Violent Games

Retailer GameStop Launches "Respect the Ratings" Campaign

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 8, 2006 - 2:20pm.

Grapevine, Texas - GameStop, the nation's largest specialty game retailer, announced on Friday the launch of a "Respect the Ratings" campaign, which includes the addition of in-store signage at its 3,600 locations, and the creation of a website intended to provide parents with a detailed explanation of the industry's ESRB game ratings system.

Senators Clinton, Lieberman Help Launch Video Game PSA Campaign

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 8, 2006 - 1:50pm.

Washington - U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) joined Patricia Vance, president of the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) this week in Washington to launch a nationwide PSA campaign that will encourage parents to use game ratings when buying games for their children.

Video Game Trade Group to Get $182,000 in Legal Fees from Michigan

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 1, 2006 - 1:03pm.

Washington - The Entertainment Software Association said on Friday that it will receive more than $182,000 in legal fees from the State of Michigan following its successful suit to block a new state law banning the sale of violent video games to minors.

Louisiana Judge Permanently Blocks Violent Video Game Law

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2006 - 3:03pm.

Washington - A federal judge in Louisiana has blocked implementation of a state law that would have banned the sale of violent video games to minors.

Study: Violent Games Have Lingering Effect on Brain Activity

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 29, 2006 - 2:36pm.

Chicago - Teens who play violent video games exhibit increased activity in "emotional" areas of the brain and decreased activity in "self-control" areas, according to a study presented at the Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting, Reuters reported.

German Lawmakers Call for Ban on Violent Games After School Rampage

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 21, 2006 - 1:58pm.

Berlin - Some German lawmakers are calling for a ban on violent video games, following a school rampage in the country on Monday where an 18-year-old wounded as many as 27 people with guns and explosives before killing himself, Reuters reported.

Florida Judge Orders Take-Two's "Bully" Game Into Court for Review

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 12, 2006 - 1:21pm.

Miami - A Florida judge has ordered video game publisher Take-Two Interactive to demonstrate its forthcoming "Bully" game in court to determine if it violates Florida's "public nuisance" laws. The game allows players to step into the shoes of a 15-year-old attending a school called Bullworth Academy. Florida law defines a public nuisance as something that "tends to annoy the community; injures the health of the citizens in general; or corrupts the public morals," and is usually applied in areas like prostitution, gambling and environmental pollution. "I'm pretty sure that the game is harmful to minors," attorney Jack Thompson, who filed the suit against Take-Two, and retailers Wal-Mart and GameStop, told The Washington Post. The call to New York-based Take-Two, whose Rockstar Games unit is also responsible for the "Grand Theft Auto" franchise, was issued by Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Ronald Friedman as part of Thompson's lawsuit. Judge Friedman's clerk told GamePolitics.com that Friedman and Thompson "are prepared to spend several days watching [the game's content]." "Bully" is slated to be released in stores on Tuesday.

Minnesota to Appeal Ruling That Tossed Out Video Game Law

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 30, 2006 - 12:56pm.

St. Paul, Minn. - Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch has announced plans to appeal a federal court ruling that declared the state's law fining minors who attempted to purchase M-rated games unconstitutional.

Judge Blocks Louisiana Video Game Law

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 25, 2006 - 1:17pm.

Baton Rogue, La. - A federal judge has blocked a Louisiana law that would ban the sale of video games to minors if an average person would conclude the games "depict violence in a manner patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community with respect to what is suitable for minors."

German Developer Emerging Entertainment to Publish Violence-Free Games

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 9, 2006 - 12:38pm.

Hamburg, Germany - German game developer Emerging Entertainment, a unit of CNT Media, on Wednesday announced plans to develop titles for next-generation game consoles that abstain from any form of visual violence.

Minnesota Judge Overturns Violent Video Game Sales Law

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 1, 2006 - 5:15pm.

Washington - A Minnesota judge has overturned a law banning the sale of violent video games to minors passed by lawmakers in the state, ruling the law to be unconstitutional. "This ruling is of particular interest because lawmakers tried to skirt the First Amendment issue by fining minors themselves for buying the games, not retailers, as they have tried in other states," said Doug Lowenstein, president of the video game industry's Entertainment Software Association.

Australia Bans Atari's Video Game Based on "Reservoir Dogs" Movie

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 28, 2006 - 8:22pm.

