The NY government on violent videogames

As campaigned by himself almost a year ago, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is now making good on his promise to make way for violent videogame legislation. As reported by Business Week:

Gov. Eliot Spitzer will take a shot at violent videos and video games as part his remaining 2007 legislative agenda that includes campaign finance reform, streamlining the courts, and energy development.

Spitzer said he will soon provide a bill that would target the ratings of video movies and video games “that are often violent and degrading” and can hurt children who repeatedly use and view them.

The BusinessWeek report later notes that:

Spitzer said he wants to restrict access to these videos and games by children, similar to motion picture regulations which prohibit youths under 17 from being admitted to R-rated movies without a parent or adult guardian.

Under Spitzer’s proposal, retailers who sell violent or degrading videos or video games to children contrary to the rating would be sanctioned.

The Democrat said his approach would be similar to greater enforcement in recent years to stop the sale of cigarettes to minors.

GamesPolitics noted a year ago (back when they were still in LiveJournal) that Spitzer also mentioned in his campaigning that he wishes that there be a uniform rating standard for multiple forms of media. He said then: “industry leaders like the… the (ESRB) for videogames… should come together to set uniform rating standards across all forms of media.”

Well two things we should point out. First off, what if there is indeed a universal ratings system, and then violence still occurs because parents still buy (the big problem with this “retailers sell only to 18 and up” suggestion) their kids violent videogames, what then?

Moreover, cigarettes are proven to be harmful to the health of human beings, minor or not. The harmful effect of videogames on the other hand, is still an assumption.

Via BusinessWeek

As campaigned by himself almost a year ago, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is now making good on his promise to make way for violent videogame legislation. As reported by Business Week:

Gov. Eliot Spitzer will take a shot at violent videos and video games as part his remaining 2007 legislative agenda that includes campaign finance reform, streamlining the courts, and energy development.

Spitzer said he will soon provide a bill that would target the ratings of video movies and video games “that are often violent and degrading” and can hurt children who repeatedly use and view them.

The BusinessWeek report later notes that:

Spitzer said he wants to restrict access to these videos and games by children, similar to motion picture regulations which prohibit youths under 17 from being admitted to R-rated movies without a parent or adult guardian.

Under Spitzer’s proposal, retailers who sell violent or degrading videos or video games to children contrary to the rating would be sanctioned.

The Democrat said his approach would be similar to greater enforcement in recent years to stop the sale of cigarettes to minors.

GamesPolitics noted a year ago (back when they were still in LiveJournal) that Spitzer also mentioned in his campaigning that he wishes that there be a uniform rating standard for multiple forms of media. He said then: “industry leaders like the… the (ESRB) for videogames… should come together to set uniform rating standards across all forms of media.”

Well two things we should point out. First off, what if there is indeed a universal ratings system, and then violence still occurs because parents still buy (the big problem with this “retailers sell only to 18 and up” suggestion) their kids violent videogames, what then?

Moreover, cigarettes are proven to be harmful to the health of human beings, minor or not. The harmful effect of videogames on the other hand, is still an assumption.

Via BusinessWeek