Yee Confronts Violent Games
December 5, 2003
Gone are the days of Pong and Pac-Man. Moving beyond dots traversing the television screen, video games have developed into more realistic renditions of life events, and becoming increasingly controversial particularly with its depictions of war and gang-violence.
“First-person shooter video games are causing children to perpetrate acts of violence. Players maim, shoot and stalk, killing individuals whose victims are women, minorities and even children,” said Assemblyman Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) at a press conference in San Francisco on Monday. Yee was joined by representatives of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, National Organization for Women, California Psychological Association, the Children’s Council, Assemblywoman Sally Lieber (D-San Jose) and the West Bay Pilipino Multiservice Center.
The more than $6.9 billion video game industry has surpassed Hollywood in box office sales, with Mature-rated games being the fastest-growing segment in the industry. “These companies spend millions of dollars advertising Mature-rated games to children,” says Yee, “which contradicts having a rating system in place.”
The current Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) classifies games according to content suitable for five age ranges: EC for early childhood (age 3 and over), E for everyone (6 and over), T for teen (13 and older), M for mature (17 and over) and AO for adults only (18 and over).
Despite the suggested age ratings, the Federal Trade Commission reports that about 40 percent of those who play Mature-rated games are under age 18, and that 69 percent of unaccompanied children ages 13-16 were able to buy M-rated games at retail stores. The Entertainment Software Association reports that 63 percent of games are rated E.
Such M-rated games expose children to what ESRB deems as “mature sexual themes, more intense violence and/or strong language.”
Yee proposed legislation that would restrict the sales of violent video games to children and to deter children from their exposure to such games. The bill proposes that M-rated games in stores be displayed at least 5 feet from the ground and in a separate section away from non-M-rated games. In addition, retailers would be prohibited from making M-rated games available for sample or preview to minors and would be required to post signs clearly explaining the ESRB rating system.
Reach Jennie Sue at jsue@asianweek.com.
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