New York Senate passes mandatory game ratings bill

For a place that once deemed September 26 as Guitar Hero Day, you’d expect most New Yorkers to be pretty cool about games. We’ve got news that might startle you though, as the New York State Senate recently voted 61-1 to approve a bill that would make game ratings mandatory in the state of New York. Learn more after the jump!

For a place that once deemed September 26 as Guitar Hero Day and allows Wii Fit launch events at Central Park, you’d think most people are pretty cool about games. We’ve got news that might startle you though, as the New York State Senate recently voted 61-1 to approve a bill that would make game ratings mandatory in the state of New York.

The bill essentially turns the voluntary act of submitting a game for rating to the ESRB into a mandatory requirement for games to be sold in the state of New York.

Perhaps the best explanation for the side of the 61 who voted for the bill to be passed was explained by Senator Andrew Lanza, pictured above:

This simply says that every video game sold in the state of New York simply should have a rating consistent with what the ESRB does presently in a voluntary way… it does work. But the problem with “voluntary” is that tomorrow someone can change their mind. Someone could decide tomorrow to no longer place ratings on these games. So this is not about prohibiting the sale, this is simply about providing information to parents…

While there is a certain logic to what Lanza is saying, don’t expect the videogame industry to take it lying down, as they will probably sue, citing that the bill is unconstitutional. In any event, this bill will now go to Gov. David Paterson for consideration. If signed by Paterson, the bill will become law in 2010.

Via GamePolitics