They are 'trying' to 'ban' video games----AGAIN

[Evolver]

They are 'trying' to 'ban' video games----AGAIN

Everyone else in the history of the GSHI posted... so why not me?

>.> mwahahaha.

They shouldn't ban games for any reason. Unless said game were a mind control device used by Sony for world domination... but how bad WOULD a world run by Sony be?

Porn and games just don't really mix for me. I like em both on thier own.

Speaking of porn... Amys picture gets more revealing every time I log on to this site. 0.o

[masterwriter42]

I doubt they'll stop kids from buying ANY games, but...

The chances of them preventing children from purchasing video games all together are almost zero. There are educational games, after all. And, in fact, there are games that are not only educational, but listed as "School" related, like the ones that have to do with one school subject or another.

I recently purchased a DS, and the first game I even touched for it was "Professor Layton and the Curious Village". Not only is it educational, it's made by the ACT people themselves. I think that's awesome. And I think it's probably the best game I've ever played. I know I'll be buying any sequels they make in that series. While the game might be a bit too difficult for some kids, I don't see any stores preventing someone who's old enough to use the DS itself from buying that game, or anything remotely like it.

However... there are some games that slip under the radar. In some cases, I really think that games cross lines that the ESRB just isn't monitoring close enough.
One game I bought recently is a perfect example. "Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles" is a game for the DS, a console normally marketed primarily to young gamers.

Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles is rated "T for Teen", and the content description lists "Use of tobacco". However, what the box should say is "Promotion Of Tobacco", seeing as how the game is almost constantly making references and promotion-like comments about the "Marlboro" brand of cigarettes . Every time the main character (Jake) stops to think about the case, he starts smoking, and he often talks about said smoking.

Now, I'm not telling anyone how to live their life. I would never smoke, and I strongly believe that the medical and scientific evidence that has been presented by experts over the years should be plenty to discourage smoking in anyone, but I'm not going to sit here and tell anyone what to do. I can't. Even if I could, I don't care.

Even though the game is rated Teen, a kid might still be able to buy it at some places. The game's content warning box is filled to the brim with things that, when combined, should probably merit a stronger rating (The game includes images of drugs - you have them in your inventory at one point. There's the usual violence and blood that one would expect in a detective game of this sort, and the level thereof isn't anything above average, so that part only merits a Teen, nothing worse. But there's some seriously questionable stuff in this game.), but it's what the label doesn't tell you that's the problem. Jake talks about the flavor of the cigarette he's smoking, and the smell, and the feeling, and so forth. The game basically says that the only time Jake can think deep thoughts is when he's smoking a Marlboro cigarette.

That happens automatically whenever Jake stops to review the case. But it's also encouraged that the player initiate the smoking session by pressing the left shoulder button. It shows the lighter he uses in the upper left corner of the screen, with the symbol for the "L" button on it. That's how the player gets hints about the case, and information about the characters in the story.

What it boils down to is that this game is one big interactive commercial for the above listed brand of tobacco products . Is that something that we want to be within the reach of someone who might be influenced by it? If this game slipped through the net, then what else can, too? That's the issue with the current rating system .

One man's opinion, of course, but I'm sure that a lot of people would agree with at least some of what I just said.


Respectfully yours,
MW42

[bfoos]

Holy thread necromancy, Batman.

[MIR]

like uber bump from the dead!