@ Jack Thompson

It looks like no store would sell Manhunt 2 to your son yet.

Now you will not be able to use that as an excuse to violate my amendment right to play a game like Manhunt 2 if I want.

@ Colonel Finn: True, but at least it's another attempt to keep a line between us and the game-hating community. But how long do you think it will take for them to cross it?

@ Jack Thompson: Get a haircut.

Anyone else think the guy in the pic looks like Gordon Freeman from Half Life 2?

@ Shoehorn

while it is true that the ESRB already does it, they don't really explain the context of the content, at least not in the way a paragraph of information could.

for example, Halo 3 has the content descriptor "Blood and Gore"
what it doesn't explain, is that 98% of it is blue and green alien blood.

As has already been said, GamerDad already does this very well.

Still, every little bit helps. Eventually, people will find their preferred site.

I'm still waiting for an overall media version (TV, Movies, books, music, as well as video games). And I mean an intelligent version like GamerDad's or the one proposed here. Not the "morally superior 'do it our way or you're bad Parents'" of the PTC and the Organizaed Crime organization, the CSM.

Nightwng2000
NW2K Software

we've got a week before Mass Effect comes out and the poopie hits the proverbial fan (I listen to VCPR A LOT). While it's pretty cool that a game has a well blocked, but for the most part uncensored, (I didn't see anything covering up the alien's naughty parts but shadows) lesbian sex scene (that's an oxymoron if ever I've seen one), we ALL know SOMEONE'S gonna find that offensive. Not a man though, men's brains are somewhat powered down by the concept of lesbians, I'm no exception.

Hey! Its Gordon Freeman!

Hey, this can't hurt. One can never have too much accurate information. You never hear someone complain that they know too much about something to make an informed decision. He's a former video game magazine editor, so I doubt he'll attempt to ban any games.

@ video game time & Luigi

No need to bring him up. He's not made any comments and this story is unrelated to it.

I've been waiting anxiously to see John's new project, and was immediately interested to see how it would turn out when I first found out what it was going to be. It's a much needed service, honestly - and as people who grew up with games turn into parents, it's simply great that they'll have some way to check out games before letting their kids loose on them, so to speak. The ESRB, while a necessary and functioning(?) program, simply does not provide the insight that I think Davison's company aims to. Great job, and good luck to him.

Well, I'm looking at it this way ,there's one more resource parents have no excuse not to use, thus further proving willful ignorance over slimey sales tactics.

Sorry for the double post...

@ everyone

Well, it turns out I was right. Jack Thompson is still alive and that he didn't give up. Jack Thompson did his stupid stunt, again.

@jack thompson, attorney

That's not an industry problem, that's a retail problem. The gaming industry just makes the game, what happens to the software after it leaves the distribution center has nothing to do with the developers themselves.

@jack thompson

When have you ever said parents are ill-informed. Oh wait, your talking about the statement he never made, that the industry is purposely selling games to minors.

He started the site to inform parents, the ones that are too lazy to research games before they let their kids play them. You know, what gamers have been saying for the past 10 years.

This is a great idea, I'm all for sites providing detailed content analysis for parents provided they don't use it as a watch dog group or call for the industry's heads when they find objectionable content. Most importantly, a website should use facts of the game, and the game in its unaltered form, to make these judgements.

They should provide the ESRB rating, and then augment it with what they observed in the game, or say they don't agree with the rating and back it up with facts. Most watchdogs like Common Sense Media will just say "well its uber violet and should be an AO" doesn't cut it. Cite specific evidence from the retail, unmodified version of the game (no PSP Manhunt hacks) and give your reasoning behind that.

Obviously there are games not designed for children, but they have to get an M rating in order to get published. Not to beat a dead horse, but if the big 3 allowed AO games and stores offered to sell them (even under the counter, and only with proof of age which is 18+) that would make sure that games that truely deserve an AO get it, and the industry and manufacturers support and enforce that rating.

@E. Zachary

Nah I truely doubt it would be competition. A parent looking to get informed would most likely read both and then weigh the pro's and cons. I think it would be great if both sites linked to each other with something like a "Would you like a second opinion?". Though of course the number of parents looking to get informed is the true problem here...

@ somerguy

I meant it in jest. I had hoped the smiley would have been a clue. As the rest of my post says, the more quality tools the better.

@jack
In the world of Jack Thompson, every child in America is at risk of being tied down and forced to play Manhunt 2 by roving bands of R* games developers.

This site, on the other hand, seeks to inform parents that buying violent games for their children is a bad idea, even if they whine and cry.

Also, Jack... ever think that you're making the problem worse by drawing less-than-ethical parents to the notion that they could buy games for "Lil' Billy" that will make him go crazy, then sue the companies for profit?

In America, land of child stars and high-pressure youth sports, you can't discount that there would be parents who listen to you and make the wrong choices because of it.

@Jack Thompson:

"Glad to see that yet another person in the video game industry has figured out what I said eight years ago on 60 Minutes is accurate–that the industry should stop selling mature games to kids behind their parents’ backs."

You are wrong as usual. This man has figured out, like the rest of us, that the issue lies with parents who don't realise that video games are not all for kids and some are inappropriate. This man's new site is to give parents the information they need so that they don't buy the wrong games for their kids.

