Personally, I'm not worried about legislation like this. This changes nothing. Nothing make's it past the ESRB, and we've already got laws prohibiting M-rated sales to minors (if the store even allows that).

It's legislation in general. First of all, it's unconstitutional. Two, no other medium has legislation like this; what makes games any different. Three, most importantly, it's a slippery slope. We make sure every game has a rating, then we make sure there's parental controls, then we outlaw M-rated sales to minors. How much longer until we're outlawing M-ratings altogether? How soon will we be banning certain games, like those continents that have no concept of freedom? How much longer until we abandon everything we founded this country for?

And you can count on the ESA turning the other cheek on this one. Where's Doug Lowenstein when you need him?

If this gets signed into law, I guarantee the ink from the President's pen won't even be dry when this gets brought to the courts.

Down with Pong and Tetris!!!

Those evil ultra violent games have been destroying America for decades!!!

I would like to also thank the senator for recognising that games like Manhunts and GTAs are good wholesome family games...

Moving on, lets make jaywalking a capital offence!!!

So are internet distributed games or pc games excluded from this law or not?

I was under the impression this was similar to the NY law (parental controls, ratings on boxes, etc), but it seems more of the usual "fines for not enforcing ratings." It might be struck down (if passed) simply because it doesnt define what a "video game" is, and since it would illegal to sell anything that could be deemed one without a rating, it puts retailers in a tough position.

I hope it doesn't pass.  If it does, the ESA better call in the lawyers 'cause there are so many things wrong with this law.

It prohibts free speech for one thing and it'll also kill the Indie game movement, as others mentioned above.  Overall I think it's little more than a PR move by the Senators, but I'd hate to see this actually gain support.

*sigh*  And here I thought we could actually go a few months without some idiotic law like this.  Silly me.

Sorry for the double "you"

All you have to do is type in your zip code and the will give you a list of people who handle your area.

Then, you choose who you want to bother about the issue.

Does this mean if I make a videogame in my home and try to sell it out of the back of my car or whatever, that it is illegal?

Does that mean that this game would be illegal?

http://www.johnmccain.com/videogame/invaders/

If they get it through, then couldn't they could go flash games sites like Newgrounds?  I'm sure the PTC and several "parent groups" have wanted to find an opening to attack NG for years now.  The Torture Game 2 and VTech helped burn this desire even more.  Of course they couldn't because of a pesky little law we call free speech. :)

Also the MPAA allows DVDs to be released unrated, why can't we just keep the ratings voluntary?

The PTC is crossing the line to see if they can gain more power and the politicians are after fame and glory. (Sound familiar?) That's all it is, another attempt of greed on both ends and leaving the innocent crushed under their ignorant boot.

I just recived this from Senator Obama,

Thank you for your letter regarding video games. I appreciate hearing your views.

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) is currently charged with rating video games according to age appropriateness. However, many retailers do not stringently follow these ratings, which can rage from "E" for "everyone" to "AO" for "adults only. There has been some significant Congressional activity lately in response to growing concerns among parents that video games have become too sexually explicit and that violent content has been made too easily available to minors. Among these bills is the Family Entertainment Protection Act.

The central element of the Family Entertainment Protection Act is a prohibition against any business for selling or renting a Mature, Adults-Only, or Ratings Pending game to a person who is younger than seventeen. The bill also calls for an annual analysis of the video game rating system, and authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate misleading ratings. Under the bill the FTC would also be able to conduct annual, random audits of retailers – often referred to as ‘secret shopper surveys’ – to determine how easy it is for young people to purchase Mature and Adults Only video games. Finally, the bill gives consumers the authority to register complaints with the FTC.

I understand the concerns of those who believe that Congress is meddling too deeply in this issue and that the proposed legislation could raise free speech problems. All members of our communities, in my view, do have an obligation to ensure that children are protected from harmful material, but that should never come at the cost of denying others their constitutionally protected rights. The challenge here is finding the right balance between these two principles. As you may know, the Senate did not act on the Family Entertainment Protection Act before the close of the previous Congress. Should the Senate consider relevant legislation this year, I will certainly keep your thoughtful comments in mind.

Thank you again for writing. Please stay in touch as this issue develops.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator