actually a very interesting point you got there. It is a kind of anti-violent game legislation if you think about it, but then again it's not really doing anything AGAINST Texas game companies, retailers, players, or developers.

It just says "If you make a game that's not over the top violent and doesn't stereotype Texans and Texas, then we can give you some extra cash to make the game."

The thing that concerns me most is the quote:

"The state will be allowed to pick and choose projects, eliminating those that have “inappropriate content” or are “obscene.” - Austin American-Statesman.

So let's say a game is submitted for funding, and it comes back from the state as "Obscene" in the denial for funding. Now basically, there is no punishment for receiving that label since the game can still be made and no movements will be made to restrict the game's sales.

But it still gets called "obscene" by the state! The STATE! Does that mean that this label qualifies it as non-protected speech then? I can understand the state not sponsoring a game based on what they call "Inappropriate Material", but to all out call a game, or part of a game, "obscene" from a GOVERNMENTAL standpoint could be harmful.

If the state calls a game obscene, even with no action taken against the game, does that mean the game is now no-longer protected by free speech and therefore falls under the same restrictions placed on pornography?

THAT is what I want to know.

Other than that, everything else seems okay.

~Otaku-Man

Interesting, although I don't like how they treat games and movies differently.

I just hope Retro Studios doesn't go for this should they make something original after Corruption.

@DoggySpew
I'd agree with Otakuman, it's not really unconstitutional. They're offering incentives for making certain games, not banning them.

@JQuilty
I think the same restrictions fall on movies as well.

I *wish* all films were Quentin Tarantino films. Or at least that level of quality. Amusing comparison actually.

That said, i do wonder about the constitutioness of this. I'm guessing no problem but hey, I'm not even American, let alone a constitutional lawyer, so what would i know? Could be interesting if it becomes seen as promoting certain *religious* values...

On a side note - does anyone know if the sims 2 DS was interesting at all?

This bill doesn't seem to restrict violence. Indeed, if it did, nothing would get the grant. All stories are driven by conflict. Shakespeare, movies, video games, books, the Bible, even history. I'm guessing they wouldn't give the grant to games like God of War and GTA.

Still, would a game like Final Fantasy (take your pick), Tekken, or Shadow of the Colossus qualify? Sure, none of those games would need it and they'd laugh at 250 thousands dollars to create them, but would they qualify as obscene or inappropriate? There's a woman in Georgia who has been trying to have the Harry Potter books removed from her public school because they promote witchcraft (she's never read any of them). Reading some of the parent reviews on CSM for various games and shows is almost laughable what some people are offended by.

So the question remains: How will the review board decide what to give a grant to?

to be fair, this is Texas. their standards for violence are slightly more lenient than, say, California.

make a shoot-em-up that involves playing as a Texas Ranger (historical or Norrisian), and you'll be fine.

I don't see how this program could be considered unconstitutional, and I wouldn't think less of any developer who took advantage of it. Selling out is selling out, whether it's to the market forces that drive mega-publishers or to the moral sensibilities of tax-paying Texans.

I don't live in Texas and it's not my place to question the tax-dollar funding of this project, but I am reminded of all that business with Robert Maplethorpe and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Considering myself culturally liberal, I'm in favor of any exposure to new art and ideas. Considering myself a libertarian, however, I'm against any government funding of private or commercial art.

I'd always figured Texas to be friendlier to the libertarians than to the culturally liberal. Maybe I need to reconsider that…?

Isn't there a large group of game devs in the Austin are some times referred to as the Austin mafia. Isn't id software one of them?

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To all you who think this applies to only games:

IT APPLIES TO ALL MEDIA THE BILL APPLIES TO. THAT MEANS MOVIES, GAMES, TELEVISION SHOWS AND COMMERCIALS. IT IS NOT JUST FOR GAMES.

Sorry for the yelling, but people complain without reading the bill and that just annoys me.

@verbinator

Sorry Its Dallas mafia, was thinking about something else when typing that.

You've got to be kidding me.
I hope game companies just give him the finger.

And making fun of Texans is quite popular in America these days.

Father Time, we have plenty of crazy laws here in Texasand some aren't even enforced. I think by the time it comes for another game to be developed, the law may be forgotten, or the leniency will grow and such a title will be allowed to apply for the grant. The fact is, if the company is successful, they will likely accept the title.

$250,000 would be good for a small company, but it isn't that bad for a company like Retro Studios.

The only thing I'd worry about, is how the term "very violent" can be applied to some games. If a head got cut off, but no blood came out, how would they dub that?
What if some doll dismemberment happened in the game during production.

That's all that would confuse me about this. However, considering some laws that are deemed stupid still exist here, and aren't enforced that contractual obligation may just vanish in a decade or less.

@ Father Time

From the wording of the bill, it sounds like it could be for every game you make. I will have to read it again to be sure, but that is how it sounds.

From my take on the bill, developers in Texas that make offensive games will be exactly as they always were, no help from the state, but no harm either. Only the developers that make non-offensive games, and all other movies aparently, will get the grants. Sure, it is unfair that violent movies can get the grant that violent games can't, but, it's a start, right?

ok so ive been working on a game thats not violent how do i sign up for this?

@ChadaChada

Read the freakin' bill. The no offensive stuff applies to all forms of media the rest of the bill applies to. So a really violent movie will not receive state funding.

How many times do I have to say this to you people. READ THE BILL!!!!

Thought as much. While this website was stupidly celebrating the original bill, I was telling ya'll that with government money comes government regulations. The industry and the country are better off without subsidies for favored and easily controlled insustries.

Don't invite government in. It won't want to leave!

@ John

Fine you can go along and play by your self, while I go andd make games with free money from the government.

The bill requires the office to consider “general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the citizens of Texas”

Hmm. Perhaps its a little late for snark, but, Texas is pretty froggin' diverse. How on earth are they going to make a game that simultaneously acknoweldges gay relationships to respect the beliefs of gay Texans, and also promotes child abuse to respect the beliefs of Texas Republicans?