Also, you are incorrect regarding the industry selling games behind parent's backs. It is the the children who are buying the games or getting their hands on them by the other means behind their parent's backs.

Is it 8 years ago already? Wow, you'd think you would have learned since then... Try reading this new site, it might help you understand the real issues at hand, instead of viewing everything in light of your personal and petty vendetta against Take Two.

"Glad to see that yet another person in the video game industry has figured out what I said eight years ago on 60 Minutes is accurate–that the industry should stop selling mature games to kids behind their parents’ backs. Hooah!"


Wrong as usual Jack. He said that parents need to be educated so they can make the decision about what games are proper for their homes. Never did he say that hack lawyers should make that decision for them.

Also as far as Mr. Davison's website, I applaud anyone who attempts to educate parents on this matter. Though Gamerdad has been doing this for years now.

If EGM can't even provided an objective review on Oblivon, a game with massive glareing flaws (none of which there review even mentions), how can they be objective with this?

Anyone else think the guy in the pic looks like Gordon Freeman from Half Life 2?

Damn it, I was going to say that but you beat me to it.

@JT

You're misinterpreting the story, as usual, though we have yet to figure out if it is from malicious intent or mere stupidity. This is a guy basically making a review site for parents, with an emphasis on content. He isn't advocating anything for retailers, he's just going more in-depth than "M for Mature". Further, the video game industry has nothing to do with who buys their games - that is a retailer issue.

@everyone who thinks he is gordon

Yes, that is also what i first thought. A movie you should see is also 9th gate. Depp looks alot like gordon in that movie as well.


@dennis

Hey i got a great idea for you. Next time there is any new about that guy.. call him by his real name. :D

@ JT

"Glad to see that yet another person in the video game industry has figured out what I said eight years ago on 60 Minutes is accurate–that the industry should stop selling mature games to kids behind their parents’ backs. Hooah!"

1. THEY'RE. NOT. IDIOT.

2. I never saw a 'Take Two' store anywhere in my local mall, did you? Then quit saying the industry is selling them.

@Jack Thompson
For the last time M-Rated games are not marketed to kids. I don't see Halo 3 commercials on Cartoon Network or Nick. So get a life and worry about your own kid.

P.S. How about you answer my question, check it out on the comments section about the Finland shooting story.

P.S.S. Stop saying things about Dennis.

The Industry does not control who the games are sold to, also when ever I buy a M-Rated game I am always asked for ID even though i'm 20.

While I think that sites like this and GamerDad's are great, the way I see it they're pretty much only a minor help. Here's why. I work in a small office, we have 7 employees, and I'm the only gamer and the only person without kids. None of the other people in the office know anything about the internet and even less about games, yet they all buy their kids any game the kid asks for. And I'm thinking this is the majority for most parents. How many of us have made a comment about games and been looked at like we just started talking in Swahili?

While sites like this one well be helpful to net savvy parents who bother to look for help and want to be informed, the majority will never know more than what their kids tell them, or what the network news might mention if the game is controversial enough. Sadly, it's not a lack of resources for information, I think they just don't care. One of my coworkers has an 11yo son, she bought him Halo3, now while I don't see much of a problem based on knowing her and the kid (he watches plenty of R rated movies as long as there's no nudity, you crazy yanks) but she didn't even have a clue about it's rating until I told her that it was M, and that it really wasn't a kids game. Her response seemed to echo what JT's crusade implies, "Games are made for kids, aren't they." I told her that has never really been the case, and just a major misconception that all games are for kids. I told her that while Halo was pretty tame (I'm still not sure why it's not T rated) but to be careful in the future. But she's what I think is typical of a lot of parents out there. They think games are just for kids, and that all games are ok for kids.

This is why I think the industry needs to sponsor public service announcements to run in prime time on the major broadcast stations, telling parents about the ratings system, and reinforcing the idea that they shouldn't just buy any game that their munchkin asks for. Education is the key but just having it available to parents looking for it, isn't going to suffice.

@HollywoodBob

I get what you're saying. The issue about mature videogames being sold at children is mostly because of the parent's ignorance. And sadly, ignorance is often the tool of activists. My mother was much more careful. Once, my friend allowed me to burrow Mortal Kombat 4 (I was 11 at the time). My parents were a little suspicious, so my father played the game before giving a "no" (I later played the game and found it boring and hollow). Since then, I refused to play another game "unsuitable" for me (yes, I checked the ratings for myself) until I was 15.

And I never thought I'd see a person as delusional (or else, he just like to twist facts to adapt them to his vision of the world (like Gehn in Riven)) as Jack Thompson in a lifetime.

@Masterofpsi

He won't make such a site because that kind of site undermines what he wants, to get famous, force his morality on others, deprive people of media he doesn't approve of, and would deprive him of the bully rush he gets.

@Internet Hate Machine

Finnaly someone that gets it.

To everyone who keeps saying he looks like Gordan Freeman, he actually looks nothing of the sort. If you watched the 1up show (which every half gamer should) you'd know this guy like your best mate. I'll miss him from the show (and the podcast - 1upyours) but it's great to see him still keeping buisness.

Davison was one of the best and most popular game journalists in the world. I hope he returns to Ziff in a few years.