More video game legislation for Oklahoma?

Just because GDC is hot right now, doesn’t mean that that’s all we’ll inform you folks about. Let’s talk legislation. If you’re a follower of gaming related politics, you may recall that in 2006, the state of Oklahoma was one of the three (Louisiana, Minnesota, and Oklahoma) that saw video game legislation signed into law.

That law of course was eventually blocked from taking effect, but what’s this? Even more video game laws?

Gamespolitics reports that a new video game bill is under consideration. The said bill, HB2031, introduced by Rep. Mike Shelton, requires game retailers to provide game buyers written notice that the product they are buying may contain violence which may be harmful to minors. Here’s an excerpt:

Every retailer engaged in the business of selling or renting video games to the general public shall distribute to any customer who is purchasing or renting a video game, a written notification that the video game may contain violent content and that said content may be harmful to minors.

This means that Oklahoma’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services will have to prepare written warnings for games. What’s difficult with this bill though is that – it doesn’t differentiate between violent bloodfests and addictive detrimental-to-study-time yet kid friendly DS games.

Well this isn’t as harsh and certainly more interesting than outright bans. If this does push through, Oklahoma may need to advertise it or something. A lot of folks just tend to throw away written stuff that comes with the products they purchased.

Honestly, how many of you have read the f-in manual? The effectiveness/sensibility of this bill may be debatable (don’t the ratings warnings cover this already?), however, judging from the way it’s made, it does seem to have good intentions, and it looks like it’s trying to not step on the gamer community’s toes.

Via GamePolitics

Just because GDC is hot right now, doesn’t mean that that’s all we’ll inform you folks about. Let’s talk legislation. If you’re a follower of gaming related politics, you may recall that in 2006, the state of Oklahoma was one of the three (Louisiana, Minnesota, and Oklahoma) that saw video game legislation signed into law.

That law of course was eventually blocked from taking effect, but what’s this? Even more video game laws?

Gamespolitics reports that a new video game bill is under consideration. The said bill, HB2031, introduced by Rep. Mike Shelton, requires game retailers to provide game buyers written notice that the product they are buying may contain violence which may be harmful to minors. Here’s an excerpt:

Every retailer engaged in the business of selling or renting video games to the general public shall distribute to any customer who is purchasing or renting a video game, a written notification that the video game may contain violent content and that said content may be harmful to minors.

This means that Oklahoma’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services will have to prepare written warnings for games. What’s difficult with this bill though is that – it doesn’t differentiate between violent bloodfests and addictive detrimental-to-study-time yet kid friendly DS games.

Well this isn’t as harsh and certainly more interesting than outright bans. If this does push through, Oklahoma may need to advertise it or something. A lot of folks just tend to throw away written stuff that comes with the products they purchased.

Honestly, how many of you have read the f-in manual? The effectiveness/sensibility of this bill may be debatable (don’t the ratings warnings cover this already?), however, judging from the way it’s made, it does seem to have good intentions, and it looks like it’s trying to not step on the gamer community’s toes.

Via GamePolitics