Sydney, Australia - The Australian government's Office of Film and Literature Classification has banned the sale and import of video game publisher Atari's "Reservoir Dogs" game, which is based on the violent Quentin Tarantino film.

Senators, Video Game Industry Unveil "Commitment to Parents" Initiative

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 21, 2006 - 2:21pm.

Washington - Major video game retailers and the industry's Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) announced on Wednesday an initiative called "Commitment to Parents," that will aim to educate consumers about game ratings and enhance enforcement of store policies on the sale of Mature-rated games.

Judge Halts Enforcement of Louisiana Video Game Law

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 20, 2006 - 12:15pm.

Los Angeles - A federal judge has granted the video game industry's request to temporarily block enforcement of a Louisiana law enacted last week that prohibits the sale of violent games to minors, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

Game Industry Files Suit to Overturn Louisiana Video Game Law

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 16, 2006 - 12:47pm.

Washington - A day after Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco signed into law a bill that restricts the sale of violent video games to minors, the game industry's Entertainment Software Association (ESA) trade group filed a federal lawsuit in the state to have the law overturned.

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U.S. House Committee Hearing Targets Violent Video Games

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 15, 2006 - 2:01pm.

Washington - Lawmakers railed against the video game industry's ratings system and lackluster enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) during a hearing yesterday held by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Oklahoma Gov. Signs Video Game Bill Into Law

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 12, 2006 - 1:12pm.

Oklahoma City, Okla. - Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry last week signed into law a bill that makes it a felony to sell or rent violent video games to minors in the state.

Louisiana Governor Likely to Sign Video Game Bill Passed in Senate

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 9, 2006 - 1:32pm.

Baton Rogue, La. - The Louisiana State Senate has passed a bill banning the sale of violent video games to minors, which puts games to a similar legal test as that used to determine obscenity.

Bill Fining Minors Who Purchase Violent Games Passes Minnesota House

Authored by dmw on May 22, 2006 - 7:03pm.

St. Paul, Minn. - The Minnesota State House has passed a bill that would compel retailers to post clear signs informing consumers of the video game ratings system, and -- in a twist not yet seen in such state-sponsored legislation -- would impose a $25 fine on minors under 18 who try to purchase Mature- or Adults Only-rated games. Introduced by State Rep. Jeff Johnson (R-St. Paul), the bill passed the House in a 114-17 vote. "We were trying to pass the narrowest bill possible just to try something different from a constitutional challenge standpoint," Rep. Johnson told GamePolitics.com. To date, similar laws passed in a number of states have been routinely struck down by the courts as unconstitutional restrictions on First Amendment free speech protections. Johnson's bill will now move to the Minnesota Senate.

Louisiana House Unanimously Approves Violent Video Game Bill

Authored by dmw on May 18, 2006 - 12:27pm.

Shreveport, La. - The Louisiana State House has voted unanimously to approve a bill that would ban the sale of violent video games to minors, and classify such games in the same category as pornography.

Retailer GameStop Launches "Respect the Ratings" Campaign

Senators Clinton, Lieberman Help Launch Video Game PSA Campaign

Video Game Trade Group to Get $182,000 in Legal Fees from Michigan

Louisiana Judge Permanently Blocks Violent Video Game Law

Study: Violent Games Have Lingering Effect on Brain Activity

German Lawmakers Call for Ban on Violent Games After School Rampage

Florida Judge Orders Take-Two's "Bully" Game Into Court for Review

Minnesota to Appeal Ruling That Tossed Out Video Game Law

Judge Blocks Louisiana Video Game Law

German Developer Emerging Entertainment to Publish Violence-Free Games

Minnesota Judge Overturns Violent Video Game Sales Law

Australia Bans Atari's Video Game Based on "Reservoir Dogs" Movie

Senators, Video Game Industry Unveil "Commitment to Parents" Initiative

Judge Halts Enforcement of Louisiana Video Game Law

Game Industry Files Suit to Overturn Louisiana Video Game Law

U.S. House Committee Hearing Targets Violent Video Games

Oklahoma Gov. Signs Video Game Bill Into Law

Louisiana Governor Likely to Sign Video Game Bill Passed in Senate

Bill Fining Minors Who Purchase Violent Games Passes Minnesota House

Louisiana House Unanimously Approves Violent Video Game Bill

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