'Truth in Games Ratings' Bill Rears Ugly Head
Senator Sam Brownback on the ‘Truth in Video Game Rating Act’
US Senator Sam Brownback, one of the declared Republican candidates for president in 2008, is attempting to resurrect the ‘Truth in Video Game Rating Act’ this week.
Firstly, what is the ‘Truth in Video Game Rating Act’? Simply put, it’s a piece of legislation that would force the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to play all games through to their final conclusion before assigning them with an M (mature), T (teen) or E (everyone) rating.
OK, sounds sensible – who knows what could be hidden at the end of Cars or March of the Penguins. On the other hand, how do you actually play World of Warcraft or Pro Evolution Soccer 6 through to their conclusions? Unlike film, music and literature, a number of video games are not linear; they don’t have endings or they have several possible conclusions.
Brownback’s most recent press release states that:
Videogame industry pundits have been quick to outline the inconsistency and sheer ignorance in Brownback’s basic suggestions, with Shankar Gupta, writing in MediaPost about an earlier version of the ‘Truth in Video Game Rating Act’ last year that:
(Source: Gamepolitics)
Firstly, what is the ‘Truth in Video Game Rating Act’? Simply put, it’s a piece of legislation that would force the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to play all games through to their final conclusion before assigning them with an M (mature), T (teen) or E (everyone) rating.
OK, sounds sensible – who knows what could be hidden at the end of Cars or March of the Penguins. On the other hand, how do you actually play World of Warcraft or Pro Evolution Soccer 6 through to their conclusions? Unlike film, music and literature, a number of video games are not linear; they don’t have endings or they have several possible conclusions.
Brownback’s most recent press release states that:
Video game reviewers should be required to review the entire content of a game to ensure the accuracy of the rating. 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. Game reviewers must have access to the entire game for their ratings to accurately reflect a game’s content.
Videogame industry pundits have been quick to outline the inconsistency and sheer ignorance in Brownback’s basic suggestions, with Shankar Gupta, writing in MediaPost about an earlier version of the ‘Truth in Video Game Rating Act’ last year that:
The bill is sponsored by a bipartisan group of old men in the House and Senate - including possible presidential contender Sam Brownback. In all likelihood, none have ever played a modern video game in their lives.
This kind of moral posturing is to be expected in an election year, and video games are an easy target to score points in the family-values column…The bill fails… because it doesn’t understand how video game content differs from a TV show or a movie…
Requiring the ESRB to play every game all the way through and punishing it for failing to do so means one of two things: It is either ignorance, or a calculated attempt to destroy the organization.
This kind of moral posturing is to be expected in an election year, and video games are an easy target to score points in the family-values column…The bill fails… because it doesn’t understand how video game content differs from a TV show or a movie…
Requiring the ESRB to play every game all the way through and punishing it for failing to do so means one of two things: It is either ignorance, or a calculated attempt to destroy the organization.
(Source: Gamepolitics)
Companies:
ESRB
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