December 5, 2007
We'll say it again:Politics makes strange bedfellows.
Yesterday, an ESRB press release trumpeted yet another partnership with a state-level politician. This time it is State Senator Glenn Coffee (R) who is teaming up with the video game industry's content rating board on a parental awareness program.
In partnering with the ESRB Coffee follows in the footsteps of the governor of Washington as well as the attorneys general of Utah, Georgia, Rhode Island, and Idaho.
The fascinating thing about Coffee's new friendship with the ESRB is that he was one of the sponsors of Oklahoma's 2006 video game law, a measure bitterly opposed by the industry. Coffee's version passed the Oklahoma Senate 47-0 enroute to approval by Gov. Brad Henry. The law was ultimately ruled unconstitutional by a federal court judge.
What a difference a year - and a losing court battle - makes. Coffee is quoted in yesterday's ESRB press release:
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.
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.
And here's some bonus political intrigue:
The ESRB released the news of its partnership with Coffee on the same day that the National Institute on Media and the Family appeared in Washington, D.C. to spank the video game industry in its Annual Video Game Report Card.
Think that was a coincidence?
Oklahoma's KSBI-52 has a video news report.
Comments
Still, the more of them that recognize this move as common sense and the irrational fear of "teh videos" as just that, the easier it will be to relegate those who don't to the back room where they'll have no influence amongst the general populace.
Just me or is the world going to end soon? A politian talking sense must be a sign of this! Wish this would happen in the UK.
I'm so sorry for making this very bad joke, but it reminds me a certain mod for GTA : San Andreas so much... :D
Apparently, the botched Video Game Act has forced Senator Coffee to wake up and smell the, well, coffee.
While it's tempting to assume this is probably another political stunt to boost his ratings, I think it'll be better to see where this goes during the PSA.
On the other hand, I have to ask - why isn't Coffee focusing his attention on more pressing concerns, such as health care, education, and other whatnots?
Not to sound rude, but video game ratings are sort of peanuts compared to the other problems we're looking at on the national scale.
;)
-translation-
"After I attempted to take the blame away from parents and undermine the importance of their responsibility, I figured out that the simple fact is that there’s no substitute for parental involvement and responsibility."
It's like someone pissing into the wind who has only just realised why their trousers are getting wet and turned around. Hopefully not every politician will have to sponsor some piece of garbage bill that fails before they realise the way forward. With a bit of luck, more and more of these people will recognise the pattern and just skip to the promotion of parental responsibility and education part.
I really hope that this has a strong effect on the state.
Now if HB 2031 will just die so I can be happy.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
Dennis,
"In partnering with the ESRB Coffee follows in the ..."
I think there is supposed to be a comma between "ESRB" and "Coffee". Normally, I don't bring it up, but it kinda made me laugh and wonder if there was an event or organization called "ESRB Coffee" that the senator was partnering with. And I thought such an event or organization such as "ESRB Coffee" would have been absolutely hilarious. :)
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
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.
He's just trying another avenue to make it look like he's accomplishing something "for the children", only this time it'll actually be constitutional, effective, and he won't end up with egg on his face.
Honestly, even if he is just trying to put a new spin on his Quest For Publicity And Votes, I don't care as long as he's getting the message right.
(Sorry, I've been reading on the crusades recently (and playing Assassin's Creed)).
The conspiracy grows, right, Jack? What? How much they payed him to join them? I'll ask when I get the chance.
Wait... what? A politician actually using such unheard of concepts such as parental involvement and responsibility instead of the sky is falling video games are going to destroy us all approach. Surely, this is a sign of the apocalypse.
polititicans can make sence HOLY CRAP its the apocalypse
Fangamer
I challenge parents to take one more step: read about the games. There are many review sites that have comprehensive reviews of these games as well as screen shots and game play footage.
You know what would be crazy? If the parents rented the game first and played it themselves.
http://www.esrb.org/about/news/downloads/ESRB_Coffee_brochure_2007.pdf
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
But sadly, some will never understand, peoples like Jack "Annoying and you're not" Thompson.
And, to be quite fair, the guy seems to have the gist of it. Parents take care, stores follow the rating guidelines...
Alarmingly, common sense seems to have broken out. This is a disturbing trend...