Washington - Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) this week reintroduced his Truth in Video Game Rating Act, which would require games to be played "in their entirety" before receiving a rating, and launch a Government Accountability Office study into the effectiveness of the industry's ratings system.

"The current video game ratings system is not as accurate as it could be because reviewers do not see the full content of games and do not even play the games they rate," said Brownback, who is likely to enter the 2008 presidential race.

The bill would punish publishers who "hide" game content from the ratings board -- a reference to the  "Grand Theft Auto" scandal where sexually explicit content was hidden in the game's code -- as well as ratings groups that "grossly mischaracterize" game content; the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) eventually changed its rating on "Grand Theft Auto" from Mature to Adults Only.

Brownback's bill also suggests that conflict of interest in the current voluntary, industry-run ratings system warrants the creation of an independent ratings group.

Related Links:

http://tinyurl.com/2la6gh (Brownback statement)

http://tinyurl.com/2rgelo (CNET)

http://www.esrb.org