Where Politics And Video Games Collide

Everyone at the National Institute on Media and the Family and Harris Interactive who contributed to this report deserves our appreciation for working so hard to ensure that we have what it takes to create safe environments for our children.

Working so hard? Judging but the inconsistencies between this years and years past, it doesn't seem that they worked hard enough.

Unfortunately, this year’s Video Game Report Card makes clear that these graphic games are still all too easily available to young children, and we need a strong, united effort by video game producers, retailers, parents and lawmakers to change that.

At least she tossed parents into the mix. But really it should only be retailers and parents. Lawmakers and producers only in the sense that they should work hard to ensure that parents and retailers are properly educated and enforcing the ratings.

Parents are the first and last line of defense in the struggle to prevent exposure to age-inappropriate games. This year’s Report Card shows us that parents must be as enthusiastic about overseeing our children's video games as our kids are about playing them.

Hey something that makes sense!

Game makers and retailers, however, must give parents the tools to do that.

Should have know that would not last long. The tools are already there lady.

If kids can learn the complex codes that unlock inappropriate content in games like "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" and "Manhunt II," then parents need to be able to understand the ESRB ratings and other information to help keep the most disturbing games out of their hands entirely.

Please show me the kids that know how to hardware hack their game console, transfer the ISO from the game disk to their computer. Hack the ISO to change the code needed and then transfer that hacked ISO back to their hacked game console to access that content.

More importantly, the makers of these games should never be hiding content in games that the ratings board has asked them to remove entirely – content that they know creative gamers will be able to unlock and view.

The gaming industry has clearly failed to learn its lesson here: The pattern of inappropriate content hidden in Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt is a violation of parents’ and families’ trust

You know, every time I hear a variation of the word "hide" in these statements, it makes me think that these people believe that Hot Coffee was done on purpose and that Manhunt 2 wasd meant to be hacked. Sorry lady that does not happen.

To convince us they’re serious about protecting our kids from age-inappropriate content, the gaming industry should quickly embrace this Report Card’s recommendations to adopt a clearer, more universal ratings system, to always disclose content unsuitable for children, and to never market clearly adult games to younger audiences – either overtly or through hidden content revealed in convenient online "leaks."

When you say "universal ratings system" do you mean NIMF's ratings system (whatever that is) or do you mean a better rating system from the ESRB? As for the rest of it, all content is already revealed to the ESRB. As Ms. Vance has already stated in the wake of the Manhunt 2 hack, the unblurred content was still in line with the M rating and was fully disclosed.

As for the "convenient online 'leaks'" you are implying that Manhunt 2 was leaked on purpose. That is absolutely false and the video game industry deserves a public apology. Any cheats and bug exploitations are the works of consumers with way to much time on their hands.

Game retailers, meanwhile, should be doing all they can to educate both parents and their own employees about the ESRB rating system so that both can do their part to follow it correctly.

I am sorry that huge signs, easily accessible fliers, and employees flat out telling parents that the game they are trying to by for their 5 year old child is rated M and not suitable for the kid is not enough effort from the retailers. Perhaps parents need to take some effort themselves.

I am hopeful that the gaming industry will do everything in its power to assist parents and keep unsuitable games away from children; if not, lawmakers will step in to see to it that kids are kept safe. I am signing on as a cosponsor to the Children Protection from Video Game Violence and Sexual Content Act of 2007, which requires an FTC review of the effectiveness of the current video game ratings system.

I am hopeful that parents will do everything in their power to keep unsuitable games away from their own children. If not maybe lawmakers should do something about bad parents.

Good luck with that Bill. You'll need it.